Grant County is home to two of the nation’s five largest open-pit copper mines, responsible for ongoing groundwater contamination, aquifer depletion, bird deaths, and the destruction of preciouis riparian areas.
Since 1998, GRIP has raised awareness of these issues and mobilized residents to voice their opinions at hearings and in letters to newspapers and decisionmakers. By hiring a national expert in mine reclamation, we have also educated regulators and the mines about industry best practices.
As a result of these efforts and the support of environmental groups statewide, the Tyrone and Chino mines have two of the nation’s best reclamation plans, backed by over $500 million in financial assurance.
As a partner in the New Mexico Mining Act Network, GRIP continues to defend the NM Mining Act and Water Quality Act from industry rollback attempts, such as with the latest water quality regulation for copper mining. Ongoing activities include monitoring the environmental impacts of the mines under operational permits, oversight of permitting for a proposed new haul road at the Cobre mine and permitting of a new mine near Hillsboro.
August 25, 2025 Santa Fe, NM— The State Engineer issued her decision last week denying Tulla Resources’ application to transfer water rights needed to reopen the Copper Flat Mine near Hillsboro in southern New Mexico. The State Engineer also noted the effects of climate change on New Mexico’s water resources. Quoting a 2006 Office of […]
Photo: James St. John The NM Mining and Minerals Division held a public hearing on the Emma and Tyrone Peak exploration projects on February 10. The public comment period remains open until Monday, February 24. The Emma Exploration at the Tyrone Mine would disturb 60 acres located adjacent to residences. Freeport has not disclosed in […]
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking stock of everything we accomplished this year with your support. Your generosity has helped us further our mission to promote healthy communities by protecting our environment. Together, we have held Freeport-McMoRan accountable for groundwater contamination and impacts to water supplies, defended southwest New Mexico and southern Arizona […]
Albuquerque, NM – August 28, 2024 – The Federal District Court for the District of New Mexico has ruled in favor of a coalition of environmental organizations that challenged the development of a dolomite mine in the Florida Mountains near Deming, New Mexico. The court determined that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) violated the […]
Climate change is top of mind for everyone this summer as we deal with sweltering heat, wildfires, and a slow-to-start monsoon. As part of the state’s 50-year water plan, scientists have told New Mexicans to expect a 25% reduction in water supplies by 2070 – about 5% every decade – as a consequence of a […]
ALBUQUERQUE—On July 12, 2023, the Federal District Court for the District of New Mexico heardoral arguments related to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s decision to approve AmericanMagnesium LLC’s proposal to develop a dolomite mine in the Florida Mountains near Deming, NewMexico. The arguments centered around whether BLM violated federal law and whether BLM’sapproval of […]
Mine-contaminated water shows up in Hanover Creek Mine-contaminated water from the Cobre mine has discharged into Hanover Creek. The turquoise-blue precipitate has shown up in a quarter-mile stretch of Hanover Creek on the east side of Hanover Mountain, where active mining has been going on since July 2018. After local residents posted photos to Facebook, […]
Residents of Mogollon, NM have banded together to oppose a new mining exploration project just outside of their community of 15 people. Vancouver-based Summa Silver Corporation has been exploring for gold and silver on 1.44 acres of private land just to the west of the community. Residents had no idea exploration would be taking place […]
Last week, GRIP filed a protest with the Office of the State Engineer to block a water rights transfer needed by Freeport-McMoRan to construct and operate a new open pit at its Tyrone Mine. Five other protests were filed by private landowners near the proposed Emma Expansion Project, which would be located directly south of […]
It’s hard to believe, but the 1872 Mining Law still governs how minerals are extracted from public lands 150 years after it was passed. With approximately $1 billion in hardrock minerals extracted every year from public lands, not a single cent is collected in royalties, costing Americans more than $160 million annually. This does not […]
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