The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is working with the town of Clarkdale and mining company Freeport McMoran to solicit public input on an ongoing large-scale soil testing program.
The testing, called the United Verde Soil Program, is looking for potentially hazardous elements that may have settled in the soil over the years as the local smelter belched out smoke during the town’s days as a processing center for the copper mined on the mountain in Jerome.
The smelter was operated from 1915 to 1932 by the United Verde Copper Company.
After a break in operations, the smelter was reopened by Phelps Dodge in 1935 and operated until it closed for good in 1953.
Freeport McMoRan eventually acquired Phelps Dodge’s assets and, subsequently, the responsibility for cleaning up any contamination left behind.
Large swaths of the town have been identified as potential sites for soil contamination.
Freeport will work to contact property owners for testing; the program is voluntary.
The company is also looking to work with the Yavapai-Apache Nation, which maintains a reservation in Clarkdale.
The elements targeted are lead, arsenic and copper, which could be harmful to humans in high concentrations.
Freeport came to ADEQ with the plan and has submitted documents outlining its intentions.
The period for public comment is open through Aug. 17.
“The town has a working group that studies these things,” Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig said.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 29, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
