State of Alaska moves to strike part of DCC’s appeal of Healy Basin Gas Exploration Finding
September 26, 2011
On September 7, 2011, the State of Alaska moved to eliminate one of the arguments in our initial appeal, filed on August 26, 2011, of the Healy Basin Gas Exploration Final Best Interest Finding. Our attorney, Peter Van Tuyn, filed an opposition to the motion on September 20, 2011. The judge will rule on the state’s motion soon, and after his ruling, the State of Alaska will have 20 days to file its opening brief.
Further delays and legal wranglings could occur. When all parties have completed their briefs and motions, the judge will then consider the arguments and make his decision. The review and final decision could take several months.
To read copies of the state’s motion to strike and DCC’s opposition, click the links below.
State of Alaska’s motion to strike one of DCC’s arguments in our Brief
DCC’s opposition to the State of Alaska’s motion to strike part of our initial brief
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already contributed to our effort. We need additional contributions to our Gas Fund. Please visit our Healy Basin Gas webpage to learn more and to make a contribution.
Jul-Aug 2011 DCC News
August 31, 2011
DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan (center) speaks to attendees at meeting with DCC
Read DCC’s initial reaction to the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan. Also in this edition DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan meets with DCC to discuss Healy gas exploration, Jane Bryant has a new book, and our newest board member talks about the Vehicle Management Plan.
DCC files Opening Brief in its Appeal of Healy Gas Best Interest Finding
August 26, 2011
On August 26, 2011, the Denali Citizens Council (DCC) filed its opening brief in the Alaska Superior Court lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ award of a gas exploration license on approximately 208,000 acres of state lands in the Denali Borough. The brief details the legal deficiencies in DNR’s decision to grant Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. a license to drill for gas, including coalbed methane, in our neighborhoods and special places, and to do so without meaningful protections for our interests and area values.
DCC is not opposed to this gas development project in its entirety, but we are opposed to this license as currently structured and will aggressively defend our interests and our rights. With modest changes in line with the drilling approach that Usibelli originally sought for the Healy area, we believe the interests of all parties can be met.
You may view the opening brief by clicking the link below:
DCC Opening Brief_Healy Gas Best Interest Finding
For background on the Healy Basin Gas Exploration License, please see our write up on the topic and visit associated links.
Healy Basin Gas Exploration License
Eva Creek Wind Farm Permitting Phase Blows Through
August 22, 2011
The Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) released four separate land-use permits associated with the Eva Creek Wind Farm, proposed for ridges east of Ferry. Of the Eva Creek permits applied for by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), two are associated with road use and development (over approximately 16 miles), one covers material sites and extraction (eight material sites to extract 309,730 cubic yards of gravel), and a fourth covers the land use required for the turbines themselves and associated infrastructure development (including 42,869 acres). In addition to structures planned for state land, a rail siding yard and warm storage building are planned for private land at the base of Ferry Rd.
A fifth land use permit, applied for by Brice, Inc., would grant up to fifteen acres for a construction staging site “adjacent to the Ferry Road, approximately one and one-half miles east of the Alaska Railroad.”
Wind, gas and coal updates at GVEA Healy Meeting
August 22, 2011
Printed in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — Golden Valley Electric Association plans to offer a public update on new wind, natural gas and coal power options on Aug. 25 in Healy.
GVEA President Brian Newton will offer a presentation on the Eva Creek wind project, new plans for trucking liquefied natural gas and the Healy Clean Coal plant at a noon luncheon of the Denali Chamber of Commerce at the 49th State Brewing Co., 248.5 Mile Parks Highway.
At 6 p.m., GVEA will conduct a separate public meeting about the Eva Creek project at the Tri-Valley Community Center.
From: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – GVEA plans Healy meeting
The Fairbanks News-Miner has published a flurry of opinions regarding the Healy Coal Plant, which have encouraged a flurry of online conversation. Read more
DCC and NPCA support the FRAC Act – mandating disclosure of fracking chemicals
June 1, 2011
The FRAC Act, just re-introduced in Congress, would mandate disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, and would repeal the 2005 exclusion of fracking from provisions of the Clean Water Act. To read more about why the FRAC Act deserves YOUR support, visit the American Rivers site here.
Waters within Denali National Park could be affected by gas drilling in the Stampede Townships under a recently granted exploration license. Because of potential threats in Denali and other parks, the National Parks Conservation Association recently sent Congress a letter of support for the FRAC Act. To read the letter NPCA sent to Congress, click below.
