Opinion: The myth of “strong environmental protection” in Alaska

In a recent article about the Pebble Mine, Alaska state officials called attention to “Alaska’s strong environmental laws.” In November, former state Sen. Drew Pierce praised Alaska’s “world-class environmental practices” in his op-ed on energy policy. These false claims perpetuate the myth that the environment is superior, when in fact Alaska has some of the worst pollution and an alarming lack of environmental monitoring and compliance.

First, let’s examine Alaska’s recent failure to address highly toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). In August, Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 51. This bill would have been an important step toward preventing further harm to public health from these dangerous chemicals. The bill passed Congress in May with bipartisan support and nearly unanimous support. According to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), there are currently 469 sites in Alaska with known PFAS contamination in soil and water, including contamination of drinking water sources in communities across Alaska.

Alaska is affected by 6,000 contaminated sites caused by extractive industries and military operations, the majority of which have not been responsibly remediated because ADEC has failed to hold polluters accountable. Our state also has the dubious distinction of having the highest release of toxic chemicals into our air, water, and land, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual Toxic Release Inventory. The latest information available puts the total at around £700m. Data for 2022. Metal mining is a major source of toxic emissions in Alaska.

Of the five major operating mines in Alaska, including Red Dog, Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington, and Green’s Creek, all have experienced at least one major spill or mine tailings, cyanide solution, We have experienced accidental releases of diesel fuel and other hazardous substances. Ore concentrate. Four of the five mines failed to recover or manage contaminated mine water, resulting in frequent water quality violations over an extended period of time. Four of the five mines have been identified by the EPA as not complying with federal laws to protect clean air and water in the past three years. The environmental impact statement (EIS) process for four of the mines underestimated water quality impacts and failed to predict violations of federal and state laws. Metal contamination from two of the mines contaminated public lands designated as national monuments (Greens Creek and Red Dog).

The 2022 report found that “there were more than 8,150 total spills associated with these five mines between 1995 and 2020, or approximately 300 or more each year.” Spills from these mining operations released more than 2.3 million gallons and 1.9 million pounds of hazardous materials over 26 years. ”

As an example of lax regulation and oversight of Alaska’s oil and gas industry, a special exemption allows industry in Cook Inlet to dump up to 2 billion gallons of toxic waste annually, which is the same amount as Alaska’s oil and gas industry.・This is the only exemption for gas facilities. nation. In 2017, Hilcorp Energy’s underwater gas pipeline leaked over three months, releasing approximately 200,000 cubic feet of nearly pure methane into Cook Inlet, and the same pipeline leaked in 2019 and 2021. occurred again. In 2022, 7.2 million cubic feet of natural gas leaked from multiple wellheads at the Conoco Phillips Alpine oil field near Nuixto, forcing the evacuation of approximately 300 employees and the shutdown of operations. No measures were taken to evacuate the residents of Nuixt.

Given the scale and devastation of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, one would think that Alaska would be doing everything in its power to avoid another oil transportation-related accident. However, a March 2023 report from the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Committee, a federally established watchdog group, found that “Valdez Marine Terminal (VMT) currently poses unacceptable safety risks. “Therefore, there is no reasonable assurance that VMT is secure.” Operated safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements. ”

Kate Troll and Hollis French write, “Alaska remains isolated among states, with no coastal management program or climate change plan. This is far from environmental standards considered among the best in the world.” .”

It’s time for state officials to stop misrepresenting the facts to justify more harmful mining and oil and gas extraction.

pamela miller He is the executive director and senior scientist for Alaska Regional Toxic Action. She also serves as principal scientist for a National Institute of Environmental Health Research-supported research project on the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the environment and people.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a wide range of viewpoints.To submit your work for consideration, please send an email Commentary(at)adn.com. Submissions of less than 200 words should be sent to: Letters@adn.com or Click here to submit from any web browser.Read all guidelines for letters and comments here.