Arizona AG Kris Mayes files injunction to halt aggregate mining in Chino Valley in relief for residents
YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken a significant step to protect the interests of residents near Chino Valley by filing a preliminary injunction to halt the development of a proposed aggregate mine in the area.
The move comes as a big relief to the local community, which has been vehemently opposing the mining project.
Residents rejoice as AG Kris Mayes files preliminary injunction to halt mine development
"Late Friday night, we found out that a temporary injunction has been filed, and we celebrated," said Vickie Niesley, a resident who has been actively involved in the efforts to stop the mine's development.
This development has breathed new hope into the community's fight to preserve their way of life and the natural beauty of their surroundings.
AG Mayes decided to take action after hosting a listening session where she heard the concerns and objections of hundreds of residents who were deeply troubled by the prospect of an aggregate mine disrupting their peaceful community.
How did the residents find out about Chino Valley mining plans?
The residents first learned about the mining plans through flyers posted on telephone poles, leaving them feeling blindsided and underserved by the regulatory authorities.
Danny Brumett, a concerned resident, highlighted the lack of proper notification, saying, "That was the only notice that we ever saw. We never got any public notice from the Mine Inspector's Office, from the owner of the property, or any of the other agencies involved in this."
Mayes's statement announcing the preliminary injunction reflected the seriousness of the issue.
Initially, the development was covered in late September, which pertains to a mining project put forward by Rock Supply LLC. The company formally submitted its proposal to the Mine Inspector's Office in the early months of 2023.
The proposed scheme involves the extraction of over 616,000 cubic yards of aggregate over a two-decade period and is slated to occupy a 25.2-acre plot owned by the company.
Why are residents concerned about Chino Valley mining plans?
The proposed aggregate mine would be situated in Cedar Heights, a neighborhood with over 100 homes.
Residents are particularly worried about the impact on their quality of life, as large dump trucks could damage local roads, generate dust, and potentially harm their water supply. The need for blasting to extract rocks from the hill further exacerbated concerns.
"We live in a very rural community. We live on a dirt road. One of our big concerns is that these big dump trucks would totally ruin our roads. Our peace and quiet, our water concerns. It’s always windy here. We are concerned about not only dust, but what might be in that dust. They are going to have to blast to get rocks off of that hill," said Niesley.
Although the reclamation portion of the mining plan was recently approved, AG Mayes' decision to file a preliminary injunction is being seen as a significant victory for the residents who have been tirelessly advocating for the preservation of their community.
"Knowing that our state Attorney General is on our side is just the biggest relief we could have had," said Niesley. "Knowing that we had help, that we weren't doing this on our own because it's not right, what's happening here in our neighborhood."