ADEQ Cites Phelps Dodges Green Valley Mine

ADEQ Director Steve Owens announced that ADEQ has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Phelps Dodge for air quality violations at the company's Sierrita mine in Green Valley in Pima Co. On 3 separate occasions in late Aug. & early Sept., tailings from Phelps Dodge's copper mine operations became airborne & impacted the town of Green Valley. Mine tailings dust infiltrated residents' homes & yards, as well as settling on several neighborhood streets.

The NOV requires Phelps Dodge to advise ADEQ within 7 days of the immediate actions the company has taken to prevent the tailings from becoming airborne & protect the community from potentially harmful airborne tailings. Within 30 days Phelps Dodge also must advise ADEQ of the steps the company is taking to fix the problem permanently. A NOV is a compliance tool used by ADEQ to put a party on notice that the agency believes a significant violation of environmental law has occurred. Phelps Dodge faces potential penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each of its violations of state environmental laws & conditions of the company's air quality permit.