Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
Chickaloon Native Village is taking its concerns about local coal exploration to an international audience. Penny Westing, with the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council says the CVTC has filed a suit against Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. and Electric Power Development, with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD is an international organization established after World War 2 with a current membership of 34 nations.
OECD promotes sustainable development and ethical practices in the activities of its members’ corporations. OEDC’s guidelines for multi national companies established basic rules for responsible corporate conduct.
CVTC’s complaint is aimed at Usibelli’s coal exploration activity at Wishbone Hill near Sutton. Westing says the exploration permits were based on out of date information.
Usibelli spokeswoman Lorali Carter says the company’s exploratory work has been permitted for years and is aimed largely at protecting local Moose Creek.
The Chickaloon tribe has invested one million dollars and thousands of man hours in a successful effort to restore salmon habitat in Moose Creek.
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