Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

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

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Scenic Views

Visual Resources

Corresponding page numbers to the DEIS:
Summary of Impacts: pp. 452-511; Environmental Consequences: pp. 479-511

The proposed action would adversely impact visual resources. The proposed action would include strong contrasts and adverse impacts from the highly visible pit face and diversion channel, along with permanent and major impacts, including the irreversible loss of scenic views, from highly visible piles and power lines visible in Box Canyon, along the ridgeline, and at Lopez/Gunsight Pass for the life of the project.

Under the proposed action, the plant facility would be visible for up to 7 years. There would be impacts to 13,742 acres within the Santa Rita Ecosystem Management Area with very high and high scenic integrity characteristics. There would be 40 miles of project area visibility along forest roads and trails with concern levels 1 and 2, as defined under the Scenery Management System, and 3.4 miles of scenic quality impacts along State Route 83. There would be 187,893 acres within the analysis area with project visibility.

Mitigation measures to reduce the impact to visual resources would occur during mine operations, closure, and postclosure. Concurrent reclamation will occur during operations that would have minor beneficial impacts to scenic quality. Sediment and dust controls would reduce but not eliminate visual impacts from fugitive dust. During operations, the colors of buildings would be painted or stained in earth tones to reduce color contrasts with the surrounding landscape. During closure, facilities and foundations would be removed, access roads would be reclaimed, and final reclamation would be conducted on the waste rock and tailings piles. During closure, the applicability of measures to darken the exposed rock faces of the mine pit to reduce color contrasts would also be determined. Postclosure reclamation would include monitoring revegetation success on the waste rock and tailings slopes.

Additional mitigation measures may be considered. The Forest Service is investigating the feasibility of geomorphic design (sometimes called landforming) to create more stable, natural functioning, and natural looking topography related to the waste rock and tailings piles. With respect to the facility footprint, grading to restore a natural appearing topography would reduce impacts and encourage more natural revegetation in this area. Breaking up the horizontal benches in the visible portions of the upper pit may also be pursued. There are several ways to accomplish this, including double benching, postmine bench blasting, and randomized benching.

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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