Project Description
Wishbone Hill Mine, Permit Numbers 01-89-796 & 02-89-796 is owned and operated by Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. (UCM), P.O. Box 1000, Healy, Alaska 99743. The Project is a surface coal mining and export development proposal for a bituminous coal resource located in the Matanuska Coal Field of South-central Alaska, approximately 40 miles northeast of Anchorage and 10 miles northeast of Palmer, Alaska, near the Buffalo/Soapstone Community.
Application for Renewal of Permits 02-83-196 and S-0602A
A request to renew Surface Coal Mining Permits 01-89-796 & 02-89-796 was filed with the Division of Mining, Land and Water on December 10, 2018. Renewal of the permits has been requested in accordance with AS 27.21.080(d) and 11 AAC 90.129(b). DMLW - Mining is noticing the request for renewal and issuing Preliminary Findings for the renewal of the Wishbone Hill Mine permits. The permits are currently under Temporary Cessation under 11 AAC 90.471. As of February 13, 2020 there is no activity occurring or planned within the permit area.
2018 Decision and Citizens Complaint concerning the Validity of the Wishbone Hill Mine Permits
- November 29, 2018 DNR Decision
- January 11, 2019 Citizens Complaints from Trustees for Alaska to OSMRE concerning Wishbone Hill
- March 5, 2019 Citizens Complaints from EarthJustice to OSMRE concerning Wishbone Hill
- January 18, 2019 Letter from DMLW to OSMRE concerning Citizens Complaint
- OSMRE July 24, 2019 Response to Citizens Complaints
2015 Commissioner's Decision on the October 3, 2014 Renewal Decision
2011 Renewal Permit and Final Decision
Preliminary Decision Documents
Project Documents
- Preface PDF
- Part A: Application and Mine Site Identification PDF
- Part B: Legal, Financial and Compliance Information PDF
-
Part C: Environmental Resource Information
PDF (277 mb)
*Part C is a very large pdf document. It is broken out by chapters below for optimal viewing.- Part C Title Page PDF
- Chapter I Cultural and Historical Information PDF
- Chapter II Geology PDF
- Chapter III Overburden and Interburden Assessment PDF
- Chapter IV Hydrogeology PDF
- Chapter V Surface Water Hydrology PDF
- Chapter VI Surface and Groundwater Rights and Uses PDF
- Chapter VII Climatological and Air Quality Information PDF
- Chapter VIII Vegetation PDF
- Chapter IX Fish and Aqautic Resources PDF
- Chapter X Wildlife PDF
- Chapter XI Soil Resources PDF
- Chapter XII Land Use Information PDF
- Chapter XIII Subsistance Use of Resources PDF
- Chapter IV Wetlands Evaluation PDF
- Part D: Operation and Reclamation Plan PDF
- Part D: Appendices PDF
- Part E: Special Categories of Mining PDF
- Transmittal Letters PDF
Contact:
Russell Kirkham
Coal Regulatory Program Manager
Division of Mining, Land & Water
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 920
Anchorage, AK 99501-3577
(907) 269-8650
Email: Russell Kirkham