Impacts on a Way of Life

The subsistence way of life pursued by the residents of Tyonek and Beluga is based on hunting and gathering and is directly related to the health of the land and water. Like most Alaskans, the Chuitna Citizens Coalition believes in family traditions and sharing with neighbors. This way of life is directly threatened by the proposed Chuinta coal strip mine. Air, water and noise pollution generated by the coal strip mine, transfer system and beach loading facility will directly impact these communities in ways no community would  allow.

The Chuit River is known for it’s world class sports fishing. Changes in river flow patterns (learn more here), loss of salmon habitat from destruction by mining operations will immediately impact sports fishing opportunities. The loss of salmon rearing habitat means the long-term prospects are as grim as the sterile coal-impacted rivers in the Lower 48.

With the loss of habitat and the foreseeable reduction of salmon in the Chuit River, commercial fishing opportunities may face restrictions to protect the resource. On the North side of the river PacRim plans to build a permanent bulkhead island and pile roadway directly in front of commercial set net sites on Three Mile beach. The man-mad island will change  salmon migration patterns to seaward,  eliminating the existing set net lease sites, essentially trading the economic engine of  sustainable salmon will for short term coal export profits.

For generations, hunting and trapping have been important activities for landowners, lodgeowners, and local residents. Coal mining activities from the minesite to tidewater, 15 miles away,  will seriously disrupt the migration and living patterns that residents depend upon.