CWG Meeting #25 scheduled for tonight

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Superior – “Where do we want Superior to be when the mine goes into operation? Where do we want to be in 2020 and beyond?” These are the final thoughts expressed at the last meeting of the Community Work Group (CWG).

During Meeting #24 on Aug. 13, meeting attendees began by welcoming welcomed two new CWG members. During Housekeeping, it was revealed that the Town of Superior has asked Public Works Director Anthony Huerta and Police Chief Mark Nipp to serve as the liaison between the Town of Superior and the CWG. John Godec is continuing discussions with the San Carlos community. Tribal representatives have suggested a visit their cultural center. The group agreed to schedule the trip on October 8, if possible.

A letter from Resolution explained that Resolution will be drilling a 4,000-foot deep bore hole to measure water level and pressure on the south side of Superior in a 50-day process that will require drilling day and night. There will be machinery at the site and it will be staffed 24 hours a day. Noise abatement measures will be used. A public meeting, to which all residents are invited, is scheduled for Monday, August 18 at 6 p.m. at the Magma Club.

The group asked for someone from Resolution to address issues with the railroad and Hewitt station, and there were questions about the water delivery system, and the amount of water that will be needed from Arizona Water Company for the mine. There are currently no agreements between Resolution and the water company, according to a company representative. A CWG member stated that the water system was originally built for the mining operation in Superior, and that the company has purchased water already. It was asked that answers to these questions be addressed at the next meeting.

Bill Vogler, CWG Representative reported on Holden Mine Tour & Remediation Activities.

Copper was discovered at Holden in 1896 and mined until 1957. Mining claims were deeded to the Lutheran Bible Institute in 1961, now the site of Holden Village. In the late 1980’s the U.S. Forest Service identified numerous environmental problems and began to address them. In the early 1990’s the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified Intalco Aluminum Corporation as a potentially responsible party and cleanup studies began under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), often referred to as the Superfund program. In 2007 Rio Tinto acquired Alcan, the parent company of Intalco, which included the Holden site in a larger portfolio of active mines. Rio Tinto began preparing the site for cleanup in 2011. A federal Record of Decision for the cleanup was issued in 2012.

The Forest Service is overseeing the Rio Tinto cleanup for the EPA. Bill Vogler pointed out that the Forest Service representative in charge has been impressed with Rio Tinto’s emphasis on safety and the work done to date. Remediation activities are expected to continue through 2015, followed by ongoing monitoring. The remediation is expected to cost about $200 million.

Synopsis and Community Investment Program Management Options

After a review of past discussions, to benefit newer members, the group continued a discussion from the last meeting regarding how Resolution and the community can work together.

Following was a general discussion about recommendations and past priorities for community investment that the group had identified. That original list and order of priorities still seemed to be generally acceptable to the group. The CWG generally agreed that economic diversification in Superior and the region needs to take place. Losing the campground is also a large concern.

There was continued discussion about the possible structure of an organization that would administer contributions from the mine to the community, and how those contributions might be allocated. The group discussed and expressed interested in learning more about what kind of organization would be most appropriate for doing this. Alternatives to consider include foundations, trusts, and municipal enterprises. It was suggested that the Arizona Community Foundation may have some useful information to assist in exploring this topic. The Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAAG) may also have some useful economic development information.

Several members suggested a need exists to build the community up and that the need for a diverse and inclusive group to drive this effort isn’t based solely on the viability of Resolution. The group indicated they felt the community needs to look at a plan for economic development rather than depending solely on the mine, saying that diversification should be a top priority for the community. The general feeling was that the community could not wait for 10 years to begin working on these initiatives.

A member of the public said that diversification costs money; the community should work with the company and use the company to its benefit. Another visitor said that the agreement should be with a group like the CWG, stating that “we don’t need a legal structure, we need common goals as the starting point. Our goal is to be sustainable after the mine is gone.”.

The next Community Work Group (CWG) meeting is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Superior Chamber of Commerce, 165 W. Main Street. It begins at 5:30 p.m. with a light dinner for CWG members and staff, and then moves on to introductions and housekeeping, as well as new member orientation before settling down to the more serious matters to be discussed; wrapping up at 8 p.m.

Meeting #26 of CWG is scheduled for October 8, when there will be a field trip to the San Carlos Cultural Center at 1 p.m., followed by a meeting discussing Resolution Employment Profile at 6 p.m.

Staff (5796 Posts)

There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.


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