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Forum attendees were treated to a tour of the Resolution Reclamation Project.
Mila Besich-Lira | Sun
By Mila Besich-Lira
Superior Sun
Resolution Copper has began its summer forum series for 2014. The first forum included a tour of the areas that the company has reclaimed since 2005.
The tour began at the Magma Club where guests learned the basics of mine safety and took a quiz to allow them to enter the mine property. Following the quiz and introductions the guests boarded a tour bus for an hour long tour of the Resolution Copper Mine property off of Magma. This part of the property is known as the west plant.
The tour of the west plant included a stop at the 500 yard where everyone had an opportunity to view the property from the overlook and learn about the clean up of the old Magma hospital now known as the Verde Building. One of the items pointed out was that when Resolution Copper remodeled the hospital into their offices they took every effort to preserve the building and reconstructed it to be a green building. Each door and window was custom made to fit the building in order to keep the nostalgic integrity. During this stop on the tour many locals shared stories of the old hospital and how the area looked prior to massive cleanup by Resolution Copper.
The bus then took guests to see the Never Sweat Tunnel, the waste water treatment plant, which is where the mill used to be, and guests were also able to drive close to the rail yard and smelter.
“To date, the company has spent thirty million dollars to reclaim the legacy issues left by Magma,” said Casey McKeon the environmental manager for Resolution Copper.
The smelter was also a topic of discussion during the forum. McKeon explained that the company is evaluating its smelter to ensure that it not a safety hazard for those around the smelter. There is some concern that high winds or rough weather have knocked bricks off the top of the iconic structure. During the meeting it was announced that there will be a community discussion on the smelter.
Returning to the Magma Club, guests were able to learn more about the permits involved in operating the mine and conducting the reclamation projects. Currently there are 20 active permits on site and there could be up to 50 depending on the project. McKeon shared with the group that each of these permits have financial assurances that will allow the state to clean up the project should a mining company ever up and leave.
These forums will be conducted throughout the summer. The next forum is scheduled for July 31, from 6-8 p.m. at the Magma Club. The forum topic will be on Resolution Copper Health and Safety programs. This forum will be held at the Magma Club.
For more information on the Resolution Copper project or their community outreach and education programs you can visit them online at: http://resolutioncopper.com.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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