Good luck. Guilt by association sounds so unfair, doesn't it? However, I am a firm believer in where there is smoke, there is fire when it comes to Arizona mine scams.
I know Arizona rules when it comes to Aquifer Protection Permits, and your "nice guy" is promoting a concept that would take millions of dollars in permitting costs, and years to complete. All with the intent of supplying clean water to re-process worthless mine tailings that have been involved in scam promotions over, and over, and over. CDNL's "nice guy" should never have gotten wrapped up with someone as dirty as John Owen.