Agenda

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ARF- 2580

2- C

Work Session

Meeting Date:	06/10/2014
Submitted For:	Jacque Griffin
Submitted By:	Jacque Griffin, Asst. County Manager/Librarian, Asst County Manager/Library District
Department:	Deputy County Mgr/Library District	Division:	Administrative Services

Information

Request/Subject

Provide comment on a proposed Plan of Operations for the Resolution Baseline Hydrological and Geotechnical Data Gathering Activities

Background Information

The Tonto National Forest has opened a comment period regarding a proposed Plan of Operations (Plan) for the Resolution Baseline Hydrological and Geotechnical Data Gathering Activities Submitted by Resolution Copper Mining, LLC (Resolution). The project is proposed on lands within the Tonto National Forest on the Mesa and Globe Ranger Districts in Pinal County. This project is approximately six miles north and west of the town of Superior, and is located north of the Hewitt Station Road in the Superstition foothills.

Resolution proposes to conduct baseline hydrologic, geochemical, and geotechnical data in order to provide baseline information on these aspects of the environment over an area being considered for a potential tailings storage site related to Resolution’s proposed General Plan of Operations. Resolution is entitled to conduct operations that are reasonably incidental to exploration and development of mineral deposits on its unpatented mining claims pursuant to U.S. Mining Laws.

The total project area proposed for the Baseline Activities, including new construction activity, road improvements, use of short term temporary access roads and existing road surfaces is approximately 93 acres. Proposed new construction disturbance would occur on a total of 31.74 acres, all Tonto Forest land.

Tonto National Forest has determined that an Environmental Analysis (EA) is the appropriate level of analysis for this proposed plan. This EA will identify the activities in the proposal as the “proposed action,” and identify alternatives in response to issues that may be identified during the NEPA scoping process. The Tonto Forest is initiating scoping efforts to identify those issues and questions to be considered in the evaluation.

Comments should be within scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Comments are due by 4:30 pm, on Monday, June 23, 2014.

Evaluation

Resolution Copper has spent the past ten years and several million dollars developing plans to access the additional copper ore body that was discovered in 1996. The economic benefit to the local area as well as to Arizona will continue for at least another 50 years. The next phases of environmental studies, construction, operation and reclamation, will create an estimated economic benefit of $20 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue, more than $14 billion in wages, and a total economic impact of more than $61 billion over its 60 year lifespan.

As part of the engineering and environmental phase, this proposed action gathers data on the future potential tailings storage site. Resolution has been engaged in ongoing discussions with local private land owners, and the proposed location addresses the local residents’ concerns and issues

Conclusion

Resolution Copper will have an economic benefit to Gila County, and as such, Gila County has a special interest in this proposal. Providing comments to this scoping phase of the Environmental Assessment will be considered part of the public record of this analysis by the Tonto Forest as it moves forward in this project, and will ensure that Gila County is kept informed as the process continues.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors issue official comments on the Resolution Baseline Hydrological and Geotechnical Data gathering Activities.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to consider issuing official comments from the Board of Supervisors to the Tonto National Forest regarding the Resolution Baseline Hydrological and Geotechnical Data Gathering Activities Plan. (Jacque Griffin)

Attachments
Comment Letter Resolution Data Gathering Plan
Scoping Letter Tonto Forest Resolution Data Gathering Plan