SSSR Reschedules Community Meeting to January 31

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas has rescheduled a community meeting to discuss the impact of the proposed Copper World mine’s massive groundwater pumping on the area aquifer to 1 p.m., Jan. 31, at the Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium.

The community meeting was originally scheduled for Jan. 10.

SSSR postponed the meeting after sending a Dec. 30 letter to the Sahuarita Town Council requesting the town to immediately determine if Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals is in violation of a 2013 agreement to replenish 105% of the groundwater Copper World will use with Central Arizona Project water. The agreement requires Hudbay to replenish the aquifer beneath Sahuarita and the immediate surrounding area.

SSSR also issued a Jan. 6 press release describing the 2013 Right-of-Way Encroachment Agreement signed by Rosemont Copper Company. Hudbay purchased Rosemont Copper in 2014.

In the press release and letter to the Town Council, SSSR called on the Town to immediately cancel the encroachment agreement that allows Hudbay to install a water pipeline along Santa Rita Road if Hudbay cannot possibly meet the 105% groundwater replenishment requirement. The pipeline would connect the mine’s wellfield immediately east of Sahuarita’s town limits with the mine site on the northwestern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains.

SSSR has compiled substantial evidence indicating it is virtually impossible for Hudbay to use CAP water to replenish the area aquifer with 105% of the groundwater it will withdraw to operate Copper World.