Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

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

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What’s Happening on the West side of the Santa Ritas?

November 10, 2021 By Lisa Froelich Leave a Comment

As you know, Rosemont’s activities on the western side of the Santa Rita Mountains facing Green Valley and Sahuarita are getting a lot of attention right now. After a year of exploratory drilling (bulldozing roads and drill pads), Rosemont’s Canadian owners, Hudbay Minerals have announced that they have identified copper deposits that may prove worthy of mining.

Hudbay recently released what they call a “Reclamation Plan” for their proposed “Copper World” open-pit mine on the west side of the Santa Ritas. It is an extraordinary document in that it talks about what they will do after they have finished mining, yet they don’t even have a mining plan.

Also, the so-called Reclamation Plan is simply put, a sham. It fails to address any of the issues resulting from their mining activities. These include, for example: What do they plan to do about acid drainage? What do they plan to do about the possibility of toxic waste leaking into the groundwater? 

Because the Arizona Mine Inspector’s Office is a relic of a previous era, the Hudbay/Rosemont Reclamation Plan was approved without so much as a public hearing. But it doesn’t mean much. It is just an example of Hudbay going after “low-hanging fruit.” In other words, they can now check off the “Reclamation Plan box,” presumably to impress investors, even though they have a very long way to go before there is any possibility of mining.

For your reading enjoyment, the Reclamation Plan is linked here, along with comments on the plan prepared for us by expert geophysicist Dr. Dave Chambers.

There remain many unanswered questions about Hudbay/Rosemont’s plan for the western flank of the Santa Rita Mountains. For example, their so-called Reclamation Plan indicates that they are thinking of running an underground pipeline through Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land – thus requiring an analysis of environmental impacts pursuant to federal law. Also, Canadian financial regulations require that they publish an economic feasibility analysis, which will likely shed more light on their plans.

You can be assured we are staying on top of these issues and are prepared, with your help, to challenge them every step of the way.

What’s Happening on the East side of the Santa Ritas?

While we wait for a decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on our legal challenge that has stopped them from proceeding with construction of the Rosemont Mine, there is still activity occurring.

Hudbay has bulldozed new roads and drill pads on this side of the mountain range, which are prominent eyesores from Scenic Highway 83. Fortunately, these will disappear over time. Mother Nature will take care of them.

We continue to work hard to prevent mining in the Santa Ritas. And, we think we will prevail. As always, thank you all for your long-term support.

Gayle Hartmann, President

Filed Under: Mine Plan, News, Rosemont, Rosemont in the News, Rosemont Mine, Uncategorized

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Recent Posts

  • LENS ON THE LAND May 16, 2023
  • 1872 MINING LAW May 16, 2023
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  • 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

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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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