How about we meet up at the Circle K in Superior? You're sure the early riser these days, Toast. Just think, Motero will have to leave his house in Wittmann by about 6 to make it all the way across town before we even wake up. That's dedication.

The issue with the land around Oak Flat isn't just about mining. Most of the actual mining activity will be underground, as the deposits to be exploited lie much further below than other mine's in the area.

The biggest issue is that much of the land is now under government control and the Feds are completing a land swap with the mining corporation to give them the Oak Flat area in exchange for some other land the mining corp. has. That's a pretty complicated deal in and of itself. Then there's the ever-fluctuating price of copper that makes the deal more attractive and urgent, then less so. Add to that, a seemingly largely settled issue was the area near Oak Flat (Apache Leap?) that is considered world-class for free climbing and rapelling. Don't ask me about that, though.

John B.