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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 15, 2013 - 09:41am PT
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Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) has partnered with Tea Party republican Paul Gosar in Arizona to submit new legislation to privatize Oak Flat for Resolution Copper.
This new bill would give the federally-protected landscape at Oak Flat, including thousands of routes and bouldering problems, to a foregin copper mining company.
Anyone wishing to help can do so by writing an opposition letter to Sen. Ron Wyden in Oregon, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and to new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 15, 2013 - 11:30am PT
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The politicians who support this should be tried for treason.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Feb 15, 2013 - 11:41am PT
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This story was on NPR this morning, rock climbers got a plug as one of the groups opposing these copper mines. Apparently copper is an endangered element, we risk running out.
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 15, 2013 - 11:45am PT
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F*#k copper. People need to go back to living like Indians or we are all endangered.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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Feb 15, 2013 - 11:50am PT
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Too much poop to live like First Peoples used to live.
Need a new way. Recycling electronics helps.
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 15, 2013 - 11:53am PT
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lol munge, even poop can be composted and recycled into plant food.
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Lloyd Campbell
Social climber
St. Cloud, MN
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Feb 15, 2013 - 12:40pm PT
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How about those greedy mther fuers start mining responsibly instead of creating big giant toxic holes in the ground, transferring all the assets of the mine company created specifically for the purpose, then declaring bankruptcy and walking away while we all get to pay for the SuperFund cleanup???
In the case of this mine, opposition would fall off quickly if they would just mine it underground and not create the giant pit where all the climbing (2500 routes and boulder problems) used to be. Plus the legislation in question makes a land swap prior to any environmental evaluation (NEPA) being done, which means, they can pretty much do whatever they want with their (now) private land, once it's been signed off on.
How do you know a mining company is lying? Their mouths are open. Fact.
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Manny
Social climber
tempe
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Feb 15, 2013 - 01:01pm PT
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None of the climbing has been closed or damaged as of this date. RCM has stopped operations because of falling copper prices.
Please write your congressman, it is easy to do. Just follow this link and add your name and comments specifically for your representative:
http://legiscan.com/AZ/comments/HCM2003
All of the groups opposed to the land swap, which bypasses NEPA, understand the need for copper. What is not easily accepted is RCM's mining plan to operate a half mile underground and subsequent collapse of the surface.
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 15, 2013 - 01:57pm PT
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Oak Flat is federally protected land until something changes. That's the key element of this issue, because if the politicians can undermine President Eisenhower's 1955 law that set aside Oak Flat from mining, then what's to stop lawmakers from undoing protections for other federal preserves such as national parks and monuments?
Yes this is a good time to write your senator. If you happen to live in Oregon or know someone who does, I urge you to write Sen. Ron Wyden in particular.
For anyone interested there are meetings in Phoenix coming up whee you can participate. The Concerned Climbers of Arizona are meeting at Boulders on Broadway in Mesa on Feb. 20 at 5pm. There will also be a public meeting with Resolution Copper in Queen Valley on March 7 at the rec center from 4-7pm.
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 15, 2013 - 01:58pm PT
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locker - Please take a look at the short film listed above for a current take on this issue. Everything it says applies to this latest land exchange bill.
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 15, 2013 - 02:39pm PT
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Locker- you're welcome and feel free to pass along the film.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Feb 16, 2013 - 08:02am PT
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Bump
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2013 - 01:34pm PT
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As expected, the Queen Creek Coalition is supporting the new mining proposal at Oak Flat.
Climbers who oppose the mine should take a look at the Concerned Climbers of Arizona or otherwise make their voices heard so that the world knows that not all climbers would like to see this mine developed.
Here's the link to QCC's site with their statement:
http://www.phoenixrockgym.com/qcc/qcc_news_currentupdate.html
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Feb 24, 2013 - 04:32pm PT
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Thanks for sharing this well done film.
After spending several days there last summer on a wildfire, in temps
well over 100 (F), it was shocking to see the pic of that black bear. Neat!
I like copper. I use it all the time in my daily life. In the past I enjoyed
exploring underground copper mines.
While I am not particularly fond of the climbing at Queen Creek, this
project seems like a bad idea.
Let's work to protect Queen Creek from mining.
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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Feb 24, 2013 - 04:53pm PT
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Commenting is easy and appropriate.
I use copper too, but,
find someplace else to mine, Rio Tinto!
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2013 - 04:54pm PT
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Thanks Albatross. That fire must have been hellish to fight. Thanks for your work in containing it.
Copper is so key to our modern lives its ridiculous. There's actually a good book that tackles this issue that came out recently called "Boom, Bust, Boom" by Bill Carter. He covers the mining issues in Arizona including Oak Flat, also the Pebble mine in Alaska. But contrasts that with using copper in everything he does.
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the albatross
Gym climber
Flagstaff
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Feb 24, 2013 - 05:51pm PT
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AZKId: I'm no hero, the pilots working for me did all the real work. I do recall on that incident a Hotshot suffered from some rare and very serious heat related disorder which may effect him for the rest of his life.
Thanks for the book tip. All of our lives are so contrasted. I don't particularly enjoy seeing cattle on Western public lands, but sure love my leather boots / jacket. I'm not a big fan of massive clearcuts, but feel fortunate to go to HomeDepot and buy a nice piece of lumber at a reasonable price. I don't like the thought of drilling in ANWR, but man do I like driving my little boat on Lake Powell.
I've caught much grief over the years from a number of climbers for being a Conservationist. Somehow, I believe that certain places are more important than a dollar or two, or a chance to get one point on Mountain Project, or the chance to spray about ones greatness in conquering nature. We are losing wild areas at a frightening pace. I like wild areas so I believe those handful remaining should be managed wisely.
There are a lot of folks in our state government who are very much into economic development. It will be interesting to see where this leads. History is against us in this case.
Long live wilderness,
Albert
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AZKid
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 21, 2013 - 01:28pm PT
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Today the House COmmittee on Energy and Natural Resources are holding a hearing about Oak Flat and the current bill to privatize it for Resolution Copper.
Here's a link to an AZ Republic article about this hearing. The main bit of good news is that the Superior Town Council recently voted to oppose the copper mine after years of supporting it.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20130320superior-copper-mine-house-holds-hearing.html#protected
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) is speaking up on behalf of Oak Flat - thanks Raul!
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kennyt
climber
Woodfords,California
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Mar 21, 2013 - 05:34pm PT
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Don't ya need all that copper for the batteries in yer hybrid car?
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