Comments on the proposed expanded exploration drilling plans for the Oak Flat area are currently being accepted by the Forest Service. Yesterday, (June 25th), an open house was held in the town of Superior where the FS presented the documents to the public for comment and viewing.
The plan description and documents are available at fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/news/200…. Your comments can be made via the web using the links provided down further on that page.
I entered comments on the public record on a couple of things. One big thing will be the impact on Campground Boulder and the adjacent parking, camping, and access spot into Euro Dog Valley.
The proposal calls for a multi-hole exploratory drill rig for that spot starting in January of 2009. (See the pictures and details on page 47 of Appendix D) One of the lead guys doing the Environmental Assessment is aware of the boulder and the chalk on it but was NOT aware of how actively the climbers, campers, etc., use that area. He asked that concerned climbers enter comments as to this area's importance for recreation. (The mining company had originally located this site across the road but thought it disturbed too much hillside and formerly undisturbed land for a new drill pad)
The drill rig planned for the Campground Boulder Area will take up pretty much the whole site and will be drilling multiple holes very deep down to about the 7,000’ level. Given that they drill about 70’ per day (per Resolution’s drilling expert that I spoke to), that’s at least 100 days for the first hole and possibly as much for any other hole put in. The rig will be whizzing away 24 hours a day for a long, long time. Some of these rigs have up to about 8 holes at one site, do the math . . .
If you want to continue to boulder, park, camp, or use that as an access point to Euro Dog Valley or the Atlantis bouldering areas, then enter your comments into their system and let them know they need to relocate that proposed drill site to another place, preferably far enough away that it won’t overly impact your recreational activities on your (still) public lands. If you don’t speak up, you may lose that access and recreational spot very soon.
Also, I came grill to grill with a speeding truck from a drilling company one day this last spring on a road above the OF campground. So, I also entered a comment asking that the FS consider requiring that vehicles associated with the mining exploration activities use non-OF campground roads to access their drill pad sites just south of there.
On an occasional basis the FS closes public FS roads for “safety” concerns for mining and other operations (the road going north from US 60 across from OF heading up the Queen Creek drainage has been closed about a mile along it for safety reasons for the mine up there for instance).
So, for the safety of campers, hikers, boulderers, bikers, dogs, kids, etc., I thought it might be safer for them to use a different access point.
The public only has until July 18th to give them comments.
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