By Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa | PinalCentral
(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Elim Mining.)
A battle over ownership of the old Sacaton Mine is developing between two companies — one that wants to return the property to mining and another that wants to create hydropower.
In October, Elim Mining announced that it was working with the ASARCO Multi-State Environmental Custodial Trust and the state to purchase and restart the mine under a new name, Cactus Mine.
On Jan. 19, Ramm Power Group announced that it had filed a notice of intent and a pre-application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to use the nearly 1,000-foot-deep mine as a pumped water storage hydropower facility.
Both companies claim they have the right to use the mine.
Elim claims it signed a purchase agreement with the ASARCO trust on July 25, 2019, and that agreement has been approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Elim also signed a prospective purchase agreement with ADEQ that states the company plans to restart production at the mine. It is working to complete the purchase of the property by the end of March.
