Day 308, 11/4/2011

This is Eileen.

Eileen works for an environmental firm called Shannon & Wilson. She is here this week from Seattle at the request of the Flint Hills Refinery in North Pole.

Yesterday I came home to find a note on my door explaining that my neighborhood was now part of a project to test well water that may have been affected by the operations at the refinery a few miles away. I was asked to call and make an appointment for one of their reps to come by to get a sample for testing, and that the results would be shared with us in a couple of weeks.

Eileen came by this afternoon, and after inspecting the water system, she had me bypass the filters and softener, and ran the water for about half an hour so that she could get water that was coming out at a steady temperature so she could be sure she was all the way down to the settled well.

She explained that they were only testing for sulfolane, a by-product of the refinery that had been detected in surrounding areas. If I understood correctly, the amount detected in our area was equivalent to a drop or two in an Olympic sized swimming pool, not enough to cause any sort of harm. But Flint Hills has made a deal with the State to test as far out as they need to go, and keep testing until even a drop is not detected anywhere.

Eileen went on to tell me that as part of the deal with the State, Flint Hills would be providing us drinking water “until further notice.” She gave me a website link to look up more information on the project. According to her, this could go on for months or even years, so I’m sure we’ll be scheduling more tests in the future.

Day 309, 11/5/2011

‘Tis the season of holiday bazaars! 

Today we attended one in the UAF Wood Center.

Day 310, 11/6/2011

Bruce Hayes carefully fits a grizzly bear for a rug in the taxidermy shop he has set up in his garage.

Photo by Matt Splechter

Day 311, 11/7/2011

The ice Santa cometh. 

A carver works on a Santa’s workshop display for the roundabout at the North Pole exit.

Day 312, 11/8/2011

Now that’s a Fairbanks-winter-worthy bike!

Day 313, 11/9/2011

Sundog, 1:35 PM.

Sundog, 3:45PM.

Day 314, 11/10/2011

Anti Pebble Mine sticker. 

Though the site of this mine would be outside of the Interior, there is a long running raging debate over whether or not a large mine should be allowed in southwest Alaska, and Interior residents have polarizing opinions. Proponents of the mine say, and rightly so, that it will be a huge boost to the economy and provide work for small villages that currently have few or no prospects. Opponents say, and rightly so, that it will irreparably damage premier salmon spawning grounds.

What do I say?

Well, I guess I will go on record with my own opinion. I understand the plight of folks living in remote villages in Alaska. Their way of life is disappearing, and harder and harder to hold on to. They need more opportunities for growth and stability. However in this case, I think the cost of forward progression may be too great.

Yes, it's rough living out there, but times have changed, like it or not. No matter how self sufficient a people you are, you can no longer get by without some modern basic necessities such as food staples and medical supplies and care. In almost all cases in Alaska, subsistence must be supplemented and these necessities are damned expensive when you live on the corner of Timbuktu and Nowhere. Having said that, you are accepting this as fact and as part of the price to pay for this lifestyle if you choose to stay and live there. So why would anyone choose to stay? Tradition? Heritage?

It is also a well known fact that Native Alaskans cherish the land as part of their heritage, and depend on salmon as a major source of food for themselves and their very important dogs. So isn't it counter productive to accept a mine that will no doubt further the economy of the area, but in time probably destroy the very reason cited for wanting to stay there? It just doesn't make sense in this case, in the proposed region.

So I guess you can count me in with those who are not convinced that the Pebble Mine is a good thing for southwest Alaska.