NPCA Letter Supporting FRAC Act
DEC Permits Herbicide Spraying in Healy Railyard
May 14, 2011
This permit began with a 2006 effort by the Alaska Railroad to spray a suite of herbicides on their entire track, and has ended with a permit for one herbicide and a carrier for railyards in Healy, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Public comment DID make a different, despite the ultimate outcome, in reducing the scale and scope of this operation. To read the final decision and summary of comments, click below.
ARRC 2011 Herbicide Permit Decision Document
Mar-April DCC News focuses on Denali’s gateway issues
April 20, 2011
Our cover article highlights the work of the Denali Borough Planning Commission, with some examples of the challenges faced by this young borough. Other articles include:
- Thank you for Not Fracking - Molly McKinley, DCC Gas Organizer, discusses her work in the borough to educate and advocate around a recently issued gas exploration license on lands next to Denali Park.
- More on Eva Creek Wind Farm, one of the largest projects proposed for the state to generate power from wind, and located near Healy, by Cass Ray.
- Information on a Climate Change Research Project being conducted in the Denali Region, by Erica Watson.
- A description of her Juneau experience by local student Emily Brease, whom DCC sent to Juneau for the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Civics Summit.
And much more……
Mar-Apr 2011 DCC News
DCC publishes four fact sheets on Gas Development
March 9, 2011
Largely through the efforts of DCC Gas Organizer Molly McKinley, DCC has published four fact sheets intended to help residents and property owners within the Healy Basin Gas Exploration License area understand what it happening and what they can do to protect their own interests. The first of these fact sheets is a general explanation of the process of coalbed methane extraction, which has been identified by the state as the most likely type of gas development to occur in the license area. Another sheet describes the differences and similarities between conventional and unconventional gas drilling. Also published is a fact sheet explaining how and why landowners and residents should obtain their water rights. The fourth sheet describes landowners’ rights and how to negotiate a surface use agreement. Click the links below to view and save a copy of each sheet.
Coalbed Methane Facts and Map of License Area
Drilling for gas – conventional v. unconventional
Underground coal gasification exploration license awarded
March 9, 2011
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority has awarded an exploration license for underground coal gasification to the Australian company Linc Energy. The license includes areas on the west side of Cook Inlet, around Nenana, and in the Denali Borough near Healy and Anderson. Maps of the involved AMHTA lands in the Denali Borough are below, along with the Linc Energy announcement and an Alaska Dispatch article that explains underground coal gasification and its prospects in Alaska.
Map of Healy-area AMHTA lands included in license
Map of Anderson-area AMHTA lands included in license
Map of Nenana-area AMHTA lands included in license
Alaska Dispatch: Alaska Coal – Everything Old is New Again
Jan-Feb 2011 DCC News
February 28, 2011
This edition of DCC News features DCC Annual Board Retreat, meeting with DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan, Susitna Dam project, and energy related articles.
Local meetings in Healy this week include Friends of Stampede & Climate Change Research
February 20, 2011
Friends of Stampede to meet Tuesday, Feb 22, 7 PM
Panguingue Creek Fire Hall
At this meeting, we’ll hear from Tom Paragi and Frank Keim, two Fairbanks residents who are experienced with Alaska State Park and Recreation Areas, and related conservation issues. Tom was a member of the Northern Region Citizens Advisory Board for six years. This is the board that is responsible for advising State Park and Recreation sites in the Fairbanks area. They will be sharing their experiences with areas similar to the proposed Stampede State Recreation Area, and we hope to learn from their experience!
Friends of Stampede is on the Web !! (http://stampedefriends.wordpress.com/). For much more information on this group and the effort to establish the Stampede State Recreation Area, click on the link above.
You could be part of a Climate Change Research Project
Find out more: Tuesday, Feb 22, 6 -7 PM Tri-Valley School Cafeteria
A Climate Change Research Project is currently being developed through a partnership between the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It will specifically look at the potential health effects of climate change. Participating in this research will mean filling out a survey once a month, marking any changes you see related to climate change.
Keith Walters is a local contact person for this study in Healy and will participate in the study. As Walters stated in a recent email, “The research team would first like to ask your opinion regarding what you have seen in our area that might fall under the category of climate change. We know our area of Alaska better than anyone and the researchers would like to hear our thoughts before they proceed. In order to do that a meeting has been organized in Healy on Tuesday, February 22nd from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the cafeteria at the Tri-valley school. Please come to this meeting and get some details on the study. If you know of others that may be interested please pass this message on as an invitation to attend the meeting! Snacks will be provided!”