Kaibab National Forest officials will begin holding public meetings later this month about a mining exploration project at the base of Bill Williams Mountain in northern Arizona.
The Forest Service has received a proposal from a cement company to explore for pozzolan at the base of the mountain that overlooks the town of Williams. Pozzolan is an additive used in cement.
Drake Cement filed its proposal last month.
After an environmental review of the project, a scoping period will begin in late February. At that point, the process will be opened up to public comment and public meetings.
The Forest Service already approved another project for Drake Cement. Last year, it OK'd a pozzolan mine nine miles west of Williams.