Powerlinel/Hackberry Creek Trail Closure?

[desertdawg]

As most of you know Powerline/Hackberry Creek Trail is one of my favorite trails.

There has been talk for a while now that Powerline/Hackberry Creek trail near Oak Flat east of Superior will be closed due to an underground mine by the Resolution Copper Company.

If any of you have ever run this trail you would know why this should never happen. This trail has beautiful vistas of Devil's Canyon, ancient Indian pictographs, excellent camping opportunities, and challenging four wheeling trails. It is also a favorite spot for bird watchers and rock climbers.

I found these two websites that are trying to prevent this closure.
http://www.friendsofqueencreek.com/FoQC_news.htm
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/oakflat2/ix33u7rf56d8i8?

When your on the Earthworks website click on "Click here" to take action as another user. This will take you to another screen where you can send a letter protesting this to your local senator or congressperson.

I'm asking everybody to take the time and do this. It would be a shame to lose this great trail.

I'm also asking for anybody who has experience in dealing with land issues for advice on what the AZVJC can do to help prevent this closure from happening.

Come on lets get together and do something about this before its to late!

Mike

[desertdawg]

Here's a video I found of Devil's Canyon from the rock climbers point of view. Rock climbers and boulderers travel from all over the world to climb there, so they are really trying to prevent this closure also.

http://www.arizona.sierraclub.org/paloverde/climbing/devils.ram

[Sedona Jeep School]

What can we do?

First, find out who the land management agency is. Powerline/Hackberry...is that in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, BLM, or State Trust Land?

Second, we need to write letters ourselves--although they deny it, it has been my experience that bureaucrats pay more attention to well-written individual letters than to mass email form letters. When are the deadlines for public comment? Don posted a good letter-writing guide a while back--where is that?

Third, we need to find out if they are having an public meetings on the issue, and ATTEND.

Fourth, I like to show them my face. Go to their office. Talk to them. Create a relationship. Call me old-fashioned (Bruce!) but I think that putting a face with a name makes it much more meaningful and effective.

So what other details do we know?

[desertdawg]

Thanks for the advice Nena.

The area is managed by the Tonto National Forest and the only details I know of are from what I have read on the internet from the links I provided in my original post.

From what I understand, Arizona Senator Kyl and Congressman Renzi have introduced identical bills (HR2618 and S1122) to give the Oak Flat area to Resolution Copper in exchange for other lands of lesser value. If the bill passes then I guess the area is history for public access and they will use the area for mining.:(

I'm new to this type of stuff so forgive me for asking, but where can I find out about when and where these public meetings are?

[Sedona Jeep School]

So far, I have not been able to find out about any public meetings. It is not likely that there will be any, since we are talking about a legislative bill, instead of a USFS decision.

Some initial reflections on the topic:

From the http://www.actionnetwork.org site:

"Talking points for the letter:

1. Oak Flat campground and the surrounding area is worth far more than the area Resolution Copper is willing to trade. The company is valuing the copper under Oak Flat as worth up to $2 billion and some of the parcels the company is willing to trade have no ecological value. Any way you look at it, the S1122/HR2618 land exchange is a bad deal for the American Taxpayer.

2. Why should two huge international mining companies be given special treatment by the US Congress by gaining access to Oak Flat by a back room deal instead of going through the permitting process fair and square?

3. We currently have a moratorium on privatizing mining claims on federal land. The land exchange is an end run around the moratorium by mandating the privatization of Oak Flat.

4. Privatizing Oak Flats would make the area off limits to many irreplaceable traditional uses.

5. The land exchange would privatize Apache Leap, a landmark very important to Native Americans and the general public. Under certain conditions, RCC could get away with causing the destruction of Apache Leap.

6. Is nothing sacred any more? If this bill would set a precedent that ANY public land in the US is fair game for mining. All a company needs to do is to go to Congress for a land exchange."

