The 1997 document, written by former Kennecott chief legal officer Ray D. Gardner, does highlight seismic stability problems with the old 5,700-acre south impoundment's southeast corner, a section of the now-retired tailings pond. According to Gardner's findings, the impoundment failed in 1941 and 1964, each time due to water intrusion.

The Gardner document also says that in 1989 Frank Joklik, then-Kennecott president, disagreed with a suggestion that Kennecott should disclose to Magna residents the apparent seismic risk at the tailings pond. Gardner wrote that Joklik felt disclosure would cause "panic and suits."

Still, Gardner concluded in 1997, "Prior management's decisions to disregard and conceal legal advice, forgo public notice, attempt to establish a residential buffer surreptitiously, collude with the state engineer to withhold the KL studies from the public, and restrict the distribution of the Reduction Study, collectively and individually, give the appearance of a conspiracy to cover up a profound threat to public safety."

Lisa Roskelley, spokeswoman for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., said Thursday that the governor is committed to the health and safety of all Utahns and that state regulators will continue working with Kennecott and Magna officials to ensure the safety of the city's residents.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's spokesman Paul Murphy said officials in his department have been talking this week about whether an investigation into Kennecott's past and the alleged cover-up issue is needed at this point, who would initiate and handle such an investigation, whether it would be a criminal or civil matter or even if the attorney general should be involved at all.

Gardner also wrote about how Joklik authorized his company's land arm to begin buying up houses that appeared to be most at risk from a flow of tailings if the earthen embankment at the Magna Corner failed during an earthquake.

Marlene Norcross, who did not want to sell at the time, said Thursday that her main concern at the time was getting Kennecott to control the problem with blowing tailings dust that would turn day into night on windy days. What might happen to the tailings in a strong earthquake was less of a concern to her than the impact of the quake on her home.

"I figured I be buried by a rock," she said about liquefication that would come with a strong quake.