Superior Sun
Resolution Copper hosted their final community summer forum last week, the polls were conducted by Dr. Bruce Merrill from Arizona State University. The poll was conducted in the early summer by calling 332 adult heads of households in the Copper Triangle area, which includes Superior, Globe, Miami, Kearny, Hayden and Winkelman.
Here are some of the finding from the poll, guests in attendance at the forum also had a chance to answer the questions in an interactive forum, those answers were all pretty much in line with the results of the phone poll.
The poll showed that there is an overwhelming support for developing the proposed mine. 85 percent of all the adults in the area, with an opinion support the mine. Resolution Copper is highly though of in the area, 84 percent of all residents have a favorable opinion of the company. 79 percent of the residents surveyed said that their opinion of the mine has become more favorable. 85 percent of those interviewed said that the mine will help more than hurt the copper triangle area.
How did those surveyed feel about feel about the affects of the project on the local economy and the environment? 93 percent of those interviewed say the mine is important to the local economy, those interviewed said creating jobs is needed to restore vitality to the local communities. 93 percent also said that Resolution Copper is a good neighbor, and 85 percent of those interviewed said that the company was doing a good job protecting the environment.
Those polled also indicated that they were unaware that the company had made significant investments in cleaning up tailing sites left by Magma Copper. Those polled also said they hope that Resolution Copper will keep investment in education as a high priority.
Those in attendance were able to ask questions of the mine’s senior leadership team. Questions posed included questions on how to get the old locomotives running on the MARRCo railroad. Vickey Peacey with the RCM said the company is willing to work with the Town of Superior on their vision and if the vision included using the rail line they would consider that. Other questions involved the drilling for the hydrology monitoring, company officials explained that the drilling is going well and is ahead of schedule.
Part of the discussion from the public included how the company was going to try and hire locally, and ensure that our workforce is trained for this new mining method. Melissa Rabago with Resolution Copper explained the many investments that RCM has made into the local and regional schools with scholarships, STEM curriculum and robotics programs.
This was the final forum for the summer for Resolution Copper. Many in the public asked that the forums continue throughout the year to help keep them informed on the progress of the mine.