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.
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 […]
The Mining and Minerals Division will hold a hybrid public hearing (both in person and virtually) on Tuesday, August 16th at 5 pm at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center (next to Ace Hardware) on Freeport-McMoRan’s proposed new open pit at the Tyrone Mine. Public Notice The public hearing on the Emma […]
Freeport-McMoRan, owner and operator of the Chino and Tyrone copper mines, continues to move forward with expansion projects, while the Malone Bronco Creek exploration project is delayed. GRIP submitted its public comments on the draft discharge permit renewal and modification for expansion of the Little Rock Mine, an open pit copper mine that is part […]
In October, Freeport-McMoRan submitted applications to the state for permits for a new mine unit at the Tyrone Mine. Located on the southeast side of Tyrone just to the west of Highway 90, the Emma Project will cover approximately 400 acres of disturbance, including construction of an open pit 600 feet deep. The project will […]
With the availability of COVID vaccines and the positive outlook for copper, Chino mine reopened in early 2021 and Tyrone pushed forward with its expansion plans at Little Rock and the new Emma Project this past year. Proposals to explore for copper and other minerals in the area are moving forward in response to the […]
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