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Show TO2W ISsSHO VOLUME 101 NUMBER 14 Remembering old Magna Anime page 4 Uli 13722 page 8 - - 21 E E202 E ., Ea.i 00001 n Ete 100 I,:, S4 21 124-I- f !jsV5 ' f r t- ,AAft.Ar tj ' t " 4 - II "Tlpi 7 Kennecott talks to Magna about tailings and earthquakes By John Bodenhofer Staff Writer If the Big One bieaks the leee holding back the south impoundment of Kennecott I'tuh Copper (KUC) tailings, the mine waste will flow no mote than 160 feet, to the westbound lane of Highway 201, and crime nowhere near Magna homes So said CIO ndiew Harding to more than 200 cinens at a Magna Community Council meeting on March 27 at the Magna Senior Citizens Center The puipose of the meeting was to allow kl'C to answer qustions about the danger to Magna that has been posed in the past, according to a March 23 report by the Salt Lake Tribune. KUC came with about a dozen top senior officeis, including Harding, to offer the piesentation. In no recent history, or een in the memory of most of the older residents, has the CTO. of all Kennecott operations attended a meeting or made a piesentation about some of the most intricate operations of KUC. Len Frank Joklik, a recent CTO, never met with local Magna residents, but Harding took a different, approach, conducted the meeting and answered many of the questions. Along with Paula Doughty, KUC.publ.lC relations manager,, Harding explained the purpose and walkings of the tailings operations from the beginmngsin 1908 to the present day. Samples of how the tailings. Safety concerns about the tailings as presented in recent local news were addressed. Harding explained that IT o in hi - - in the event that a quake measur- ing 7.5 were to occur, in the the remote chance that the strengthened tailings pond levee did break, the tailings are now dry enough that they would not travel far enough to reach private homes or property. Harding proposed that an independent review board be convened to study and report on the current condition of the- impound, and promised that, if the results cause a lowering of property values in an endangered neighborhood KUC would make up the difference. Other environmental concerns pertaining to the tailings, and other Kennecott activities were cited by Magna residents. It was asked where drainage water from the tailings pond go. Harding and Ms. Doughty explained that most drainage is piped back to Copperton, where it is processed, and delivered to the new Daybreak lake, and also used for irrigation on Kennecott properties. Dub Lawrence, a Magna resident, suggested that a tailings pond drainage ditch that empties into the Great Salt Lake near the old SaltAire site may be responsible for the death of thousands of water hirdB that frequent the lake. Doughty countered that the drainage ditch had not been in use for tailings drainage in many ; H n "OdbdS Ij .J It IS : maMMMffilir? i fffSU! ; Kk rlpFl AV-- r , V ? 4 J makes a statement at the meeting while Bruce Haggard waits to officials. Right: Paula Doughty, KUC public relations manager, Rio Tinto to speak details. the explains Top: Deena Ely years, making it unlikely that Kennecott was involved in these bird deaths. Jack Nielson, a major business owner in the downtown Magna area , spoke in defense of Kennecott that in his many years in Magna he had never witnessed the targe " ber ot bird deaths cited by Lawrence. Harding, said he will personally investigate the supposed bird deaths with the Utah Division of Wildlife. Ll, a recent home buyer in Magna, lead a statement from Deena her homebuyers papers that stated that the buyer of her home would be unable to hold Kennecott responsible for any enviorment . concerns that may effect behome, or family. Fly why such a statement would be in her papers. Mr. Harding could not give an answer as Flys home has rfjS' nothing to do with Kennecott or any Kennecott holdings. Once again Harding said he would personally investigate. Many other concerns and I quesions were raised, and some answered. Kennecott will make another presentation and answer more questions at a public meeting hosted by the Magna Town Counscil in of Chamber Magma Commerce building on Main the Street, Magna, on April 3. Cohn B. Douglas contributed to this article. Museum is on the way, says Magna Chamber president By Bennion Gardner Staff Writer Now that we own the building, were going after federal funds, Magna Chamber of Commerce President Chick Paris told the Chamber on April 20, about the planned Ethnic and Mining Museum. ton utility pickup truck to the donates a Heber Valley Railroad. Pictured from left to right: Ron Harmer, ATK logistics manager; Craig Lacey, Heber Valley Railroad executive director; Sheldon Nielson, ATK fleettraffic coordinator; and Mike Manwiller, Heber Valley Railroad chief mechanical officer. ATK three-quart- er Heber Creeper benefits from ATK donation ATK Launch Systems donated ton utility pickup a Heber Valley the to truck Railroad Historic Authority on March 27. Also known as the Heber Creeper, the nonprofit railroad organization will use the truck to help maintain its Tf railroad track and its historic collection of locomotives and rolling stock. We're very grateful to ATK Launch Systems for its generosity toward the Heber Valley Railroad, Craig Lacey, Heber Valley Railroad executive director, said. The truck will be put to regular use and will be a tremendous benefit to us. three-quart- er ATK donates excess property from time to time to help meet community needs, according to a company release. The Heber Valley Railroad is just one of many nonprofit organizations directly benefiting from ATK donations this year. situation to Its a win-wi- n donate equipment that were no longer using, but another organization in the community can put to good use, Sheldon Nielson, ATK Launch Systems fleettraffic coordinator, said. Were proud to be able to make a difference in the communities where our employees work and live. Bingham Canyon Mine Visitor's Center to open April The Bingham Canyon Mine Visitors Center will open on 1 April 18 instead of Api because of winter storm damage. The damage was caused by two severe stoirns last December. 