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dief
Jan 17, 2012, 7:38 PM
Post #1 of 2
(1113 views)
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Registered: Jan 21, 2004
Posts: 91
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Queen Creek Coalition (QCC) was formed to promote the conservation of climbing areas and the development and maintenance of public access to climbing areas. Its mission is to maximize rock climbing opportunities for the public in and near Arizona’s Queen Creek Canyon.
The Queen Creek climbing area consists of nine separate areas clustered around the Oak Flat campground. For a number of years, Resolution Copper Mining LLC has been seeking to acquire the Oak Flat campground and surrounding area via legislative land exchange, in order to develop a large underground mine. The proposed large-scale mining operation will be located at the heart of the Queen Creek climbing area and would result in a significant loss of climbing.
QCC has devoted a considerable amount of time and effort to an attempt to secure an agreement with Resolution that would provide meaningful compensation for this prospective loss. It has been a long and often frustrating process that appears to have reached a conclusion. The latest offer from Resolution fell far short of providing either reasonable access to Queen Creek climbing or compensation for the anticipated loss of much of the Queen Creek climbing area. Resolution’s proposed agreement contained provisions that appeared to furnish a large sum of money to develop regional climbing resources, but those provisions contained too many uncertainties.
Our principal concerns with Resolution’s offer included the following:
1. The Mine Area and Euro Dog Valley, as well as the Magma Mine Road (which provides access to these areas and to the Lower Devils climbing area) could be closed almost immediately, and QCC would have to cooperate and assist with enforcing the closure.
2. The Pond and Atlantis were not secured in a reasonable way.
3. Resolution would not guarantee a way to access Upper Devils, Lower Devils or Apache Leap.
4. Resolution would provide substantial funds for developing areas outside of Resolution’s zone of operations but the right to receive these funds was contingent and the funds would not be made available in a time frame that would allow QCC to provide replacement climbing opportunities.
5. Resolution wanted as a condition of the agreement for QCC to provide unspecified future letters of support on items that are not yet known. We could not do that.
As a result, QCC has sent a letter to Resolution indicating that the offer is unacceptable. The letter indicates changes that could be made that could lead to an acceptable accord, but the subject matter has been discussed at length with Resolution and the proposed agreement constitutes a rejection of these changes. Thus we do not anticipate further movement, barring a significant change in circumstances, such a new management team taking over at Resolution or a changed political climate.
Therefore, Queen Creek Coalition is and likely will remain opposed to Resolution’s proposed land exchange. Further, Queen Creek Coalition will actively oppose any attempt by Resolution to close climbing areas located on public land or to close public roads by which climbing areas are accessed.
For further information please contact Queen Creek Coalition through our Facebook page or through our website, theqcc.org.
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sonso45
Jan 17, 2012, 8:06 PM
Post #2 of 2
(1101 views)
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Registered: Sep 1, 2002
Posts: 997
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The mine played their card and now we have to resist letting Oak Flat go.
Thanks for the info Dief
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