October 31, 2012
Copper Basin News, Hayden, Arizona
Page 19
Florence Copper Project moves forward By Zach Richter Copper Area News Despite local opposition and the best efforts of the group Protect Our Water our Future, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) granted Curis Resource the Aquifer Protection Permit [APP] required for the company to move forward with Phase 1 of the in-situ copper mine the Florence Copper Project on Sept. 28, 2012. “The receipt of our Phase 1 operating permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is a key milestone for the company as we look forward to the start of construction and development of the Florence Copper Project,” said Michael McPhie, Curis President and CEO
in a press release regarding the permit. The Southeast Valley Ledger spoke with Rita Maguire, Senior Legal and Government Affairs Advisor to Curis Resources about what the permitting means for the project and a tentative start date for Phase 1. She explained that the ADEQ permit has been issued though there is a public comment period before it is finalized. “This permit is a critical milestone, next the ADEQ will begin its formal comment and hearing process where they will take public comment and then issue the final permit,” Maguire said. “The ADEQ won’t issue the permit at all unless we meet all of their requirements; they believe
the [in-situ] process is safe.” Maguire went on to note that the dates of the public comment meetings will be announced by the end of Oct., “The second part of the permitting process is the EPA’s underground injection permit,” she continued. “It’s been in process form many months…we’re hopeful the permit will be issued by the end of the year.” Assuming everything goes according to plan, Maguire believes the Florence Copper Project will be up and running in its testing phase in the spring of 2013. “Things are really moving forward, we’re actively remodeling offices and Curis is hiring new people and moving
forward with vendors and contractors,” she said. “What the ADEQ has done is grant a temporary [APP] for two years on a small scale…all the data will go to the ADEQ and the EPA demonstrating this process can operate exactly as we expect.” While Curis and the ADEQ are confidant in-situ mining is safe, the organization known
as Protect Our Water our Future is confidant they know better. The Southeast Valley Ledger reached out to the group and received a statement from group spokesperson Justin Merritt. “We knew the APP permit was going to be issued, that is why we filed the complaint along with Pulte Homes and Johnson Utilities, over
a week ago,” he wrote. “In our opinion foreign owned Curis Resources is requesting a temporary permit for long term commercial use, which is totally inappropriate.” “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 Curis, Page 20
Copper Basin
Church Directory FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH Tilbury & Danbury, Kearny • Joe Palmer, Pastor
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service: 10:45 a.m. Tuesday: Morning Fellowship: 10 a.m. Wednesday: Kid’s Club 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Salt & Light Company (Youth): 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Dinner and Bible Study: 6-7 p.m.
KEARNY CHURCH OF CHRIST 103 Hammond Drive, Kearny Serving All of the Copper Basin Area Sunday Bible Study: 10 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Evening Worship: 6 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study: 7 p.m. Daniel Foster, Minister 363-7711
COPPER VALLEY CHRISTIAN CENTER
Corner of Upton & Croydon, Kearny Worship Service: 11 a.m. Evening Service: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Family Night: 6:30 p.m. James Hosea, Jr., Pastor 363-7129
KEARNY SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH
302 Danbury, Kearny, 363-9573 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 11 a.m. Worship Sunday Evening 6 p.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 7 p.m. Joseph Thoms, Supplied Pastor
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Sunday Worship - 9:00 a.m.
A United Methodist Church in cooperation with The Episcopal Church and The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America We stand in awe of God and of one another Pastor Nina Yardley
You can find us at the bottom of school hill in Kearny 520-363-7283 www.thegoodshepherd.pbworks.com
LIGHTHOUSE ASSEMBLY OF GOD Welcomes you! Hwy. 77, MP 134,1/2 mile south of Winkelman Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Family Night: 7 p.m. David Wade, Pastor 356-7414, 356-6718
SAN PEDRO VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
Dudleyville Road, Dudleyville Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship: 11 a.m. Spanish Service: 5 p.m. Evening Service: 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7 p.m. Tim King, Pastor • 520-827-0820
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Welcomes you! 300 Mt. View Road, Hayden Weekday Mass: M-W, F & S) 8:30 a.m. Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. Father Robert A. Rodriguez, Pastor 356-7223
To be included in the weekly church listing, contact the Copper Basin News at 363-5554 or by email at cbnsun@minersunbasin.com