Thursday February 24, 2022

A local mining company is looking to recover a copper deposit in the Lisbon Valley. But they need to pump chemicals through an aquifer to do it, and those living above the groundwater are opposed to this method. A public comment period for the company’s proposal ended earlier this month. Today on the news, we visit a resident in the area to talk about what's at stake. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe is moving towards an economy driven by renewable energy production after historically relying on fossil fuels.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Scott Stevenson points toward a well used by his neighbor that is within an aquifer exemption proposed by Lisbon Valley Mining Company. The company’s open-pit copper mine is located about 5 miles north of Stevenson's property. KZMU/Justin Higginbottom

// State of Utah Underground Injection Control Program Aquifer Exemption Request (draft from 12/8/21)
https://documents.deq.utah.gov/water-quality/facilities/lisbon-valley-copper/DWQ-2021-030502.pdf

// KSJD: The Ute Mountain Ute tribe plans to build a 600-megawatt hydroelectric pump
https://www.ksjd.org/podcast/ksjd-local-newscasts/2022-02-03/the-ute-mountain-ute-tribe-plans-to-build-a-600-megawatt-hydroelectric-pump