18 Visitors are encouraged to call the Kennecott Visitors Center hotline at (801) 252-323- 4 or visit the Kennecott website at www.kennecott.com for' updated information and questions. The museum will house first class exhibits, he said. We have retained the same architect that Kenecott uses at the observation museum up there at the pit. Paris said he hopes to have half the museum open by July 4, 2009. The museum board has con- tacted tour bus operators that shuttle visitors to the copper pit and Great Salt Lake. The plan is to have the tour busses park at the new senior center and allow visitors time to walk through the museum and stroll down Main ' Street. Were going to be bringing a Paris lot of people to Magna, that one concern noted He said. of the bus operators is the lack of restaurants on Main Street. Township survey In other business, Stacee Adams, of the Salt Lake County Mayors Office, reported on the survey township ongoing process. One point brought up by Adams was that only property owners will receive the survey; if you are renting, your landlord will receive the study. It WVC also means individuals who own more than one piece of property will receive multiple surveys. In the case of Kenecott, Adams said they alone will be receiving 468 surv eys. There aie other large that will receive a lot, land-owne- rs she said. Adams explained that there are no guarantees that the legislature will follow' through on whatever desires are revealed by the survey. Many of the representatives who sponsored the original township legislation are no longer sen ing in the legislature, including Call Duckworth. So the future of Magna may still be uncertain even if the survey results show a strong majority for one option. As for now, the only thing dear is that Magna residents should give their opin-io- n and take the survey. As Adams put it. It's your only choice, at least for now'. One million trees been said that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. and the second best time is now. Salt Lake County It has recently reached a population of one million people. Shortly after hitting that milestone last year, County Mayor Peter Corroon announced the One Million Trees for One Million People Vogt, Open Space Salt Lake County, for Manager informed attendees about the place can be found at: program. The reason we are doing this is to improve air quality, to improve water quality, to reduce energy use, to clean our air, and to improve our communities, Vogt said. She said further that planting a tree is a simple and effective way to contribute to the g of future health and urban or comThe generations. munity forest makes our cities and county livable. As the population continues to grow the urban forest created by planting trees will be an essential component adding to resident's quality The final speaker of the meeting was Phil Bernal of Salt Lake County Public wotks. The Public Works department takes care of garbage collection, snow removal, and maintaining street signs, among other things. After piloting of life. be joining together to load garbage into dumpsters, remov e graffiti, and repair street signs. The county will also be licensing pets free of charge for residents in the clean up area. A picnic is also planned for the volunteers, residents, and public woiks employees. Bernal said the program was a great success in Kearns, and he hopes for the same in Magna. It was a good time, and a chance for people to interact. Lorna well-bein- The One Million Trees campaign was designed to involve in projects every resident to neighborbeautify designed hood and reduce the impacts of living in a rapidly growing area. Several companies are partnering with the program to donate trees, and volunteers, project ideas, and community leadership are all being sought. More information on the project and how to plant the right tree in the right Neighborhood www.mil-liontrees.slco.o- rg clean-u- p a neighborhood cleanup program Kearns last fall, the public works department is bringing the program to Magna. The cleanup will take place in the older section of Magna between 3100 South and in Main Street, and west of Spencer Drive. During three days in April or May, crews and volunteers will -- a program. The program milone to plant campaign lion trees in Salt Lake County by the year 2017. is- ten-ye- ar offers Vial of Life to residents Last week, the West Valley City Neighborhood Services Office, in partnership with the citys emergency responders (police, fire, ambulance), W'est Valley Citizen Corps, and Pioneer Hospital, Valley launched the Vial of Life program, furthering the citys mission to be more disaster resilient. Public Relations officer Aaron Crim announced the program on March 27. The program, w hich w as introduced to the city by a resident who has participated in the program fn other communities, is intended to provide critical information to first responders in the event of an emergency. The Vial of Life is an emergency preparedness program West Valley City begins to make good on promises to try to calm traffic in Diamond Summit. Driver feedback signs like the one being installed here bring a small according to transportation engineer Erik Brondum. slow-dow- See Life on page 3 n, |