Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

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

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors and Staff
    • Endorsements
    • Opposition and Resolutions
    • Volunteers and Friends
  • Background
    • Rosemont Mine
      • History
      • Impacts
        • Air Quality
        • Land Use
        • Wildlife and Habitat
        • Scenic Views
        • Heritage
        • Recreation
        • Economy
        • Water and Hydrology
    • Legislation
    • Copper
    • Patagonia Area Mines
  • In the News
  • Action
    • What Can I Do?
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Join Mailing List
    • Endorse Us
    • SSSR Presentation
    • Show Your Support
    • Letter Writing
  • Events
    • Past Events
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Visual Media
    • Links
    • Documents and Reports
    • 1872 Mining Law
    • Inspiration
  • Projects
    • Lens on the Land
      • Biodiversity
      • Culture
      • Economy: Industry, Tourism & Recreation
      • The Land
      • Night Sky and Astronomy
      • Water Resources
    • Rosemont Mine Truth
  • Newsletter

Economy

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.

Recent Posts

  • Federal Memo May Bolster Hudbay’s Position on Rosemont Mine Site March 16, 2023
  • Hudbay Minerals Stock Tumbled 16% Last Week to US$4.55 per Share March 16, 2023
  • Hudbay Fights Order to Stop Grading at Mine Site Near Tucson March 16, 2023
  • THE HOT TOPIC: WATER OR LACK THEREOF January 24, 2023
  • Hudbay ramps up excavation for Copper World Complex as local resistance continues and expands January 7, 2023
  • Meet The Man Who Shoots At Birds All Day To Keep Them Off A Toxic Pit | World Wide Waste (video) January 5, 2023
  • Lithium America Mine Project Hampered After Judge Schedules Hearing on Nevada Mine January 5, 2023
  • Thousands Will Live Here One Day (as Long as They Can Find Water) January 5, 2023
  • Latest Updates About Local Water Issues and Rosemont / Copper World Mine Complex January 5, 2023
  • Hudbay, Forest Service won’t appeal ruling blocking Rosemont Mine December 19, 2022

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign up to receive important updates straight to your inbox! We will guard your privacy and will not provide your email to anyone else.

Rosemont/ Copper World Mine Complex News

Federal Memo May Bolster Hudbay’s Position on Rosemont Mine Site

Hudbay Fights Order to Stop Grading at Mine Site Near Tucson

THE HOT TOPIC: WATER OR LACK THEREOF

Hudbay ramps up excavation for Copper World Complex as local resistance continues and expands

Meet The Man Who Shoots At Birds All Day To Keep Them Off A Toxic Pit | World Wide Waste (video)

Lithium America Mine Project Hampered After Judge Schedules Hearing on Nevada Mine

More Posts from this Category

Hudbay Minerals Stock Tumbled 16% Last Week to US$4.55 per Share

 

Update on Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels

All that rain and snow hammering the West surely means good news for water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Here’s a video update from last week with the current situation and expectations for the rest of the year.
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

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

DONATE

Copyright © 2023 · Save the Scenic Santa Ritas