New film about Oak Flat, AZ and the copper mine threat

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the albatross

Gym climber

Flagstaff

Feb 24, 2013 - 02:51pm PT

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

AZKid

Trad climber

Phoenix, AZ

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 21, 2013 - 10:28am PT

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!

kennyt

climber

Woodfords,California

Mar 21, 2013 - 02:34pm PT

Don't ya need all that copper for the batteries in yer hybrid car?

AZKid

Trad climber

Phoenix, AZ

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2013 - 03:19pm PT

Copper is a good useful metal - and there are plenty of mines in AZ that can supply it right now. Another mine would only serve to make a foreign company rich.

Chim-Chim

climber

Mar 22, 2013 - 07:02pm PT

KennyT, Ron and the action of other interested parties stop a proposed rock quarry in Woodfords. Stay together as a receational gourp and stop this. Dan

mechrist

Gym climber

South of Heaven

Mar 22, 2013 - 09:03pm PT

Missed this the first time around.

Thanks.

MisterE

Social climber

Mar 23, 2013 - 07:25am PT

Thanks for the link!

That movie is well done, and really strikes to the heart of the issues.

10b4me

Ice climber

Happy Boulders

Mar 23, 2013 - 07:36am PT

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.

I recommend sending letters to your local congressman, and senator as well. I wouldn't send a letter to Jewell. She has not been confirmed yet.

AZKid

Trad climber

Phoenix, AZ

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 25, 2013 - 04:47pm PT

A new camping guidebook is out by AZ Highways and features Oak Flat Campground as one of the best campgrounds in AZ.

http://www.shoparizonahighways.com/arizona-highways-camping-guide


	Oak Flat featured in new 2013 guidebook Credit: AZKid

AZKid

Trad climber

Phoenix, AZ

Topic Author's Reply - Apr 15, 2013 - 11:57am PT

In April 2013, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick did an interview with a Phoenix PBS show called Horizon. You can hear her comments about Oak Flat and the proposed copper mine beginning at the 5:30-minute mark and ending around 10:00.

http://video.azpbs.org/video/2364990236

Kirkpatrick says in there that climbers support the mine proposal. Because of the Queen Creek Coalition's deal with Resolution Coppper, Kirkpatrick is claiming that climbers are all on board with the mine!

the albatross

Gym climber

Flagstaff

Apr 15, 2013 - 04:18pm PT

Here is an interesting propaganda video made by Resolution Copper Company.

I like the guy about 16 seconds into the clip, who says, "I like to break rocks. I like drilling, blasting and mucking." He reminds me of that guy in the video from the Gunks that was circulating a few months back...

http://vimeo.com/48534415

Curt

climber

Gold Canyon, AZ

Apr 15, 2013 - 04:59pm PT

Kirkpatrick made a few interesting comments in the above interview. Among them:

1) She claims that the question of adequate water supply for the mine and surrounding communities can not possibly be known without doing an environmental analysis and collecting the data. In spite of this, she has co-sponsored land exchange legislation that completely bypasses any such NEPA mandated analysis.

2) She claims that climbing areas have been protected by an arrangement with a local climbing group. This is completely false.

3) She claims that the recent layoffs at this mine project were due to uncertainty over the copper company getting this land exchange legislation passed. This is also completely false--the layoffs were dictated by the parent company (Rio Tinto) who announced drastic cut backs in all of their mine development projects worldwide last December.

In response to last week's interview of Anne Kirkpatrick on the Horizon News program, KAET Ch. 8 has invited Superior Town Councilmember Kiki Peralta and I to be interviewed in studio and address concerns specifically referencing the RCM Land Exchange Bill (HR 687), and what has transpired since the Town of Superior took action to oppose the legislation. I believe Ms. Peralta's interview will air at 5:30 MST today (in about 30 minutes from now)

Curt