Scoping Period - Comment deadline is July 14, 2008
The Forest Service has begun the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the Rosemont mine proposal by Augusta Resource/Rosemont Copper. Scoping meetings are intended to give the public time early on in the process to express their concerns about a proposal. The Forest Service takes these early public comments into account when they prepare the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Recent court rulings make it clear that if an issue with a proposal is NOT brought up during the scoping process, it is difficult to object or litigate on that issue later in the process.
Please write letters questioning the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed Rosemont Mine BEFORE July 14! Be specific! Simply stating your opposition to the mine is not needed at this time - to make this process most useful, please write about what concerns you the most about this mine proposal and what you would like to see analyzed in the DEIS.
So, PLEASE WRITE YOUR CONCERNS! It is VERY important that the Forest Service hear from all of us. See the information below on how to comment and points to make in your letters.
If you have questions, or are unsure what to say, please feel free to call Kim Beck (326-9587) or Gayle Hartmann (325-6974).
Many thanks,
Gayle, President SSSR
P.S. We ARE going to stop this mine!!
How to send your comments in to the Forest Service:
Deadline for written comments is July 14 , 2008.
Email: comments-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us
Fax: 388-8305, ATTN: Rosemont Team Leader
or mail letters to:
Team Leader Rosemont Copper Project
Coronado National Forest
300 W. Congress St.
Tucson, Arizona 85701
See the Forest Service website for more information.
Additionally PLEASE copy us with your letters:
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas
8987 E. Tanque Verde #309-157
Tucson, AZ 85749
Or lainie@scenicsantaritas.org
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR WRITTEN CONCERNS! Make your voice heard!
See our Impacts page for more information, and go to our Resources page for links to even more information.
Points to make in your letters:
* List all of your objections to the mine, and the issues you want addressed in the environmental impact statement (EIS). Be specific! The Forest Service does not want comments that simply state your opposition to the mine. See below for some examples of what to write. Try not to copy these questions verbatim - write your own questions!
1. How will the surface water quantity and water quality in Davidson Canyon and Cienega Creek, downstream from the mine site be impacted from the mine? What is the likelihood that the surface water and ground water in the area will be contaminated from the mine?
2. Will the groundwater that the mine wants to take be replaced with the same quality water? Why can’t the mine use CAP water instead of our high quality ground water? One of the alternatives analyzed in the DEIS should require that the mine use CAP water instead of groundwater.
3. How will the ground water pumping by Rosemont Copper impact wells in nearby residential and agricultural areas? Which wells will be impacted? How will the company compensate the landowners if their wells go dry or need to be deepened because of the lowering of the water table?
4. Which sensitive, and threatened and endangered species, are in the area that might be affected by the mine? How will impacts on these species be mitigated?
5. How will natural habitat and wildlife corridors be affected by the mining proposal (and a proposed pipeline) and how will these impacts be mitigated? How much money will Rosemont Copper be required to post as a bond to make sure the area is completely reclaimed once they are done mining or leave the area?
6. How does Rosemont Copper propose to prevent toxic materials and heavy metals from leaching out of the waste dumps and into the groundwater?
7. Who will pay to repair the damage to Highway 83 from the large, heavy mining vehicles? Was this highway designed for this type of use?
8. How will Rosemont Copper guarantee the safety of school buses, tourist, and commuter traffic on Highway 83 given that every 10-15 minutes there will be large, heavy vehicles carrying toxic chemicals, explosives and other dangerous materials?
9. What will be done to protect nearby residents from toxic airborne materials from the mine site? What will the composition be of the airborne materials from the mine?
10. What is the daily blasting schedule? How far will the blasts be felt? What will be done to protect nearby residents, wildlife, and recreational users in the Coronado National Forest from the deleterious impacts of daily blasting? Who will compensate nearby residents from damage to their property from the blasting, including potential impacts to their water sources?
11. Given that the mine expects to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, how far will the lights be visible and in which directions? How will the dark, night skies of the region be protected?
12. What will the cumulative impacts be from this mine and the other proposed mining operations in the vicinity on wildlife, water quality, water quantity, and air quality?
13. How does Rosemont Copper propose to protect the long-term economic health of local communities?
14. My water is pumped from well number ###. I would like to know what impact the Rosemont mine would have on my well.
15. How will multiple uses of forest land, such as hiking, biking, birdwatching, camping and many others continue to exist with a mine? Isn't the Forest Service supposed to manage these lands for multiple use? How does this mine comply with that requirement?
Other Issues that are considered during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) include, but are not limited to the following:
*Air *Water *Geology/minerals *Soils *Reclamation *Social *Economic *Land Use *Noise *Visual Resources *Access/Transportation *Biological Resources *Cultural Resources (archaeological and historical resources) *Recreation
Other points to consider:
* State your objection to the fact that Augusta Resource Corporation / Rosemont Copper has not yet completed the studies and documentation requested when the Forest Service rejected their second Mining Plan of Operation. For example, the hydrologic studies are not yet complete, therefore the hydrologic impacts cannot yet be determined.
* Demand that the Forest Service STOP all activity at Rosemont by Augusta until the NEPA process is complete. Demand that the Forest Service not let Augusta piece-meal this mine, thereby avoiding REAL and meaningful environmental analysis of the impacts.
* Request that the CUMULATIVE IMPACTS of all the new mining proposals in the area be considered in the EIS. Currently, in addition to the Rosemont Mine, there are several calcium carbonate/limestone mine proposals in the Davidson Canyon area, and several copper/silver mine proposals in the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley. All of these mines would use Highway 83 to transport their chemicals and explosives.
* Demand that there be NO revision to the Forest Plan to accommodate Augusta! The Forest Service should NOT revise the Forest Plan to accommodate mining. The 1872 Mining Law does not require the Forest Service to revise this plan to accommodate mining. If Augusta's Mining Plan of Operation (MPO) cannot meet the current standards and requirements of the Forest Plan, then the Forest Service must deny the mine.
* Ask that the process be fair! Make the mining plan and all additional materials submitted by Augusta easily available to the public for review. Not everyone has internet, so make sure that hard copies are distributed throughout Southern Arizona.
* Demand that Pima County, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Arizona Game and Fish, and the Arizona State Office of Historic Preservation be included as "cooperating agencies," at a minimum in the EIS process.
* Demand that the Forest Service conduct a validity exam on all mining claims Augusta wants to use for their mine waste, tailings, and other facilities. Unless these claims are valid, Augusta has no real legal right to use our public land for their dump.
* Media must be at all public meetings to record all sides of issues raised and the FS itself must provide a general presentation to the public and media at these hearings. Federal political leaders recognize the importance of town hall-type meetings, and the FS must again remember and implement the intent of democratic public meetings: the opportunity for open and fair debate.
* Extend the comment period to 60 days AFTER Augusta submits ALL information and data the Forest Service requested in their letter dated Oct. 19, 2007, rejecting Augusta's mining plan last July 2007.
Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their Mountain and help STOP the Rosemont Mine!
Go to our Resources page for links to more information.
See our Impacts page or our Issues page for more information.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better,
it's not."
The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss