The Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP) will hold a community meeting on mining issues in Grant County on Thursday, October 20 at 6pm at the Bayard Community Center located at 290 Hurley Avenue in Bayard.
GRIP staff will present an update on the status of the Copper Rule currently under review by the NM Supreme Court. GRIP will also seek community concerns on Freeport-McMoRan's application for the new North Lambright waste rock stockpile at Chino Mine and answer any questions the community might have regarding the potential environmental impacts of this site or other mining activities in Grant County.
Additionally, GRIP staff will provide an update on Freeport-McMoRan's proposal for financial assurance for the Chino, Tyrone and Continental mines given the corporation's failure to pass the Mining Act's Financial Soundness Test due to its declining financial situation. Freeport has proposed a $104 million Third Party Guarantee that poses significant environmental and financial risk to the State of New Mexico, taxpayers, and our community should the company and its subsidiaries go bankrupt.
"Growing up in Vanadium, I lived really close to waste rock, leach piles and other mining operations. I understand the concerns of community members as I have seen the damage these operations can have on our natural resources, like ground water. I have also seen the burden that historical mining at Chino can leave on local communities and the citizens that live nearby. It's critical that environmental safeguards are enforced to protect public health and the environment. We hope this meeting will help inform our community about what's at stake with these important upcoming decisions," says A.J. Sandoval, GRIP Program Associate.
For more information on the community meeting, contact A.J. Sandoval at 575.538.8078 or visit www.gilaresources.info
The Gila Resources Information Project is a non-profit environmental organization that promotes community health by protecting our environment and natural resources in southwestern New Mexico.