RE: RE: Big pop today! I think whats happened is the opposition filed a lawsuit against ADEQ last week to get an injunction to prevent permits to be released. Funny thing is that permits have not even been issued and they are filing legal challenges. The way it works is they can appeal the ADEQ decision but the project continues and cant be stopped by an appeal.(Unless they lose the appeal.) I think whats taking so long is that ADEQ is making absolutely sure that their decision making is sound scientifically and leglly. Here is a recent article:
aim to block Florence mine plan
Injunction sought vs. wastewater permit
by Craig Harris - Sept. 25, 2012 10:19 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
Opponents of a proposed Florence underground copper mine are seeking an injunction to stop the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality from issuing a temporary wastewater permit that would allow the project to move forward.
Developers Southwest Value Partners and Pulte Home Corp., along with Johnson Utilities, the water provider in Florence, filed the lawsuit late last week in Maricopa
County Superior Court. The court has taken no action. The suit is the latest salvo in a long-running fight between mine opponents and Curis Resources. Opponents contend the mine would pollute the groundwater, while Curis has said there is no environmental danger and the company has promised jobs, tax revenues and mining royalties for the state if it is allowed to extract copper from the ground.
The chief executive of Curis said Tuesday the suit has "no real basis," and the company wouldn't do the project if it can't be done safely. Curis needs permits from the ADEQ and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to begin mining on 160 acres of State Land Department trust land that Curis leases. Curis also plans to mine on 1,182 acres of property it owns. Downtown Florence is south of the proposed mine, off Hunt Highway. Curis has enlisted support from Gov. Jan Brewer and Stand Land Commissioner Maria Baier, whose agency holds a key that could open the door to mining in Florence. Mine opponents in the suit say the ADEQ does not have legal authority to issue a temporary aquifer protection permit because there is no emergency. They also say if groundwater is polluted it would economically damage their businesses, and the issuance of a temporary permit would circumvent public input on an issue also opposed by the Florence Town Council.
"Curis opted for the temporary permit approach because it allows for no public input or scrutiny before a permit decision is made," said Justin Merritt, senior manager for
Southwest Value Partners, whose co-founder is Suns owner Robert Sarver. "This is an end-run around the will of the residents of Florence who have repeatedly expressed that they don't want a mine located in the middle of their town."
In the suit, opponents say Curis applied for a temporary permit for a pilot test facility, but they believe the ADEQ will "imminently" issue the permit. Mark Shaffer, ADEQ spokesman, said the department is aware of the suit and has not issued a temporary individual permit. He said the department on Monday received more than 160 pages of comments from the plaintiffs. "We plan to review those comments and any other comments we have received. We've gone above and beyond what the law requires as far as public process, even holding a public meeting in Florence after receipt of the application to provide information about the process," Shaffer said. "The public has also had ample opportunity to provide comments to ADEQ in the interim."
The controversy centers on a unique process called in-situ mining. It is a less costly technique in which an acid solution is injected underground to leach out valuable metals that are later sucked back to surface by powerful pumps and extracted. Critics say the process will pollute the groundwater. The developers also don't want it because a mine doesn't fit into their plans for a residential boom in the area.
"This project should be judged on the basis of facts and sound science. We have confidence in the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to make this very transparent and public determination,"Michael McPhie, chief executive of the Florence Copper Project said.
"We're confident that the complaint has no real basis, this process is both good business and protective of human health and the environment. If we can't do this safely, we can't do it."