Florence to appeal mining permit

By Mark Cowling | Florence Reminder Blade Tribune

Florence CopperThe Town Council voted unanimously in a special meeting Monday to appeal the state environmental agency’s issuance of a permit for Florence Copper to conduct a small-scale test run of its mine on Hunt Highway.

The town, along with other plaintiffs, argued unsuccessfully a few years ago that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) lacked the authority to award the permit.

It’s unknown if any of the co-plaintiffs who joined the town previously, such as Pulte Homes, Johnson Utilities and Southwest Value Partners, will join in this new appeal, according to Barbara Rodriguez-Pashkowski, the town’s litigation counsel. She also couldn’t specify the grounds of the town’s appeal Tuesday morning.

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