Utah’s biggest mine might get bigger
Kennecott is looking to expand and keep the massive Bingham Canyon Copper mine operating until 2040. The world’s largest open pit mine looms over the Wasath Front, and has been cited as contributing 90% of our toxic releases.
UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench told ABC4, “This is the epicenter of an environmental disaster that’s been going on for 120 years. These heavy metals do not degrade. They’re not combustible. They don’t dissolve. They steadily build up in concentrations throughout the environment. So every year, the overall pollution burden to the community increases and accumulates.”
The Salt Lake Tribune previously reported, “the mine releases millions of pounds of arsenic, lead, selenium, mercury and other toxic chemicals – including some that can damage the brain and nervous system, cause insomnia and cancer – every year, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory.”
The mine’s emissions alone canceled out pollution reductions from other Utah facilities and made the state #1 in the nation for toxic chemicals released per square mile.
To make matters worse, the Salt Lake Tribune also reported that “A polluted tailings pond at the Kennecott Utah mine has sunk 20 feet or more, raising concerns that it has seeped contamination into the neighboring Great Salt Lake.”
The “Apex” plan is still going through internal approval within Rio Tinto Kennecott. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining oversees non-coal mining, including Bingham Canyon. They’re responsible for ensuring the mine operates within permit boundaries, that reclamation bonds (to guarantee clean-up later) are sufficient, and that environmental protection is enforced. Stay tuned to see if this issue makes it to public comment with the Division.
