Mr. Michael McPhie reports
CURIS PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE NEAR TERM DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLORENCE COPPER PROJECT
Further to a news release on Oct. 11, 2011, which provided an update on the near-term development of the
Florence copper property, Curis Resources Ltd. has voluntarily withdrawan its requests
to amend the town of Florence general plan and rezone a portion of its
property.
Curis continues to pursue the completion of state and federal permit
amendments required to advance Florence copper toward full
development. The process is well advanced, involves an extensive and
in-depth review by state and federal environmental and technical
experts, and is in the final phase which includes a 30-day public
comment period that is anticipated to be initiated by the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection
Agency in the near term. Curis believes that the completion of this
process and amendment of the permits will give the town of Florence and
all stakeholders greater confidence on environmental and technical
matters and the opportunity to focus their attention on matters
relating to land use. In withdrawing the requests for amendments to
the town's general plan and rezoning during this year's planning cycle,
the company will focus on finalizing the environmental permit
amendments early in 2012 and intends to re-engage in these discussions
with the mayor, town council and town staff.
"A significant number of the permits required for the development and
operation of Florence copper are already in place," commented Michael McPhie, president and chief executive officer of Curis. "This includes important water use approvals from the Arizona Department
of Water Resources (ADWR) and air quality permits from Pinal County.
The permit amendments from ADEQ and EPA represent the final significant
step in the overall environmental approvals required for the
development and operation of Florence copper."
"Our primary goal has been that upon the receipt of our updated major
environmental operating permits, we would move forward with Florence
copper operations in two phases. Phase 1: the production test facility
(PTF); and phase 2: full commercial operations," commented Mel Lawson, vice-president of project development with Curis
Resources in Arizona. "Nothing with respect to our overall project development timeline has
changed as a result of today's announcement," he said.
"Our sincere desire is to build a constructive and meaningful working
relationship with the town and our neighbours this year, next year and
in the many years to come," said Mr. McPhie. "In withdrawing our applications, our hope is that we can have an open
and meaningful dialogue with the town after receipt of our amended
environmental permits and work to address any concerns that council and
town staff may have in the weeks and months ahead."
Mr. McPhie noted that about one-half of the recoverable oxide copper
contained in the 429-million-ton copper oxide resource (1) hosted on Florence copper lands lies beneath a 160-acre block of state
land. Curis holds the rights to recover and process minerals under a
mineral lease from the state on this land parcel. The company intends
to complete its feasibility study and initiate operations utilizing
in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) technologies within this state land
parcel next year, beginning with a phase 1 production test and ramping
up to commercial production by 2014.
The technical information in this release has been reviewed by David
Copeland, PEng, who is a qualified person that is not independent of
the company.
We seek Safe Harbor.
© 2025 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.