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A geologist speaks during a recent public tour of the Resolution Copper Company’s Core Processing Center. Ashley Milagros Lira | Nugget
By Mila Besich-Lira
Pinal Nugget
The Resolution Copper Project just east of Superior has met many challenges over the past decade. This past year the company overcame a few challenges during the construction of the number 10 shaft. As the crews reached deeper lengths of the shaft during the construction, the heat became unbearable and construction was halted on the shaft construction to install improved air conditioning and cooling systems.
Despite the slow down on the shaft construction, as soon as it was safe to return to constructing the shaft, crews got back to work and currently the shaft is a depth of 6,787 feet below the earth’s surface. At completion the shaft will be 6,984 feet. The company expects to get to reach that depth by the end of 2014.
The project continues to await Congressional approval of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act. The exchange will exchange 3,800 acres of federal lands including the Oak Flats camp ground for 5,300 acres of high priority conservation lands that the company owns in Arizona. The land exchange includes the transfer of 110 acres to the US Forest Service which will protect the escarpment of Apache Leap which towers over Superior to the east. In 2013 Representatives Gosar and Kirkpatrick re-introduced the land exchange, the bill quickly gained momentum in the House of Representatives with hearings in the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee. Unfortunately the bill has not received a vote in the House of Representatives. Senator John McCain has remained in support of the land exchange but there has still been no significant movement of the bill in the Senate. Congress has adjourned until after the November elections, which means the bill will not have much movement in the 112th Congress. “While we are disappointed Congress adjourned prior to the November elections without taking a vote on the bill; however, Resolution Copper continues to be optimistic about action on the land exchange bill in the 113th Congress,” explained Dave Richins, principal advisor and government affairs with the company.
Resolution continues to provide support to the communities of the Copper Corridor as part of their social license to operate. The company has contributed over $200,000 to the Town of Superior and throughout the region. “We value our relationship with the Town of Superior and we look forward to a long, constructive relationship with the town government and other businesses and institutions in the region,” explained Richins. Public polling conducted by pollster Bruce Merrill indicates that the company has an 85 percent approval rating throughout the Copper Corridor.
In the coming year, residents in the region can expects to see continued public outreach about the project. The company expects scoping related the National Environmental Protection Act, the scoping will include public comment periods and public meetings. Resolution is also planning the start of additional reclamation work on the mine site.
For more information on the Resolution Copper project you can visit their website at: www.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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