By Lesley Wright | The Arizona Republic
A protective berm of earth, a decorative fence, landscaping and legal promises have made for a fragile peace in a long-running dispute between a mining company and residents of a Youngtown community on the east side of the Agua Fria River bed.
Company workers put the last touches on a promised physical barrier between the homeowners and the mine site in June, the result of a truce in a legal fight that drew in El Mirage, Youngtown, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, homeowners and West Valley environmental activists.
Mining could start at any time on the 240-acre site northwest of Olive Avenue and Agua Fria Ranch Parkway. Company officials say only that operations will begin based on demand from building and road industries.