What aggravates me the most about this is that we (OHV) have to be continually subjected to environmental analysis to just CONTINUE to use the land to recreate. But come in with big $ and you don't have to go through any of that, even if what you intend to do is rape the landscape?

Not to mention, they are ignoring the land-swap moratorium. "What part of NO don't you understand?"

The message this sends is that if you have big $ and can fund a politicians campaign, you can do whatever you want. Laws, processes, and rules don't apply. Unfortuneately, this is not news to any of us.

On the other hand, what does the trade really offer? Not being very familiar with the areas in question, what does it open up for US?

Another consideration: Although mining operations are much more likely to leave land for us to recreate on later (like the whole Crown King area--lots of defunct mines), it is hard on the landscape now (erosion, pollutants, water, etc.). And does it leave it more likely to be developed later, and lost to recreation forever?

A good read is the article in the AZ Repugnant: http://www.friendsofqueencreek.com/AZ%20Rep%20050418%20Rocky%20Situation.htm

For REALLY exciting reading, the bill itself is at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:s1122is.txt.pdf

[desertdawg]

Wow! Nena you hit the nail on the head with those points. You seem very passionate when it comes to land issues and I wish we all were the same way.

I know that not everybody has the time or motivation to take on these issues. However, I believe we should all be aware of what is happening behind our backs between our politicians and the rich copper companies. It just does not seem fair that RCC could just bypass all the rules to acquire the land surrounding Oak Flats so they can dig a huge underground copper mine. Like you said, if you have the big bucks you can do what ever you want.

One of the reasons I started this thread was to let everybody know on this forum about what is happening out there. I fell in love with that trail the first time I ran it and I heard it was in danger of closing because of a copper mine. That is why I frequently post trail runs to Hackberry Creek/Powerline to show people how great of a trail it is and hopefully it will motivate them to do something about it. Whether it's a letter to their congressman or writing about it on other 4x4 forums to educate the off roading community, every little bit will help.

I have been off roading in Arizona since I was old enough to drive and I have seen trails and desert areas taken over by homes and businesses. That's progress and it's going to happen. But to see such a beautiful area that is supposed to be protected, being taken over by copper companies to dig a mine just makes me sick!

Well Nena, I will take your advice and do what I can to fight this and hope this thread has enlightened a few of us on what is happening out there with our public land.

Thank you again and I hope to meet you sometime when I'm in Sedona.

Mike

[RokNRich]

Took the time to get this done today, it really was quite easy, once again all you have to do is click here:

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/oa...x33u7rf56d8i8?

On the right side it says "Click here" to take action as another user. Then you just fill out your name and address and you can edit the pre written letter if you like.

Mine went to:

Senator John McCain via web post at http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Senator Jon Kyl via web post at http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Representative Jeff Flake via email at jeff.flake@mail.house.gov

This is one of my favorite trails as well, lets not lose it.

[desertdawg]

Thanks Rich! Definitely, lets not lose this trail!

If anybody wants to run this trail to see just what we are talking about, let me know. I'll be happy to post another run there.

[Linda]

Where were you back when the Tonto NF gave these folks approval to do exploratory drillings in the area? I think those started back in 2001 or 2002. That area is one big copper dome (and other assorted valuable geological resources). Back when it was set aside in the 1950s there wasn't as big need for copper as there is today. Guess where it's going come from?

Why would you want to halt progress on a mine that will produce metal that we need and provide economic benefit not only to people who live in that area but to the rest of the state?


"If it can't be grown, it's gotta be mined" -- unknown

[Griswold]

Why would you want to halt progress on a mine that will produce metal that we need and provide economic benefit not only to people who live in that area but to the rest of the state?

with no smilies I cannot tell if that is sarcasm?

[scout4bta]

with no smilies I cannot tell if that is sarcasm?

I don't think it's sarcasm. It shows a side of reality that some 4 wheelers
don't want to see, that the trails we use are only temporary. As soon as the
population grows and city boundry's expand they consume the trails we use. In this case it's the demand for resources thats closing the trail.
Some times reality sucks.

Steve