小红帽直播app

Benefits of Resolution Copper mine touted at public hearing

A packed Tempe hotel conference room was the site of a Thursday night public hearing on Resolution Copper, a proposed copper mine in northeast Pinal County near Superior, Ariz., that will be the nation鈥檚 largest once mining operations begin.

The hearing was the sixth in a series hosted by the Tonto National Forest, providing supporters and opponents of the project an opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which assesses various environmental components related to the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

In addition to public hearings, the Forest Service has made resources , including environmental documents, informational videos and explanatory fact sheets about the mine鈥檚 effect on air quality, public safety and more.

鈥淭he U.S. Forest Service deserves tremendous credit for the work they鈥檝e put into this draft EIS,鈥 Arizona Mining Association Executive Director Steve Trussell said during his testimony. 鈥淭he process has reached unprecedented levels of engagement and transparency. That is a testament to the way this process has been conducted.鈥

Supporters of the mine touted the responsible manner in which environmental concerns have been addressed as well as the project鈥檚 economic benefits.

The DEIS estimates the project will result in 3,700 jobs and approximately $1 billion in economic benefit 鈥 an estimate the Arizona 小红帽直播app of Commerce and Industry says might be too low.

鈥淲e believe that the Forest Service may have underestimated local tax revenues that will be realized through construction activities and new commercial development such as housing, hotels, retail and more, which will occur as a result of the operation,鈥 小红帽直播app spokesman Garrick Taylor said during his testimony.

Southern Arizona Business Coalition Vice President Rick Grinnell testified that the demand for copper is growing, which the Resolution project can help meet.

鈥淪ince 1950, the population of the world has gone from a little over 2.5 billion people to over 7.7 billion people鈥 over 3 times,鈥 Grinnell said. 鈥淪ince 1950, the need of copper has gone up nine times and will continue to do so. We can鈥檛 live in a world today without mining.鈥

Anticipating the need for talented workers once the project comes online, Resolution Copper is partnering with schools in Superior to help prepare students for careers in the mining field and other industries.

鈥淭hey are funding an incubator and entrepreneurship center in Superior to develop local small business,鈥 Trussell said. 鈥淭hey have provided $1.2 million to the Superior School District and will modernize classrooms and enhance curriculum.鈥

The Resolution project was made possible by a federal land exchange under the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, one of 80 land exchanges included in the bill. The project received bipartisan support from the Arizona congressional delegation at the time of the bill鈥檚 passage.

on the DEIS will be accepted until Nov. 7.

Graham Bosch

Add comment

Subscribe to the Dry Heat

Get updates on the most important news delivered right to your email. Fully personalized options. No SPAM. Unsubscribe anytime.

Let’s Get Social

小红帽直播app wants to connect with you. Follow us, tweet, share, post, comment... however you get social is the perfect way to connect.