Kennecott did not purchase more than 39 homes in that subdivision, according to Gardner's memorandum. Kennecott's Kyle Bennett said Monday the company no longer owns any homes in the subdivision.

In a statement this week on Kennecott's Web site, officials say the company has spent over $500 million seismically upgrading the south tailings impoundment — the cost included building the new north impoundment.

"We cannot answer questions about decisions of previous managers, many of whom are no longer with the company, nor can we verify if allegations in the confidential memo were true," Kennecott said on its Web site this week.

In the meantime, Henline, retired from Hill Air Force Base after 35 years, said he chose over 40 years ago to live in Magna "because I like it here." He hasn't been concerned about the south tailings pond since, according to Henline, Kennecott was able to control the dust blowing from the pond into his home. Even then, he wasn't worried about what sort of waste might be in the airborne dirt.

"Just that it made the house dirty," he said. "We just don't see the dust anymore."

In his role as a Magna Planning Commission member, Henline said there has been a lot of residential development, and environmental issues have not been a barrier.

"We have not restricted anything from being built anywhere out here," Henline said. "Most of the ground is private, and most of it is not affected by any of the mining waste or tailings or anything else."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com