Despite a sub-zero wind chill yesterday in the small Alaskan town of Sutton, 350 people attended a four-hour public hearing about Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc.’s proposed Wishbone Hill coal strip mine.
More than 200 attendees expressed opposition to the proposal, wearing their message on shirts and stickers, and waving anti-mine signs. During public testimony, 48 people spoke against the mine using arguments based upon substance and values--in contrast to representatives from the resource development council and Usibelli who predictably recited nothing but coal company talking points about jobs.
The day before the hearing, the Sierra Club hosted a press conference featuring local moms, property owners, a Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Leader, and a doctor. This was a great opportunity for the community to come together to express in a unified voice concerns about the proposed mine.
The large turnout for the hearing and community dialogue over the mine received extensive coverage from the Alaska Dispatch, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Alaska Public Radio, KTVA 11, and KTUU-TV.
More than 200 attendees expressed opposition to the proposal, wearing their message on shirts and stickers, and waving anti-mine signs. During public testimony, 48 people spoke against the mine using arguments based upon substance and values--in contrast to representatives from the resource development council and Usibelli who predictably recited nothing but coal company talking points about jobs.
The day before the hearing, the Sierra Club hosted a press conference featuring local moms, property owners, a Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Leader, and a doctor. This was a great opportunity for the community to come together to express in a unified voice concerns about the proposed mine.
The large turnout for the hearing and community dialogue over the mine received extensive coverage from the Alaska Dispatch, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Alaska Public Radio, KTVA 11, and KTUU-TV.