Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

Fighting to protect the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains from the devastating impacts of mining.

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Air Quality

Air Quality and Climate Change

Corresponding pages in the DEIS:
Summary of Impacts: pp. 158-205; Environmental Consequences: pp. 177-205

Under the proposed action, particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) would increase by two times versus background levels, and particulate matter 10 (PM10) would increase by more than three times versus background levels. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulates would not be exceeded, but those for PM10 would be close to exceedance (97 percent of standard). Volatile organic compound emissions would be about 105 tons per year and would represent less than a 1 percent increase in Pima County. Nitrogen oxide emissions would be about 1,250 tons per year and would represent a 4 percent increase in Pima County; this would increase the risk of an exceedance of the ozone air quality standard in the Tucson area. Sulfur dioxide emissions would meet the air quality standard at the project site. Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide) would represent a 1 percent increase in Pima County. Emissions from the project would cause and contribute to degradation of visibility in the Saguaro Park East and Galiuro Wilderness Class I airsheds.

Rosemont Copper has committed to using numerous mitigation measures to minimize emissions and their impacts. These include: operational and engineering controls for controlling fugitive dust associated with the tailings, water sprays and wet scrubbers associated with the ore crushing; use of covers to control emissions from mix tanks and settlers used in the solvent extraction system; spray or physical enclosures for low emission potential processes; location of stockpile and loadout areas within the enclosed stockpile building; use of newer engine designs in mobile sources, dust control on access, haul, service, and maintenance roads; use of low-sulfur diesel fuel onsite for all stationary equipment; expedited construction of electrical lines to reduce the need for onsite power generation and associated emissions; design of the project administration building to showcase use of leadership in environmental and energy design and sustainable energy concepts; and application of acid leaching solution to the heap using emitters (similar to drip irrigation) to avoid aerosol losses to the wind.



Impacts to Air Quality

The area currently has excellent air quality. Tailings and waste piles will be sources of dust, which prevailing winds will blow toward residential areas. Air quality in the National Forest and surrounding residential areas will be degraded by both dust and truck exhaust associated with mine operations.

As a case-study, consider the problems Pima County has seen with the Asarco mine in Green Valley: http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2010/01/21/news/59county%20dust%200110.txt

Recent Posts

  • LENS ON THE LAND May 16, 2023
  • 1872 MINING LAW May 16, 2023
  • SENATE BILL FAVORS HUDBAY May 16, 2023
  • HUDBAY LEGACY May 16, 2023
  • “DIRTY MINING TRUMPS ALL OTHER USES” ACT May 8, 2023
  • See Our detailed letter to the Arizona State Land Department April 18, 2023
  • HUDBAY’S NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO ALL OUR BACKYARDS  April 18, 2023
  • Guardians of The Santa Ritas April 18, 2023
  • Pima County Urges Arizona State Land Department To Deny Hudbay’s Request To Purchase 200 Acres For Tailings And Rubble  April 11, 2023
  • Federal Memo May Bolster Hudbay’s Position on Rosemont Mine Site March 16, 2023

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COPPER MINE TOXINS

In this video Dr. Hart describes how copper mines fail to prevent toxins concentrated in tailing piles and ponds from polluting our air and water. WATCH NOW video by John Grahame

Copper Mines and Aquifers

Dr. Stanley Hart describes the impact of copper mining on underground aquifers, both how much groundwater is used and where it ends up. WATCH NOW video by John Grahame

Why Mine the Santa Ritas? – Dr. Stanley Hart

Dr. Stanley R. Hart, Scientist Emeritus at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, talks with a group from Save the Scenic Santa Ritas about the factors that are causing HudBay Corporation to pursue development of a large open pit mine (“Copper World”) in the Santa Rita Mountains near Sahuarita in southern Arizona. WATCH NOW video by John Grahame

Geology of the Santa Ritas — Dr. Stanley Hart

Dr. Stanley R. Hart talks with a group from Save the Scenic Santa Ritas about the geology of this Sky Island mountain range near Sahuarita in southern Arizona. Dr. Hart is Scientist Emeritus at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. WATCH NOW video by John Grahame

Rosemont/ Copper World Mine Complex News

LENS ON THE LAND

1872 MINING LAW

SENATE BILL FAVORS HUDBAY

HUDBAY LEGACY

“DIRTY MINING TRUMPS ALL OTHER USES” ACT

See Our detailed letter to the Arizona State Land Department

More Posts from this Category

Update on Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels

Watch the April video update about Lake Mead, new water restrictions in Las Vegas, and news from Lake Powell.
WATCH NOW

Copper World Flyover January 6, 2023 by David Steele

Another shocking sight of the incredible destruction happening on our beautiful Santa Ritas.WATCH VIDEO NOW

Russ McSpadden’s recent fly-over showing mine activity

In Nov 2022 Russ captured recent bulldozing in the Santa Rita Mountains. His video starts over the Rosemont mine project on the east side and then swings over the Copper World project on the west side. WATCH VIDEO NOW

Explore the proposed Rosemont and Copper World projects virtually

Check out Pima County’s updated map of the proposed mine site. Click on any spot on the map for ownership/status information. Mapping details are based on Hudbay’s PEA dated May 1.

Proposed Rosemont/ Copper World Mine Complex

Image compilation of the area

LENS ON THE LAND

Sign the Petition

Please ask Commissioner Arizona State Land Department Ms. Robyn Sahid to deny request by Rosemont Copper Company for the department to sell at auction two noncontiguous parcels of State Trust land totaling 200 acres.

SIGN HERE

Recommended Reading List

Browse HERE over 30 titles of carefully selected books in various categories including: copper, water, mining, wilderness, exploration, and more. Your purchase supports the efforts of the SSSR

January 2023 Powerpoint Presentation

Click here to download (PDF)

Litigation Update

There have been two recent judicial rulings on the Rosemont Copper Company projects — one favorable and one unfavorable.

Click here to learn more

The latest on Hudbay’s Copper World project in the Santa Rita Mountains

Click here to download (PDF)

Where is the Rosemont/Copper World Mine Complex?

Click here for directions

HELP US PROTECT THE SANTA RITAS

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