January 10, 2019

Conference Brings Discussion of Mining Industry's Future in Arizona

The governor's moratorium on regulations could bring more mining development to the state.

Mining The Grand Canyon is one site where industry critics want to restrict mining in Arizona.
Vanessa Barchfield

Top figures representing the Arizona mining industry were in Tucson for a summit with government and academic leaders Thursday.

They discussed how to keep mining and minerals at the head of Arizona's list of key attractions for economic development. Gov. Doug Ducey's adviser for regional and international affairs, Juan Ciscomani, reminded the group of Ducey's work to lift state regulations that he says force restrictions on the mining industry.

"If they don't make sense, and if they are in the way and they keep stifling opportunity and your ability to grow, then they need to go," he said.

Patagonia Area Resource Alliance board member Carolyn Shafer disagrees. She wants the state to work harder to measure the environmental effects of an expansion of mining.

"The real wealth of any community is its water and air and land," noted Shafer. "That is what must be protected above and beyond anything else."

Ducey kicked off his second term in office by renewing a moratorium on new regulatory rulemaking by state agencies.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona