Mining company fined for air quality violation

Arizona authorities say a mining company has agreed to pay a $1.3 million fine to resolve numerous air quality violations in Mohave County.

After complaints of excessive dust in April 2009, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality inspectors found that Mineral Park Inc. was operating a large copper and molybdenum mine northwest of Kingman without the required permits.

Inspectors say they saw several pieces of industrial mining equipment in operation including copper and molybdenum mills, crushing systems, and ore conveyor transport systems.

ADEQ officials say they later discovered record-keeping violations, violations of hours of operation limitations, malfunctioning pollution controls and excessive daily use of explosive materials.

MPI ultimately obtained an air quality permit and returned to compliance last July.

ADEQ says the consent judgment with MPI is subject to court approval.