Aluminum Plant History
URGENT announcement: ADEQ Hearing
The AZ Department of Enviromental Quality (ADEQ) will hold a public hearing on Thursday August 21, 6-9pm at the Benson School District multi purpose room located at 360 S. Patagonia Street, Benson.
The purpose of this hearing is for you to express your concerns about the proposed processing plant.
IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM: Submit your concerns to ADEQ between July 16-August 21. Email ADEQ at airpermits@azdeq.gov OR go HERE for direct submittal links.
Are you surprised to hear of this project? We were too!
The Mayor and City Council have been courting Aluminum Dynamics for over a year.
Why were citizens not properly informed so they can have an opposing voice in the decision to change the face of Benson.
Plan submittal
Aluminum Dynamics LLC submitted their permit application to the Benson Planning and Zoning Department on November 18, 2024. Read the application HERE
Public information meeting
As a condition to Aluminum Dynamics receiving their conditional use permit for buildings over 30' feet tall (the plant bldg will be 88' tall plus 4 +88' stacks) - they posted a public information meeting notice in the Sierra Vista Herald (you must have a paid subscription to read) on October 16 & October 23, 2024 to notify citizens of an information meeting for the aluminum casting plant. The meeting was held on November 1, 2024 at 5pm, Benson City Council chambers. The President of Steel Dynamics Bill Kautz, gave an informational presentation. There were 20 people in attendance. Poor notification = Poor attendance.
Approval
The Benson City Council did not vote on this project, rather the approval came from the Benson Building Department 1n November 2024
- Why did the City Council not hold a public informational meeting re: this project?
- Why did they not vote on this project?
- Why were citizens seemingly left in the dark?
The project permit is subject to the developer receiving a Title V (class one) operating permit by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. This permit is issued to projects with high air pollution probability otherwise known as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP's) .
When we found out
We found out about this enormous plant at the beginning of June from a NextDoor post about the proposed project. Then we began investigating.
Next Steps
The Az Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting July 28 - see top of page for more info.
Do we really want this processing plant on the San Pedro riv
This rendering shows a 174,000sf, 88' tall aluminum processing plant. There will be four 100' tall stacks releasing particulate including hazardous emissions, two cooling towers, plus storage yards and other buildings.
What can you do?