By Mila Besich-Lira

Superior Sun

On Wednesday, March 6, Resolution Copper Mining issued a response letter to the Town of Superior. The letter was in response to the Town’s letter of Feb. 21 terminating the Mutual Benefits Agreement and pulling their unqualified support for the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange.

The letter provides the town with options for the town to re-negotiate the Mutual Benefits Agreement. The options suggested by Resolution Copper included that the town re-instate the mutual benefits agreement and then negotiate the terms ensuring that the terms of the 2013 financial allocation are met and that the 2014 funds could be available. The second option suggested that the town and the company establish a committee of stakeholders to re-negotiate the mutual benefits agreement and the third option was for the Town and Resolution Copper to develop another kind of financial support or partnership. All three of the suggestions require the town council to pass a resolution of support for the land exchange and mine project.

The response from Resolution Copper clearly states that while the company understands the precarious financial situation the town is in they are unable to provide financial support to the town at this time.

The response from Resolution Copper was not discussed during the regularly scheduled Superior Town Council meeting on March 7. A copy of both letters can be seen by clicking the links below.

On Tuesday morning, the Town of Superior posted an agenda to call a special meeting for Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. Action items on the agenda include passing a resolution opposing the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act H.R. 687 and sending a delegation to Washington D.C. to testify to Congress regarding H.R. 687.

  The Town’s letter to Resolution Copper can be read online HERE.

  Resolution’s response to the letter can be read online HERE.