Group Forms to Support Resolution Copper; Opposition Also Growing

A group of citizens and business owners in Superior have created a new organization they say is intended to support local economic and community development efforts and hold local elected officials accountable.

The Superior Copper Alliance  was formed following the Superior Town Council’s withdrawal of support for the Resolution Copper project. They helped gather more than 400 signatures on a petition giving support to the mine project and have spoken out against the actions of the Town Council.

The Superior Copper Alliance has also taken out recall petitions against  Councilmember “Kiki” Peralta. She has raised concerns about water and environmental issues. Peralta says the plan of operations for the mine still needs to be disclosed and discussed.

The Superior Town Council has terminated its Mutual Benefirts Agreement  with Resolution Copper, saying  it required the town to borrow $8 million to purchase land already owned or permitted to the Town.

The Queen Valley Homeowners Association has passed a resolution opposing the bill. It says the mining company has been pumping 900,000 gallons of water a day out of the Queen Creek drainage area, which they say is water their community depends on.

The City of Globe recently  tabled a resolution of support for the Land Swap bill, largely because of concerns over the copper company’s requirement for 40,000 acre feet of water a year. Globe Councilmember Dezi Baker says that amount of water could supply the City of Globe for 16 years. He says he cannot support the bill without full disclosure about the mining company’s water needs and its compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce has stated its support for the bill.

Opponents say the mine would destroy an area set aside in 1955 by President Eisenhower that is sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe.