by Ted Land
Friday, July 9, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mat-Su Valley residents are watching Usibelli Coal Mine closely, after the state Department of Natural Resources granted the company a permit to start coal exploration at Wishbone Hill near Palmer.
Usibelli says it plans to drill six to eight test holes this summer, starting in the next few weeks. Hundreds of test holes already exist, but the new ones will provide some updated information on potential coal deposits.
"I don't anticipate the residents in the area will notice much of anything in the exploration program this summer," said Usibelli spokesperson Lorali Carter. "We'll have rigs in there that are about the same size as what you would see drilling a water well for a residential area."
