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
  • 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
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Join Mailing List
    • Endorse Us
    • SSSR Presentation
    • Show Your Support
    • Letter Writing
  • Events
    • Past Events
  • Resources
    • 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
  • E-news Archive

Medial Release: Rosemont mine study draws heavy fire from key agencies

September 4, 2013 By Administrator Leave a Comment

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Nine local, state, tribal and federal agencies are highly critical of the latest Forest Service analysis of the proposed Rosemont open-pit copper mine according to written comments released last week. The depth and breadth of the criticisms, along with previous demands from political leaders, raise doubts about the credibility of the Forest Service’s environmental analysis of the proposed Rosemont mine, thus leaving a significant cloud of uncertainty over the project according to Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (SSSR).

Below are examples of some of the agency comments – (complete versions of the agency comments are below.)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE): Rosemont cannot begin work unless it receives a COE permit allowing it to pollute area waterways and establishing mitigation measures to compensate for the damage. The Corps is highly critical of the Forest Service’s characterization of the mitigation measures proposed by Rosemont.

Not only will the Corps not be accepting the [mitigation] parcels [proposed by Rosemont] but there has been no scientific determination that acquisition and protection of these parcels or [the Sonoita Creek Ranch also proposed by Rosemont] would “effectively mitigate impacts to surface waters.”

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA gave the Rosemont draft EIS the lowest possible rating. It also has final say, and veto authority, over any water pollution permit for the mine issued by the Corps of Engineers.

[T]he proposed project continues to present serious environmental issues, and EPA has identified significant information gaps that should be resolved prior to publication of the EIS for further public review….Based on the information currently available to EPA, the proposed project will result in significant degradation to waters, including the “Outstanding Waters” of Davidson Canyon and Cienega Creek.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ): The ADEQ regulates pollution of Arizona’s air and water. Ironically, the agency essentially rubber-stamped Rosemont’s air and water pollution permits, but in comments to the Forest Service, they leveled serious criticisms on the latest draft EIS.

[T]he conclusion that the mine can meet surface water standards is premature…. [T]he concluding statement “…there is little likelihood that existing water quality in Davidson Canyon or Lower Cienega Creek would be affected” is inaccurate.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory: The Smithsonian Institution owns and operates the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, a world-class astronomy research facility located on the Coronado National Forest about 12-miles from the mine site.

Adverse impacts on dark skies would result in an impairment of observatories near the project area, which would result in a decrease in State revenues generated from astronomy, space, and planetary research and tourism…In addition the negative public perception of having a copper mine next to an observatory has already impacted future observatory revenues, particularly diversion of future leading edge projects to other “darker” locations. (emphasis added

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas is a non-profit, community organization of ranchers, residents and businesses working to protect the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains from environmental degradation caused by mining and mineral exploration activities.

SOURCE Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

RELATED LINKS
http://www.scenicsantaritas.org

Below are the recently filed comments by Cooperating Agencies on the administrative draft of the Rosemont Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona State Parks

Arizona Geologic Survey

Bureau of Land Management

Environmental Protection Agency

National Park Service – Air Division

National Park Service – Intermountain Region

Pima County

Smithsonian Institution

Tohono O’odham Nation

Town of Sahuarita

US Army Corps of Engineers

Filed Under: News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • A great win today for our Santa Rita Mountains and for American public lands! May 12, 2022
  • “Uncelebrate!” The 1872 Mining Law is an antiquated law! Support Rep. Grijalva’s and Sen. Heinrich’s legislation, the Clean Energy Minerals Reforms Act of 2022 instead! May 10, 2022
  • Oak Flat event here in Tucson, May 11, 2022 May 9, 2022
  • Dismissing Native American concerns, Hudbay keeps moving dirt (AZ Luminaria feature) May 7, 2022
  • Arizona Public Media’s “The Buzz” interviews Save The Scenic Santa Ritas for episode on mining. May 6, 2022

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

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

RSS Latest from Rosemont Mine Truth

  • Hudbay says it is developing plans to build at least three open-pit copper mines on west side of Santa Rita Mountains October 6, 2021
  • Hudbay tells investors and analysts that it owns enough land to mine the western side of the Santa Rita Mountains August 12, 2021
  • Rosemont will destroy Santa Rita Mountains to export copper overseas May 18, 2021
  • Pima County reaffirms resolution opposing Rosemont Mine April 19, 2019

Selected Lens on the Land Photographs

Land
Members of the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council, by Jeanne S. Broome
Night Sky
Water Resources
People
Economy
Biodiversity
Hiking at the Rosemont Site, by Dennis Caldwell
PlayPause
 

Litigation Update

Oral arguments for our case before the 9th Circuit Appeals Court were held on February 1, 2021. Because of COVID, the oral arguments were virtual, and we could listen in. You can watch the recording here.

We cannot predict when we will hear a decision, but we expect to have to wait several months.

Click here for more updates

DONATE

Copyright © 2022 · Save the Scenic Santa Ritas