Long Post, sorry. DMs and photos from community members confirmed all gates locked. No access to public land. And a new gate.
The new Faraday Copper general manager sent an internal email with “photographic evidence” of damage to Copper Creek Road and stated gates would be locked to restrict access for safety reasons. It was laminated and hung at the gate.
Many knew this would happen. A made-up excuse of “safety issue” would lock people out.
We and many people call BS and here is why.
1. According to the coordinates in the photo, the so-called damage is on Public (BLM) land not private. Most people don’t know that a majority of the land behind the Faraday gates is public — not private.
2. The photo with coordinates was taken near the holding pond looking NW. This is a picture of Copper Creek (https://maps.app.goo.gl/TqHJ2WWyR4LNzQMA9). Not a road, not much damage and NOT private property.
3. People familiar with the area know the photo with no coordinates shows the culvert pipe in the wash that feeds Copper Creek near Old Reliable and Saloon Canyon. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/SXTstYwCXiKCGedCA) Again not a road, not much damage and NOT private property.
4. It has been over almost 3 weeks since the “damage” (wink, wink) and 2 weeks since Labor Day. Still not “repaired”. They are an exploration company that has created and repaired miles of roads already. Are they incapable of this “repair”? We bet if there had been a drill pad on the other side of this “significant damage”, it would have been repaired before lunch that same day.
5. The public lands in Copper Creek were accessible to the community after the 1983 and 1993 floods. We are sure the community will be fine, but thanks for the “concerns” for our safety.
6. No public notice or updates as promised. Just an internal email to site personnel, contractors and public access stakeholders. We guess the public is not part of the “public access stakeholders”.
In addition to this nonsense, Faraday has installed a new gate here. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ckyyRRwss4H5KFss7). Once that gate is locked, there will be no access to the Copper Creek and Rug Road either.
Common community rumors of why Faraday has locked the gates:
* With a helicopter landing pad in place, could the gates remain closed to allow the “Faraday Copper Hunting Club” access to some private hunting.
* Could be drilling in an area that was not approved by BLM because no one can check on them.
* Or maybe they are just upset more of the community doesn’t support them.
The big question: will the gates remain closed for years while Faraday focuses on drilling at the soon-to-be acquired San Manuel mine
For those of you who want the mine so the community can time-travel back to the 1970’s when the area was “booming”, fine. It is unrealistic , but – fine – that’s your view.
But, for those of you that defend what they are doing with locked gates, restricting access to public lands and harassing hunters as their “private property rights” and “keeping the community safe”….. Do Better.
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