Utah’s second largest copper mine after Kennecott is seeking permits for an experimental method of extraction involving pumping diluted sulfuric acid underground that could potentially extend the mine’s life for another 26 years.
The plan has raised red flags for nearby residents reliant on groundwater for drinking and livestock and also for environmentalists, who warn of long-term water contamination. But officials with the Lisbon Valley Mine, located in San Juan County northeast of Monticello, say the project is safe, environmentally sound and will bring desperately needed jobs to the area.
Lisbon Valley Mine first opened in 2005 and has been managed by the Lisbon Valley Mining Co.