Residents raised concerns about noise, blasting, water use, and lasting impacts during a public hearing on plans to reopen the long-idle Copper Flat Mine. At the same time, the company and supporters pointed to potential jobs and economic gains for the rural area.
Those concerns dominated a Sept. 17 hearing at the Hillsboro Community Center, where more than 100 people gathered to weigh in on a project years in the making.
The open-pit copper mine operated for only about four months in 1982 under Quintana Minerals before closing amid low copper prices and debt. New Mexico Copper Corp., a subsidiary of THEMAC Resources, has sought permits for more than a decade to restart the project near Hillsboro in Sierra County.
An amended plan proposes dry-stack tailings storage instead of a conventional wet pond and envisions producing about 628 million pounds of copper, along with molybdenum, gold and silver, over an operating life of roughly 18 years. The company says its new design is a major improvement over conventional wet tailings and represents a more responsible approach to mining in an increasingly water-stressed world.
CEO Andrew Maloney said water has become “such a precious resource all over the world.”
Residents and environmental advocates challenged that claim, saying the economic benefits could come at the expense of resources the community cannot replace.
Water use remains a major point of contention. The company says the dry-stack design would cut annual demand by about 84%, from roughly 6,200 acre-feet to less than 1,000–1,050 acre-feet through recycling. Critics argue that volume still risks depleting local groundwater, wells, springs, Animas Creek, and contributions to the Rio Grande in a water-stressed region. If this happens, the area can be adversely affected. Prior efforts have faced lawsuits over water rights.
Dan Lorimier, who has lived in Sierra County for 50 years and worked in water conservation, said he has closely observed the mine’s operations and permitting since 1982. “In the end, everything leaves Sierra County. The mineral resources, the profits and our water,” Lorimier said. “And so, I want to end by just telling you straight out, this project is a bad, bad idea for Sierra County.”
Hillsboro resident Arnold Avery also said noise from the proposed mine is an issue that has “not been properly addressed.” Barbara Pearlman joined and questioned the effects of blasting in the quiet rural setting. “I can hear a gunshot a mile away here. That’s how quiet it is. If they’re blasting, what is that going to do to the whole community?” she asked.
Clay Hein, site coordinator with New Mexico Copper Corp., offered a different view. “There are so many hills between here and Hillsboro, I don’t know how you’re going to hear anything,” he said.
Supporters, including the company, emphasize economic benefits. Construction could generate more than 1,100 total jobs statewide and tens of millions in local spending. Operations are projected to support about 270 full-time positions with competitive wages and benefits, plus hundreds more through related activity, along with substantial state and federal tax revenue over the mine’s life and reclamation period. The company has said it prioritizes local and regional hiring.
The New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division held the hearing. The public comment period closes Oct. 16. Additional state and federal approvals remain pending before any restart.
