Fight over Florence copper mine shifts to condemnation, eminent domain plans
“The Town of Florence’s reversal of an ordinance passed in August banning the commercial use of sulfuric acid removes one hurdle for Vancouver-based Curis Resources’ efforts to build a $500 million copper mine 60 miles southeast of Phoenix.
But the town still has plans to try and condemn 1,187 acres of private land owned by the mining company and seize it via eminent domain. Those moves are aimed at stopping Curis’ Florence Copper Project.
Curis sued the town in federal court last year over the sulfuric acid ordinance, which was directly aimed at the pumping process proposed to extract copper from the company’s Florence Copper Project. Curis wants to use water and sulfuric acid to loosen and pump out copper deposits on the mining site for 13 years.”
Sunnucks, Mike. Phoenix Business Journal 3 April 2013.