Kennecott officials have apologized for two decades of deception, and assured residents of Green Meadows Estates near Magna that the century-old pond no longer threatens their lives and homes if a major earthquake occurs.

A 1988 study commissioned by the company and concealed from the public to avoid panic and lawsuits predicted disaster. Wet mine waste would liquefy and breach the dam if a big one hit, flooding the enclave of 200-plus homes with mine sludge. The company has since spent $13 million to dewater and stabilize the impoundment, part of an ongoing 30-year project.

While the dam still fails to meet state standards, Kennecott says the mudslide would now stop short of occupied areas. And David Marble, director of Utah's Dam Safety Office, which helped hide the earlier study, says the impoundment is now "basically safe."

But "basically" isn't assurance enough, and Kennecott's promise last week to commission an independent study to confirm its claim that the dam is safe, while welcome, won't necessarily allow residents to rest easy, considering the company's past deceptions under previous management.

That's where the county comes in. The council will wisely appoint a 14-member committee composed of Magna residents and county officials to oversee the safety study, assuring that the probe is truly independent, and the results are valid.