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Resolution Copper continues to work on the development of their project which will create an estimated 3,700 jobs near Superior. At this point the project is undergoing the permitting phase and the Tonto National Forest has hired the consulting firm that will actually conduct the National Environmental Protection Act permitting and public participations processes. The company received congressional approval for the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act in December 2014. The approval of the land exchange came around the same time that the sinking of the number 10 shaft was complete. Resolution laid off several local workers from the Copper Corridor due to the project not being ready to complete the sinking of the number nine shaft to meet up with the number 10 shaft.
ASARCO announced major lay offs in August. Those lay offs will be in full effect by the end of October. The Union and ASARCO have still not come to a contract agreement and it does not appear that either party has made a move on any further negotiations. Once the final layoffs are completed the company will have a workforce of 1,637 workers this number is down by 20%. The company plans on shutting down the concentrator at the Hayden operations indefinitely.
Freeport McMoRan also announced lay offs for their Miami pit operations following a multi year decline in copper prices. The company plans to reduce their capital expenditures in 2016 by $4.0 billion of that $1.4 billion will affect mining projects and $0.6 billion in mining sustaining capital. These reductions will have affects across their portfolio.
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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