July 15, 2013

Jennifer Keese
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 920
Anchorage, AK 99501

Via email to: coalprogram@alaska.gov

Re: Support of Renewal of Healy Valley Coal Exploration Permit No. 01-86-795

Dear Ms. Keese:

The Resource Development Council for Alaska (RDC) is writing to support the renewal of Permit No. 01-86-795 for coal exploration activities in Healy Valley.

RDC is a statewide, non-profit, membership-funded organization founded in 1975. The RDC membership is comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, timber, tourism, and fisheries industries, as well as Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to link these diverse interests together to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

As stated in the Public Notice (June 15, 2013), the permit application meets the Alaska Surface Coal Mining Program requirements. RDC supports surface mining activities in the area and encourages the renewal of the permit to ensure no delay to exploration.

As this is a renewal of an existing permit, neither the permit, nor the exploration is new to the area. This permit has been in place since 1997, and has been renewed every two years.

The permit holder, Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. has been mining coal in surrounding areas since 1943 and has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining and improving the environment through its reclamation process at similar operations in the area. RDC believes that the aforementioned factors merit timely renewal of the permit.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.