Oak Flat Report

Report to Natural Resource Committee
U. S. Congress
May 20, 2011

Subject: Mining Jobs in Arizona

The Arizona Rep. Gosar and the two Arizona Senators seem determined to propose a bill to benefit Resolution Copper Corp, a subsidiary of the global giant, Rio Tinto (trans: black river]. Their voiced reason is to provide jobs in the Superior region.

I have been tracking jobs in that region, and in all of Arizona , and on any given day there are always a couple of dozen jobs available, which the companies cannot find qualified persons in the region for these skilled positions. The fact is that there are two big operations in the area that have been operating for decades and will continue to do so. So anyone living in Superior only has to drive 17.6 miles to Miami Operations, or 30.8 miles to Hayden to find work. There are always jobs available there, and they have never had a shut-down. Bottom-line: we don't need mining jobs in the area, the current 29 jobs are not being filled. [See Attachement A for list of jobs available on May 17, 2011.] And the same is true for all of Arizona , which has 150 mining jobs available now.

I was at Oak Flat recently, which is destined to be at the bottom of a 50 ft. crater, along with its wonderful mature emory oak trees, if the Congress persons and mining company has their way. How many oak forests do we have in Arizona ? I can assure you that there are a lot of wastelands to mine copper instead of taking one of our very special forested areas. Of course, the mining company, which is going to bring so much properity to the area has released cows all over the Forest and campground, so the whole ecosystem and understory and sapplings are bing destroyed, so they can maintain an agricultural status for their property taxes.

Resolution Copper is drilling all over National Forest Land. Although there are dozens of competant Arizona drilling companies, the work is being done by a Utah company. Note that Utah is the home of Rio Tinto's Kennecott operation with the biggest toxic plume in the United States . EPA has been chasing them for decades, but with their many attorneys, Rio Tinto/Kennecott continues to delay the process. So where is the benefit for Arizonans?

Boart Longyear Van

Boart Longyear Haul Truck

Boart Longyear haul truck bringing in the dust on National Forest Land

Note the parking place that has been carved out to accommodate the large trucks on National Forest Land.

One does have to wonder about the Forest Service process and analysis of small ATV's when they permit this type of haul truck and havoc on the forest lands.

At Oak Flat, camping has a time limit of 14 days. I wonder what the time limit for these intruders is.

One of the problems is that our Arizona Senators will misrepresent the facts. When McCain had a rally for the mine at Superior before his last election, he stated that the mining operations would bring one billion dollars into the Federal coffers. Yet, when I checked the annual report of its sister operation in Utah , Kennecott had not paid a dime in Federal taxes. In a Senate hearing, Senator Kyl said that copper was needed for the wind farms for sustainable energy. Although copper can be used, other metals can be used also.

And of course the misrepresentation of the job situation is the deepest smoke and mirrors.

I do wish you would come to Arizona so I could take you on a tour of the “Copper Triangle.” It looks like a third world country (except the section of town where the managers lived). There is not one sign of prosperity in the whole region after 100 years of continual mining in the region. First, the money went to New York bankers, now it flows out of the country. Then there is the miles and miles of devastation. Then there are the residents of Ray, who had to move because their homes went into the pit because there was copper under them.

I sure appreciate you considering these thoughts in making your decision to bring another Oak Flat bill forward.

Attachment A: Mining Jobs in Arizona 's Copper Triangle, May 17, 2011

BHP Billiton = 4 jobs
ASARCO = 10 jobs
Freeport-McMoran = 15 jobs
________
TOTAL = 29 jobs

BHP Billiton Miami Operations (4 jobs)
http://www.indeed.com/q-Bhp-Billiton-l-Miami,-AZ-jobs.html

1) Truck Heavy Duty Mechanic
BHP Billiton - Miami , AZ
Truck Heavy Duty Mechanic Job number: PVO-2011-09 CSG: Base Metals Business / Project: Southwest Copper Salary: AUD - Job type: Full Time Regular (USA)…. 1 day ago

2) 1SAP BMNA Asset Process Lead - Finance & PI
BHP Billiton - Miami , AZ
1SAP BMNA Asset Process Lead - Finance & PI Job number: PVO-2011-08 CSG: Base Metals Business / Project: Southwest Copper Salary: AUD - Job type: Full Time... 6 days ago

3) Truck Heavy Duty Mechanic
BHP Billiton - Miami, AZ
PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Essential job functions include: 1. Troubleshoot, repair and preventative maintenance of light vehicles, drills, pickup trucks.... 7 days ago

4) 1SAP BMNA Asset Process Lead - Finance & P I
BHP Billiton - Miami , AZ
Ensure the successful implementation of 1SAP in the Finance stream, including financial ledgers, master data, data testing and migration, cutover and warranty master data, data testing and migration, cutover and warranty …. 10 days ago

ASARCO, Kearney/Hayden — (10 jobs)
http://www.indeed.com/q-Asarco-l-Hayden,-AZ-jobs.html

1) Supervisor I, Electrical
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
Position in heavy industrial environment A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed to... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees.... 1 day ago

2) Senior Instrumentation Tech
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
previous industrial experience. A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed to... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees.... 1 day ago

3) Maintenance Planner I (Shovel & Drill Dept)
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
equipment maintenance operations. A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees…. 4 days ago

4) Refrigeration-Heating Repairman
ASARCO - Hayden , AZ
are to be performed in an efficient manner per ASARCO safety and health policies, applicable electrical... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees...6 days ago

5) Maintenance Supervisor I (Concentrator)
ASARCO - Hayden , AZ
or other related work helpful. A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed to... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees...6 days ago

6) Safety Manager
ASARCO - Hayden , AZ
compliance with all ASARCO , MSHA/OSHA and other... to get certification required. A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed to.... 7 days ago

7) Hot Metals Manager
ASARCO - Hayden , AZ
Interact with peers within ASARCO and the industry as... processing related work helpful. A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed.... 7 days ago

8) Mine Engineer Tech II
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
college and/or technical school A core value of ASARCO LLC is “Safety First.” The Company is committed to... the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees.... 7days ago

9) Chem Tech I
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees... pre-employment physical including a drug screen. ASARCO offers an excellent low cost benefits package for…. 8 days ago

10) Maintenance Supervisor I (Truck Shop)
ASARCO - Kearny , AZ
the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees... all required safety procedures and processes. ASARCO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates must...12 days ago

Freeport McMoran, Claypool Operation, Miami ( 15 jobs)
www.JobCentral.com

1) Senior Mine Engineer - Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ)
first acquired 2011-5-6 0:49 AM

2) Senior RCM Technician - Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-4-1 11:46 PM

3) Supervisor Smelter Maintenance Electrical Instrumentation - Smelter - Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2010-10-19 0:28 AM

4) Senior Electrical Engineer - Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-5-11 0:20 AM

5) Environmental Engineer I - Miami
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-3-25 11:33 PM

6) Planner II - Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-1-21 11:46 PM

7) Project Engineer I -Rod Plant- Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2010-9-30 0:40 AM

8) Senior Process Plant Automation Tech-Rod Plant-Miami, AZ
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-4-19 11:41 PM

9) Technical Instructor/Facilitator - Mine Operations (Miami, AZ)
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-5-7 0:08 AM

10) Technical Instructor/Facilitator - Fixed Plant (Miami, AZ)
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-5-7 0:08 AM

11) Administrative Clerk (Miami, AZ)
Freeport-McMoRan ( Claypool (miami), AZ )
first acquired 2011-5-12 1:23 AM