by Pamela Powers Hannley
South Bisbee is under seige by Freeport-McMoRan. The international mining giant is evacuating South Bisbee in order to do land reclamation.
Renters are being ousted. Home owners are being offered $50/square foot for their homes. Everyone who settles with the company must agree that neither they nor their relatives will seek any future damages against the company.
Last week, I posted a story and two videos about the goings on in this tiny border enclave, but the story continues to evolve.
Only one woman– featured in the video entitled "A Hero in South Bisbee"— has refused to settle with the company. In this video– available after the jump– you can hear Our Hero's reasons why she doesn't want to settle, but you can see a bird's eye view of tiny, green South Bisbee, surrounded by industrial mining waste. (Southern Arizona residents who may be living near the proposed Rosemont Mine, take note.) Outside of Our Hero's back window, there used to be a view of the desert; now she sees a mountain of tailings. No wonder the mining company wants South Bisbee residents to sign off on all future litigation. Living in houses surrounded by mining waste can't be good for your health.
Last night, the Bisbee City Council voted to support South Bisbee in their request for more time before they have to leave their houses.
Today, KGUN 9 on Your Side ventured to South Bisbee to do a story. Ironically, Freeport-McMoRan security showed up at the same time.
Check out two new LoneProtestor videos from South Bisbee after the jump.
A Hero in South Bisbee
"We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life." –His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
According to the latest press release by Freeport-McMoRan, all South Bisbee residents facing November evictions have signed the relocation packets — except for one. When I drove through the tunnel to find the woman some have called "the hero of South Bisbee," I found a powerful discourse on the machinations of fear, the meaning of community, and a heart-centered consciousness of life.
— LoneProtestor
Freeport Security, KGUN 9 and The Lone Protestor in South Bisbee
Things are getting interesting in South Bisbee. One day after the Bisbee city council voted to support South Bisbee residents in asking for more time before their November evictions, KGUN 9 News was on the scene, and I went to videotape. Although I've been there at least six times, this was the first time the place was crawling with Freeport Security. Here is how it all came together.
— LoneProtestor
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You know what immediately came to my mind? The movie, “Erin Brockovich” if you haven’t seen it, watch it. Big company thought they could poison, remove and otherwise kill off what was in their way…and never get caught doing it. Sound familiar?
I’d tell Michael Jaworski to kiss my ass, and ask him if he thinks you’re an idiot! Get in contact with the numbers I posted…you may want to try and talk to Mike Papantonio
http://www.levinlaw.com/attorney-profiles/mike-papantonio At least inform them of what’s happening down there and ask for guidance.
My heart just aches for all the families going through this. In answer to your question, I think that Michael is lying and spinning a story to tell the towns people, because you’re right…it doesn’t make sense.Follow the money…take it upon yourself to make that call to the lawyer. It doesn’t hurt to try.I’m no lawyer, but I’m no idiot and neither are you! Don’t take this lying down. They expect all of you to be so confused, frustrated and distraught that you will just do whatever they ask to get out from under and move on…don’t do that.I don’t live there, and have never been…but this is no way to treat people that have worked hard all their lives. If this company can steamroll through a town, then what about the next time, for the next company that wants to make a huge profit and cast off the little people because you’re in the way? Not OK.
Talk to someone at that law office and email the stories that have been posted here, so they can get a feel for what’s going on down there. If they can’t do anything, ask them who they can recommend.Thinking of all of you. Please let us know what happens..
Hi Cheri,
According to Michael Jaworski, the FreeportMcMoRan,Inc. Copper Queen Manager, no mining is to take place in South Bisbee, neither does EPA require the removal ( stated at a meeting on June2,2012). He states that the resurfacing of the STOCK PILES (tailings) and the creating of a STORM WATER RUN OFF (FLOOD CONTROL) makes it necessary to have all the houses removed. This does not make sense since all of the tailings had been covered up with required amount of dirt already; furthermore, no floods occurred in South Bisbee other than the accidental flood that was caused by a heavy equipment operator who moved a bolder that instantly emptied out a holding pond. Water flooded Aspen Street, ran through the tunnels all the way to Hwy 92. My house is built into the hillside and has never flooded. I have lived there for 24 years. What’s really going on? Who does Freeport impress by creating steep slopes that would cause flooding and need additional holding ponds which in turn makes the relocation of long time residents necessary?
You can help by sharing this story, posting on FaceBook, etc. We are having a benefit concert for South Bisbee on September 1.
The oldest resident is Mabel, who is 88 years old and has lived in South Bisbee for 63 years. Historically,if Phelps Dodge wanted to mine where houses stood, they moved houses if the homeowner wished – or purchased another home for the displaced family. Many of the houses in South Bisbee were moved from what is now the Lavender Pit. As I understand it, the latest lease was signed in 1993, and the homeowners were assured it was only a technicality. Reclamation has been going on in Bisbee for about 4 years now, so the main issue is why the residents given only five months notice. And with homes selling for an average of 100$ per square foot, they cannot purchase a new home for the price they are getting.
Phelps-Dodge (now Freeport) owns the land. They leased the land to homeowners, who actually DO own the homes, just not the land. Some living in the homes are renters (i.e., they rent from someone else who DOES own the home). This is similar to what I recall in the ’60s as a kid when the White Mtn. Apaches ended their leases with cabin owners on tribal land near McNary, you either moved your house or lost it. When the Lavender pit in Bisbee was dug, many homes in the Lowell area were moved and resettled in other locations in the area, it’s happened in lots of mine towns in Arizona history: Sonora, Christmas, Metcalf to name a few.
I’m no lawyer, but this sounds like eminent domain.
I can certainly understand how renters can be ordered to leave once their contracts expire but I am unclear how home “owners” are being involuntarily displaced. Is the city confiscating their property? Are the home “owners” even owners? I have yet to have a BfA article explain what legal process is being sued to displace these people (unless they are all really renters).
This belongs on the front page of the Star! People need to know what they can do and how to do it!!!
I don’t know if you saw my comment on the last story you wrote about the residents of S Bisbee. I wrote to the Dept of the Interior and this is the response that I received:
Dear *****
Members of my staff at the Western Region’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement(OSMRE) a bureau within the US Dept of Interior, received your email stating your concerns regarding the hardrock mining operation in southern Arizona.
OSMRE, formed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is authorized to regulate coal mining and reclamation operations, ie. OSM does not have the authority to regulate hard rock mining operations. (Information about SMCRA’S requirements, by either state or by OSM, on active coal mine operations can be found at http://www.osmre.gov/rcm/rcm.shtm.) However,within the state of Arizona, the office of the State Mine Inspector does regulate this type of operation. The State Mine Inspector can be reached at 602-543-5971 and is located at 1700 W Washington, in Phoenix. (http://www.asmi.state.az.us/agency info/default.asp) Your concerns about the referenced mine should be addressed to the state. Documents relating to this mine, as well as the state agency’s review and approval of the mining plans, should be publically available for review.
I hope this information provides you a better source for expressing your concerns for hardrock mining in Arizona.
Respectfully,
Rick L. Williamson
Program Support Division
Indian Programs Branch Manager
I hope that the residents can take this information and use it to find answers and demand fairness.