EPA v. MAGMA COPPER COMPANY

Case summary

THISREFERRAL IS ONE OF THREE RELATED REFERRALS SEEKING TO REQUIRE THE MAGMA COPPER CO TO PAY CIVIL PENALTIES AS A RESULT OF ITS FAILURE TO CONTROL DISCHARGES, CHIEFLY RELEASES AND SEEPAGES OF PROCESS WATER, MINE DRAINAGE WATER, ACID AND DISSOLVED COPPER SOLUTIONS, AND CONTAINATED STORMWATER, AND TO CONTROL DISCHARGES OF ITS TAILINGS, IN VIOLATION OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA), AT THREE FACILITIES OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE COMPANY IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA. THE FACILITIES ARE KNOWN AS THE PINTO VALLEY OPERATIONS, SUPERIOR MINING DIVISION, AND COPPER CITIES UNIT. THE REFERRAL ALSO SEEKS TO OBTAIN A DECREE REQUIRING THAT MAGMA FULLY ACHIEVE, AND THERAFTER MAINTAIN, COMPLIANCE WITH THE CWA AT THOSE FACILITIES. THE COMPANY'S SUPERIOR MINING DIVISION OPERATES AN UNDERGROUND COPPER SULFIDE ORE MINE NEAR SUPERIOR, ARIZONA. THE DIVISION MILLS THE ORE AT THE SITE. THE MAJOR DISCHARGES FROM THE SUPERIOR DIVISION WHICH FORM THE BASIS OF THE REFERRAL HAVE COME FROM SEEPAGE FROM A TAILINGS DAM AND FROM RELEASES OF MINE DRAINAGE.

Defendants (1)

• MAGMA COPPER CO

Facilities (1)

• BHP COPPER NA SAN MANUEL OPERATIONS

  200 SOUTH REDINGTON ROAD, SAN MANUEL, AZ, 85631

  Registry ID: 110038613818

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1992-02-24Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1992-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1994-09-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 1994-11-08Concluded
• 1994-11-08Enforcement Action Closed