Greg Jones, Executive Director of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, is expected to speak to the Chickaloon Community Council Wednesday according to Council president Frankie Barker. The Mental Health Trust has announced it is offering more than 11,000 acres for coal exploration and development near the Matanuska Valley community.
The proposed lease could result in significant long-term revenue to support programs for beneficiaries of the Trust, according to Trust officials.
The tract near Chickaloon could contain high quality coal.
A “Best Interest” decision regarding the use of the land up for coal development was finalized on October sixth. Notice of the intent to start the application for leases was released the same day.
The lease offering is being managed by the Mental Health Trust Land Office a division within the Department of Natural Resources.
The public will have 30 days to make written comments regarding the lease offering.
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APTI Reporter-Producer Ellen Lockyer started her radio career in the late 1980s, after a stint at bush Alaska weekly newspapers, the Copper Valley Views and the Cordova Times. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Valdez Public Radio station KCHU needed a reporter, and Ellen picked up the microphone.
Since then, she has literally traveled the length of the state, from Attu to Eagle and from Barrow to Juneau, covering Alaska stories on the ground for the AK show, Alaska News Nightly, the Alaska Morning News and for Anchorage public radio station, KSKA
elockyer (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 907.550.8446 | About Ellen
