inletkeeper

Protecting Alaska's Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains since 1995.

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Coal Bed Methane One-Pager

Protect the Susitna River Basin from Coalbed Methane Drilling Stand for our Salmon Speak up and tell the state that the destructive and questionably financially viable project exploring and drilling (including fracking) for coalbed methane in almost a million acres of in the Susitna Basin is not in the state’s best interests! Comment before 5 pm March 14th by emailing dog.bif@alaska.gov. Background: The state is considering licensing exploration for coalbed methane (gas not oil) drilling in almost 1 million acres in the Susitna Valley. The two licenses would allow for 10 years of exploration and could then be converted into production licenses. In the state’s analysis the state accounts for future impacts of infrastructure including wells, drilling, pipeline, roads, or other development by indicating that those future permitting processes will protect the area, however each small permit could be a death of a thousand cuts for this area which would require a dense network of wells, roads, and pipelines The West Susitna is being explored for this project as well as the West Sustina Mining Access road and the Donlin Gold Natural gas pipeline as well as efforts to “revise” the Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Management Plan. The state must consider the cumulative impacts of all these activities on this area. Protect what you love ACRES” 915,493 acres of land - 69% wetlands or rivers, streams, and lakes WATERSHEDS: 7% of the Susitna River Basin; 64% of the Lower Susitna River sub-basin; 36% of the Yentna River sub-basin LAND: 71% state land; 29% Muni and private land RECREATION: Incredible recreational areas including a portion of Nancy Lakes State Recreation Area, the Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers - Including the Deshka & Alexander Creek and bordered Willow Creek Recreational Area FISH AND WILDLIFE: 2 Important Bird Areas - Susitna Flats and Kahiltna Flats-Petersville Road 3,241 miles of rivers & 15,655 acres of lakes of Essential Fish Habitat for 5 species of salmon 2 stocks of management concern - Chinook in East Susitna River & Alexander Creek 32-51% of lakes and streams in the licensed area are known salmon habitat - with more likely unknown! Rich habitat for Moose CULTURAL: 90 cultural resource sites but largely unexplored for historic and archaeological resources. What is Coalbed Methane drilling? It is a geologic formation where the underground goal is porous and methane moves through it. By drilling down, the company can use hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” to create more fractures to reach more of the methane. After fractures are created, water is injected into the well to be able to pump the methane out. 10 to 20 coalbed methane wells at densities of 40, 80, or 160 acres per well produces the equivalent gas of 2-3 conventional gas wells. Meaning coalbed methane drilling requires much higher density of wells and many more wells. The high density and number of wells means that the area becomes highly industrialized with roads, pipelines, well platforms, and other infrastructure. Coalbed methane requires large amounts of water and produces large amounts of waste water which has to be disposed of through either reinjecting underground or through discharge. This water can include trace amounts of toxic metals and organic substances, and aromatic hydrocarbons as well as drilling muds and cuttings which can include hazardous chemicals. Exploration includes using seismic surveys (loud noises to map underground features) which can have an impact on fish and wildlife.