Community Granted Hearing on Little Rock Mine Expansion
Freeport-McMoRan submitted an application to the state Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) to expand the Little Rock mine just west of the Tyrone mine. In addition to requests made by several residents that live adjacent to the mine, GRIP requested a public hearing on the proposal, citing a number of concerns that are of interest to the public including the following:
- an increase in the size of the Little Rock Mine permit boundary;
- formation of a pit lake at closure that may pose a water quality risk to wildlife;
- groundwater flow and drawdown that may impact water quality and water supply at adjacent residential properties;
- construction of three new waste rock stockpiles, associated materials handling, and use of waste rock as reclamation cover material;
- construction of two new haul roads that cross Deadman Canyon;
- concerns of adjacent property owners associated with expansion of Little Rock, such as nuisance dust, noise, lights, and blasting.
- Proposed reclamation activities to restore the Little Rock Mine to its post-mining land use;
- Reclamation cost estimate and associated financial assurance.
MMD approved the requests for a public hearing. GRIP’s technical consultant, Jim Kuipers, is in the process of reviewing the Little Rock application and Closure/Closeout Plan.