Submit Written Public Comment on Copper Flat Mine by October 16

Mining and Minerals Division Hearing Recap and Opportunities to Submit Public Comment

New Mexico Copper Corporation (NMCC) has proposed to reopen the Copper Flat Mine outside of Hillsboro in Sierra County. State regulators are reviewing the revised Copper Flat application, giving New Mexicans another opportunity to ask whether the mine can operate and be reclaimed without putting surrounding water, land, and communities at unacceptable risk.

The Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) held a public hearing on September 17 at the Hillsboro Community Center. Most of the 20+ oral public comments were in opposition to the mine application given impacts to water supplies, groundwater and air quality; negative impacts to local businesses that rely on water from Las Animas Creek; and increased traffic and road deterioration caused by mine haul trucks.

GRIP and the Percha/Animas Watershed Association (PAWA) presented joint technical testimony that recommended that MMD not approve NMCC’s application at this time given three major technical deficiencies:

1. The mine operator has overestimated the water savings from switching to filtered tailings from conventional wet tailings and therefore does not have sufficient water rights to operate the mine at 30,000 tons per day of production and reclaim it once the mine ceases operation. Dr. Steven Emerman presentation
2. Due to several deficiencies in NMCC’s slope stability analysis, we recommend that MMD require the company redo its tailings storage facility design to meet the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM standards) and revise the associated analyses to properly evaluate the probability of catastrophic failure of the filtered tailings storage facility. Dr. David Chambers presentation
3. We recommend that the Office of the State Engineer review and permit the filtered tailings storage facility design given the potential risk of catastrophic failure and potential to pose a direct threat to life and property.

Please submit your written public comment by the close of the hearing record on October 16th at 5pm.

To: Director Aguilera, New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division, MMD.MARP@emnrd.nm.gov
Re: Copper Flat Mine Revised Application, Permit No. SI027RN

You don’t need to be a mining expert to participate. Tell regulators what concerns you, why it matters to you or your community, and what you want them to consider before making a decision.

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Don’t have time to submit a written comment? Add your name to the NM Mining Watch sign-on letter here.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION!