Copperton council formalizes liaison roles with Rio Tinto, asks for monthly dust mitigation report

Council members agreed to clarify who in town will handle different types of communications and projects with neighboring landowner Rio Tinto and requested a dust mitigation report and supporting air‑quality data be provided in May.

Tessa, the council’s Rio Tinto liaison, told the council that dust observed near the concentrator prompted inquiries and that Rio Tinto has air‑quality monitors around Copperton with monthly data that Rio Tinto would provide for analysis. Tessa said Rio Tinto requested a dust mitigation report in May and the town should set a meeting to review it.

For land‑use and annexation matters, the council voted to delegate responsibility to the planning commission and to Dan (the town planner / long‑range planner) to coordinate the planning process and to keep the council members apprised. Tessa will remain the liaison for other Rio Tinto communications (dust, community matters) and the council asked that meetings and off‑hand communications be documented — either by recording or by written summaries — so there is a clear record of expectations and timelines.

The council moved and seconded a motion clarifying the division of responsibilities and requiring documentation of meetings; the motion passed. The council also approved scheduling a Rio Tinto update and the requested dust‑mitigation report for the May meeting so staff and the council can review the monitoring results.