EPA awards permit to Florence Copper

by Mark Cowling | Florence Reminder & Blade Tribune

Florence Copper has received a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the last of 19 approvals it needs to begin a one- or two-year small-scale test phase of its in-situ copper mine in Florence.

Mining isn’t expected to start soon, however, as the project’s state permit is currently under appeal and an appeal of the EPA permit is likely as well.

Still, news of the EPA’s approval was exciting at Florence Copper, which hopes to mine up to 2.4 billion pounds of copper south of Hunt Highway and Florence’s iconic Poston Butte over the next 20 years.

Taseko Mines Ltd., owner of Florence Copper, announced the permit had been granted Dec. 21 on its website. The permit will take effect on Jan. 30, 2017.

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