Residents speak out over mining plans for Southern Utah
Fox 13 recently amplified a major concern for a small community in southern Utah—an industrial mining operation that could disrupt their environment and threaten their health.
As with many industrial projects in Utah, the public input process has been severely lacking. A resident in the affected Iron County neighborhood told Fox 13 that they first learned about the rezoning for the mine on February 1, yet the hearing to approve it was scheduled for February 5—giving the community virtually no time to respond. These rushed decisions disregard the serious environmental and health risks such projects pose and leave residents without a meaningful say in the development of their own county.
A major concern with this mine is the spread of silica dust, a dangerous airborne pollutant released when mining and processing certain types of rock. Silica dust particles are so fine that they can be inhaled deep into the lungs, leading to severe health problems such as silicosis (an incurable lung disease), lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Long-term exposure is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma.
Beyond the dust, the mine would significantly increase industrial traffic in this quiet rural area. Residents currently see just a handful of cars a month, but the mine could bring as many as 80 heavy trucks PER DAY rumbling through their community—posing risks to air quality, road safety, and quality of life.
The Iron County Planning Commission opted to table the decision on the zone change until March 4, giving residents a crucial opportunity to raise their voices. Please share this widely with the Iron County community, including residents of Modena, Cedar City, and Parowan. Public pressure can help ensure residents have a say in how their county develops and whether they will be forced to bear the environmental and health burdens of this mine.