ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Legal Newsline)-Environmentalists in Alaska say they plan to file a lawsuit over coal-dust pollution at a plant in Seward.
The Sierra Club, the Alaska Center for the Environment and Alaska Community Action on Toxics said they plan to sue if the Alaska Railroad Corp. and Aurora Energy Services cannot control pollution at the Seward Coal Loading Facility.
The facility was built in 1984 to provide for the export of coal from Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. The Alaska Railroad Corp. purchased this facility in 2003.
"A lack of adequate pollution controls at the facility has resulted in ongoing dumping of coal debris into Resurrection Bay and uncontrolled blowing coal dust, damaging water quality in the bay and threatening the tourism industry," the Sierra Club Alaska Chapter said in a statement.
Trustees for Alaska has sent the parties a 60-day notice of intent to sue.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.