Arizona's Aquifer Protection Permit (APP)
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Comment on South32 ADEQ APP Permit Application
Comment Deadline Apr 30
PARA is working with a team of lawyers, hydrologists, geochemists, and species experts to draft organizational comments with detailed scientific reasons for why the various permits need to be modified / rejected and the organizational comments will include legal precedents to affirm those requests.
Now it is YOUR turn to let the agencies know that YOU want the agencies to hold South32 to the highest level of existing regulations.
Sign the following letter.
TO: Vimal Chauhan, ADEQ Groundwater Protection
RE: Individual Aquifer Protection Permit No. P-512235; LTF: 83040
Dear Vimal Chauhan,
In a time of climate crisis and mega drought, there is a great concern about the adverse impacts caused by the amount of water proposed to be discharged to Harshaw Creek.
Public health concerns due to further degradation of already impaired waters; of special concern are increased levels of lead and cadmium, for example, that may impact the regional aquifer. Another public health concern is increased levels of lead and cadmium impacting well users.
This proposed action should be a new permit not an amendment to the existing permit because it is significantly different from the existing permit for a different water treatment plant discharging significantly less volume into a different waterway.
The release of additional manganese and other metals will potentially impact water quality as well as potentially impair operation of well equipment. There are also significant concerns about the impacts on wildlife and plant life due to the mine’s plans to dewater the aquifer and disrupt natural water flows and cycles.
I hereby reference comments filed by Patagonia Area Resource Alliance and include those comments as issues of concern for me individually.
Sincerely,