NEWS ALERT!
Attend the Forest Service Scoping Meetings on the Rosemont Mine!
Public Comment period extended to July 14, 2008!
Forest Service Public Hearings
June 7, Sahuarita High School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road, 9am - 12pm
June 30, Rincon High School, 421 N. Arcadia, Tucson, 6-9 pm
Read the Forest Service News Release, April 11, 2008, announcing these additional meetings, and the May 9, 2008 News Release about the Elgin meeting.
Click here for Information on HOW TO COMMENT!
Go to our Resources page for much more information!
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is the environmental review process of Rosemont Copper / Augusta's Mine Plan of Operatons (MPO or POO). The NEPA process includes several opportunities for public input, and can take several years to complete.
Read the Forest Service Summary of the Rosemont Mine proposal.
For those who cannot attend the meetings, an initial public comment period runs through July 14, 2008. Agencies or individuals can submit comments by mail, FAX, or email as follows:
Mail comments to Team Leader, Rosemont Copper Project, Coronado National Forest, 300 W. Congress St., Tucson, Arizona 85701
FAX comments to (520) 388–8305, ATTN: Rosemont Team Leader
Or email to comments-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us
For questions about the public meetings or the comment period, the public can call (520) 388-8300.
Questions about the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process should be directed to Ms. Andrea Campbell, Forest NEPA Coordinator, at 300 W. Congress St., Tucson, AZ 85701, or telephone (520) 388-8300.
Additional information about the proposed Rosemont Copper Project, including the Notice of Intent, is available online at www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/rosemont
The Federal Register Notice is the official legal notice of the Forest Service initiation of the NEPA process.
Read the Forest Service Memorandum of Understanding with Augusta/Rosemont dated March 5, 2008 on preparation of the EIS.
See more documents about the Rosemont mine proposal
Go to our Resources page for more information on the NEPA process, how to comment on the Rosemont mine proposal, impacts from mining, economic impacts, various reports and documents, and the resolutions passed by various jurisdictions in Southern Arizona against mining.
Updates and more information
Rosemont Mine
Augusta Resource, a Canadian company that has never operated or built a mine, does not have any permits to begin an open pit mine in the Rosemont Valley. Read their Executive Summary of the Mine Plan of Operations, submitted to the Forest Service on July 11, 2007.
Read the entire Mine Plan of Operations
Augusta Resource's public opinion survey on the Rosemont Mine - what it really means, from Blog for Arizona (read the survey)
Representative Grijalva Introduces Legislation to Withdraw Lands Within Coronado National Forest from Mining, Nov. 15, 2007
Please show your support of mineral withdrawal by contacting your Congressional representatives. Go to our Action page for more info.
Read Rep. Grijalva's Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act of 2007
Map of the area included
Watch Augusta's visualization video on the Rosemont Mine to see how they want to change the Santa Ritas - forever.
To see a great example of the legacy left by open pit mining, check out this Photo of the Berkeley Pit, Montana, a former open pit copper mine, and one of the largest contaminated sites in North America, located near the headwaters of the largest Superfund site in the country. <more info>
Look behind the scenes to see who Augusta really is - do we really want to trust them with our precious Santa Rita Mountains? Information on Augusta Resource from their SEC filings, Dec. 31, 2006
World Changing: What does climate change do to our heads?
Interesting article about how the violation of our environment from something like an open pit mine can affect our mental health and well-being.
Tired of hearing the Rosemont Copper spots on KUAZ 89.1 Tucson ? Support SSSR by sending us the donations you would usually send to KUAZ! You'll feel better, we guarantee it!
NEWS FLASH! "Friends of Rosemont" is a website sponsored by Rosemont Copper, the U.S. company of Canadian Augusta Resource who want to destroy the Rosemont Valley with an open pit copper mine. Don't be fooled! We, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, are trying to protect the beautiful Rosemont Valley and Santa Ritas from the open pit copper mine proposed by Augusta. Who do you think are the REAL friends?
Wonder why our website isn't "SaveTheScenicSantaRitas.org"? Because Augusta Resource's PR firm purchased that domain name!
SSSR adopted this mile of Scenic Highway 83 back in 1997, and we are still working to keep it beautiful!
Eastern Santa Cruz County Mines - Patagonias, Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley
Contact the Coronado National Forest to find out the status of these mine projects that were approved with little or no public input or notification. Ask to be on the mailing list for all mining and mineral exploration projects in the Nogales Ranger District and the Sierra Vista Ranger District.
1)
Four Metals: Black Pearl Minerals Consolidated, Inc.
Mining Plan Of Operations 5/51/06, Completed.
11/26/07, Mining Plan of Operations, Exploratory Drilling (phase 2), Forest Service Action:
Currently under review by Forest Service, and reconsideration by the operator who may be considering the submission of a revised Plan.
2)
Italian Canyon, Black Pearl Minerals Consolidated, Inc.
10/10/07 Mining Plan Of Operations, Proposed drilling and road work, Status:
Comment period has not commenced, delayed pending review of proposed plan by Forest specialists.
3) Hardshell Silver Mine, Wildcat Silver Corp.
Current Activity: Road maintenance for exploration on patented mining claims (private land).
4) Providencia Copper Mine,
White Cloud Resources, Inc.
Current Activity: Exploratory Drilling (5 holes to 1,500 feet depth on Forest Service land), existing road maintenance, new road construction.
5) Patagonia Jewel, Southwestern Minerals.
Mining Plan Of Operations 8/6/07, Activity: 5 years Mining, Status: Plan under revision, FS Action: Evaluation by Specialists, NEPA scoping.
6)
TM Project, American Copper Nevada , Inc.
6/1/07 Mining Plan Of Operations, Rev 8/30/07. Activity: Drilling 6 holes from 2 sites, FS Action: NEPA is completed, but
approval is delayed pending receipt of a requested plan revision delaying commencement of operations until next fall
.
Please contact the Forest Service at the address below and request to be put on the mailing list for these projects in Eastern Santa Cruz County. You will then be notified of all public meetings and comment opportunities.
Richard Ahern
Coronado National Forest
300 West Congress St.
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-388-8327 rahern@fs.fed.us
The Rosemont Copper Mine is NOT yet approved!
You can help make sure the Santa Ritas, Patagonia's, Canelo Hills and San Rafaeal Valley stay free of open pit mines, and our communities stay healthy. Go to our Action page to see how you can help.
If you have not already done so, please contact the Forest Service at the address below and request to be put on the mailing list for the Rosemont Copper Mine and the mines in Eastern Santa Cruz County. You will be notified of all public meetings and comment opportunities.
Beverley Everson (520-388-8428)
or
Richard Ahern (520-388-8327)
Coronado National Forest
300 West Congress St.
Tucson, AZ 85701
To protect the scenic, aesthetic, recreational, environmental and wildlife values of the Santa Rita Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley through education and outreach, including protection of these areas from degradation due to mining activities.
Spring Flowers at Rosemont Junction
p
hoto: Nancy Zierenberg