GRIP is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group that draws on local support and private foundations to promote community health and protect our quality of life. Despite our small size, we have taken on some of the largest challenges facing southwestern New Mexico. The High Country News (12/3/01) described us as 'a plucky group of activists' for prodding Phelps Dodge and the state to develop acceptable plans for mine closure and reclamation. We also promote planning, groundwater protection, and free-running rivers in the face of unsustainable development practices. Our approach to these challenges has been to bring technical, policy, and - when necessary - legal expertise to this area and then to combine these resources with an informed and involved public.

Interested in Energy Efficiency?
Strengthening our Local Economy?
A Healthy Environment for All?

Viva Verde's goal is to connect community members in southern New Mexico with the local green goods, services and resources to be more energy efficient, save on energy costs, and to live more lightly on the planet. We want to promote local green businesses and organizations that are accessible to everyone and that contribute to more sustainable communities.

The Viva Verde Guide is still a work in progress, but please check it out by clicking here.

The Guide is an educational guide and regional resource directory that features green businesses and organizations, Green Tips and an Green Marketplace.

Hard copies of the Viva Verde Guide will be distributed for FREE at the Viva Verde Expo.

If you are a green business or organization, learn about our FREE listing and other services (like web advertising and affordable personalized webpages for your organization or business) by clicking here.

The Viva Verde Expo will take place June 26 - 28, 2009, in Silver City, New Mexico, at the Global Resource Center, Western New Mexico University. The Guide will be distributed at the Expo. More here.

The Viva Verde Green Events Calendar is a place to get an overview of local green events for southern New Mexico. Find out more here.

Get Involved! Living Green Makes Dollars & Sense . . .



A collaborative project of Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Gila Resources Information Project, Silver City Climate Protection Agreement Citizens’ Advisory Committee & Southwest Environmental Center

575.538.8078
info@vivaverdenm.com
www.vivaverdenm.com

FAREWELL, MY SUBARU - Doug Fine

WQCC Decision in Tyrone Case
John Vanvig, Acting Director of Responsible Mining Program
GetAGRIP Winter 2009

The Gila Resources Information Project hailed state regulators in January for placing valuable New Mexico groundwater supplies ahead of corporate profits generated by Freeport-McMoRan’s Tyrone copper mine in Grant County. The state’s Water Quality Control Commission sided with its Environment Department and GRIP in the mining company’s appeal of its Tyrone closure permit. The action has wide-ranging implications statewide.Read more

Mine Layoffs Spur Demand for "Green" Jobs
Richard Mahler, Editor
GetAGRIP Winter 2009

In dramatic fashion, Grant County’s mining industry has shown its great vulnerability to market forces during the current global economic downturn. Spot copper prices skidded in December to less than $1.50 per pound, after peaking above $4 last summer. The per-share value of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, the mine operator that is the county’s largest single employer, has hovered below $30 after cresting at $127.24 last June. The company, which reported a $13.9-billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2008, has let go an estimated two-thirds of its local payroll. During January alone, some 180 Grant County residents filed unemployment claims, compared to 30-to-40 in a typical month. Read more

NMED Releases Record of Decision for Hurley Soils Clean-up

A draft Record of Decision (ROD) has been written by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) regarding remediation completed this summer in the town of Hurley. Out of 670 Hurley properties sampled, 523 were found to be contaminated with copper in excess of 5,000 parts per million, and in some cases with other metals. It has been almost 14 years since an agreement between the state and Chino Mines was signed to investigate and to clean up potentially dangerous “historic contamination” which occurred prior to 1970 in Hurley as well as an estimated 50 square miles in and around the Chino Mine. Read more

A Bird's Eye View of Mine Reclamation:
GRIP Mining Photo Essay 2nd Installment

As a follow-up to our last aerial photo-essay of PLS ponds at the Chino and Tyrone mines, we’re sharing more images from our collection, available at www. gilaresources.info. This time we’re highlighting the progress made in reclaiming tailings piles at Freeport-McMoRan’s Tyrone mine. Read More

For Immediate Release
Date:  June 26, 2008
Contact: Allyson Siwik, Executive Director
Gila Resources Information Project      
575.538.8078 office 575.590.7619 cell       

GRIP Settles Appeal of Chino Mine Dilution Proposal
Freeport-McMoRan Agrees to Water Treatment,
Saving 9000 acre-feet of Clean Groundwater Annually

Silver City, NM – The Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP) has won its five-year fight against Chino Mine’s proposal to dilute contaminated water with clean groundwater rather than use more effective treatment technology. The environmental group announced today that it had reached a settlement with the mine under which Chino will use an advanced form of reverse osmosis to remove metals and sulfates from the wastewater it will produce for hundreds of years after mining stops at the site. Read more

New to the GRIP Library! Available for Short-term Loan

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