Expanding Kennecott’s open-pit mine wouldn’t create enough air pollution to stop the copper giant from burrowing deeper into the Oquirrh Mountains. So ruled the Utah Air Quality Board in giving Kennecott Utah Copper a critical go-ahead Wednesday to enlarge its mine on the western edge of Salt Lake County — despite objections from anti-pollution advocates and a warning from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the expansion may not be approved.
Even though Kennecott’s planned expansion would lead to the removal of massive amounts of rock — the company wants to excavate up to 260 million tons a year, compared with the 197 million tons now allowed — Smith said “extensive” analysis by the state has indicated that the project wouldn’t exceed air-pollution standards. Salt Lake Tribune
