Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice

Corresponding pages in the DEIS:
Summary of Impacts: pp. 699-754; Environmental Consequences: pp. 736-754

The proposed action would result in a small increase in regional employment, taxes, and revenue. There would be increased funding needs for road maintenance on State Route 83 and other roads during the operational phase of the mine. The proposed action would result in a possible decrease in area property value and would cause a potential degradation of area quality of life in terms of community values. There potentially could be a change in regional tourism spending. No change in the cost of emergency services as a result of population increase would occur. There would be disproportionate effects on environmental justice communities as a result of impacts to cultural resources.

The Economic Impacts of the Proposed Rosemont Mine

The amenities of Southern Arizona – the desireable features and facilities of scenic natural landscapes that annually attract millions of visitors, thousands of new residents and highly skilled workers, and hundreds of new businesses and industries to Pima and Santa Cruz Counties – are far more important to the region’s economic development and health than the 406 jobs the proposed Mine plans to create.

Why the Focus on Amenities Instead of Traditional Exports?

• People care where they live
• Businesses care where people live
• Available high quality workforce
• Markets for the goods and services produced
• Attract high quality workers at lower cost
• New residents setting up household stimulate the economy
• Attracting and holding retirees & retirement income
• Attracting visitors: building a sustainable visitor economy
• Traditional exports do not explain local economic vitality

Mine Jobs in Context

• Mining jobs represent a very small percentage of total Pima County jobs
• Mining jobs are historically unstable and technological advances require fewer workers
• Pima County’s economy IS NOT highly dependent on “traditional export” factors (e.g. copper, cattle, cotton)
• Pima County’s economy IS highly dependent on “amenity-based” factors such as:

• Public educational institutions
• Cultural attractions
• Natural Landscapes and Recreation Opportunities
• Quality of Life: Lower key lifestyle
• Sunshine
• Urban amenities and access to even larger urban areas (e.g. Phoenix)

Even relatively modest damage caused by the Rosemont Mine to the attractiveness of the region to new businesses, residents, retirees, and visitors could easily cancel out more than the number of new jobs created by the Rosemont mine.

Conclusions

• Be rational: look at both benefits and costs
• Don’t be panicked by the recession. Mines do not cure recessions. Recessions are 1 to 2 year cycles; mines operate 20 to 30 years with their own deep cycles.
• Take into account the instability that characterizes mineral development. Arizona has plenty of experience with that.
• Recognize that Tucson is not a “frontier” economy. It is a sophisticated high-tech manufacturing and service economy with a bright future.

Natural landscape amenities are an important part of the Tucson area’s economic base. This is not just an “aesthetic” or “pretty playground” concern. It is a dominant economic concern.