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| The community of Queen Valley, Arizona. Leslie Bryant Photo. |
A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that the mining company was trying to purchase 11 square miles of state lands under a different name as the preferred site for tailings storage, despite the company's public statements otherwise. High Country News writes:
In an email, state geologist John Schieffer scoffed at claims that the pile would eventually be covered with native vegetation. "Tailings are devoid of all nutrients. … It will be an ugly eyesore forever!" he wrote, adding that the company was planning to do geologic testing without permits, and that its hydrologic study plans were "poor."The Queen Valley water manager and fire chief said that the town's groundwater has begun dropping about a foot a week, the most he's seen in 25 years. The company, who's pumped 2 billion gallons of water from an old mine shaft in preparation for the new mine says its not them.
Read related articles about small communities fighting a multi national mining giant in High County News.
Retirees joint environmentalists in fighting Arizona Copper Mine.
Reluctant Boomtown: Mining abandonded Superior a decade ago. Now the industry is ready to return, but this little Arizona town is not sure it wants it back.
Rock jocks fight a mining company: Land swap would undo a presidential order for land protection.
