Florence Copper personne proudly display the first sheet of copper produced April 24, 2019, at th eplant off Hunt Highway. Production continues on a small scale, but the company is preparing for full-scale commercial operation./Florence Copper

A major “in situ” copper mine in Pinal County is finally in the home stretch to full  commercial production after a years-long process that included fending off 10 lawsuits from the nearby town of Florence.

But last week at a state meeting to hear comments from the public about the approval of the company’s aquifer protection permit, a final major step, there was overwhelming support.

In fact, more than two dozen people spoke on behalf of the project, including three state legislators, one Florence council member, and the executive director of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

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