SUPERIOR — Monday night’s hearing conducted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at the Senior Citizens Center in the town of Superior was attended by some 30 persons. However, only three individuals came forward to present their comments during the proceedings and they were all against ADEQ’s preliminary decision to grant two water quality permits to the Resolution Copper Company.

The Superior-based mining firm had applied for a renewal  of an AZPDES permit for the discharge of a total long term average flow of 3.6 million gallons per day of possible storm water runoff at its local operations. In addition, Resolution Copper was seeking an Aquifer Protection Permit for a new facility located on the north bank of Queen Creek directly west of the Town of Superior.

Well known environmentalist, Roger Featherstone of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition said during the state hearing  “I see this as a new mine yet most of the documents are old permits. They should have to start from scratch.”  Featherstone went on to claim that Queen Creek is already an impaired stream and this will add to that impairment.”

 “Our concern is protecting our ecosystem” he remarked.  Featherstone,  who lives in Tucson , also submitted a number of written comments during the Superior hearing for ADEQ officials to study and consider..

Henry C. Munoz Senior, a former three term councilman from the Town of Superior, who is with the Concerned Citizens of Superior Group, said “ in this community, water is our lifeline.  If our water is damaged it is like putting a dagger in the heart of the community.’   Munoz further contends that levels of arsenic in the water have already been high in the community.

Robyn Interpreter,  a Phoenix attorney representing the San Carlos Apache  Tribe , complained to ADEQ officials conducting the hearing  there was not enough information in the fact sheets pertaining to the two water quality permits being sought by the company.. The San Carlos Tribal leaders are against the new $4 billion underground mine which is projected to create up to 1,400 jobs

The other 27 persons at the hearing did not choose to speak. Most of these individuals were apparently from the Superior area or associated with the Resolution Copper Company. There were two persons from Arizona State University while several others there  were from private firms located elsewhere..  The sign in sheet did not reflect anyone residing from Globe-Miami at the proceedings nor did it indicate anyone was present from the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation or that the corporation had submitted written comments Monday night on the Resolution matter..  The SGCEDC was approved this month for an additional $50,000  by the Gila County Board of Supervisors to support and promote local economic development projects.

Individuals or organizations who were not at the hearing, can still submit written comments about the proposed issuance of the Water Quality Permits to the Resolution Copper Company by sending them to ADEQ’s main offices at 1110 West Washington Street in Phoenix.before the close of business on July 30, 2010.  Further information about the two permits can be obtained from the state agency’s website.

It will probably be sometime in late August when the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality makes its final decision in the Resolution Copper matter according to agency spokesman Mark Shaffer.