Salt Lake County committee is formed to check mine stability

The committee has been formed that will pick an engineering firm to look into the seismic stability of Kennecott Utah Copper Corp.'s old south tailings impoundment.

The Salt Lake County Council voted Tuesday in favor of forming a committee that will be represented by people from Magna's community and town councils, chamber of commerce, PTA, water company and planning commission. Public officials on the committee include County Councilmen Randy Horiuchi and Michael Jensen, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and one member each from the state House and Senate.

Also joining the committee will be several residents, whom Jensen described as "skeptical" to "almost hostile" toward Kennecott.

The reason for the hostility stems from recent news that past Kennecott President Frank Joklik covered up a report 20 years ago that suggested there may be a seismic instability risk at the southeast corner of a then-active south tailings impoundment.

Kennecott has given Salt Lake County $250,000 toward a new study intended to ease people's fears and frustrations over the mining giant's waste impoundments and to get an unbiased look at whether any risks remain today. The committee formed this week will hold its first meeting soon before choosing which firm to do the study.