BYU NewsNet - Mining issue heats up

With the future of Rock Canyon still in question, Richard Davis, owner of land at the entrance of the canyon, still has a number of steps to take before he would be able to begin mining activity.

So far, Davis has spent 12 years trying to gain the right to mine Rock Canyon.

“Rock Canyon has been established as being a part of the Provo City,” said Helen Anderson, Provo’s community relations and public information officer.

Davis has what city officials call a patented mining right to Rock Canyon, which, in other words, gives him ownership rights to the land.

Davis applied for a conditional use permit to mine in Rock Canyon during 2006 and 2009.

“Even though he does have ownership rights, he still has to go through the process of applying for a conditional use permit,” Anderson said. “It would be the same case if he wanted to build a house there.”

There is a long process that Davis has to go through before he can start any mining work in Rock Canyon.

So far, the city’s community development department has reviewed Davis’ application, along with other city departments, and has held a neighborhood meeting.

“The neighborhood meeting is held to inform the public,” Anderson said. “It gives the public the chance to comment.”

The community development department is currently reviewing the application.

Afterward, the application will be given to the planning commission and a public hearing will take place, where all are welcome to comment.

“A decision has not yet been made,” Anderson said. “They can choose to grant his application, grant it with conditions, deny the application, or postpone it till certain changes are made.”

A number of groups have been formed in opposition to Davis’ actions. One of them, a Facebook group called “Save Rock Canyon,” has encouraged the involvement of its almost 1,200 members.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” one of the group’s members, LaDell George of Memphis, Tenn., wrote on the group forum. “I don’t live there anymore but I was one of the first to help develop routes for climbing. … Any form of mining would impact the entire canyon. Even if you’re not into climbing, it is such a wonderful place to hike and explore, even to just get outside and enjoy nature.”

Others have started a Web site, preserverockcanyon.com, to encourage participation in order to prevent the mine from becoming a reality.

Creators of the site urge visitors that, “it is important for each one of us to take action so that Rock Canyon will be preserved for generations to come.”

If the application is granted, city officials anticipate that mining work will start soon.