from Media Release of the Sierra Club...

TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge today overturned the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a controversial open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains, citing the agency’s “inherently flawed analysis from the inception of the proposed Rosemont Mine.” The ruling blocks Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals from beginning construction on the proposed $1.9 billion mine in the Coronado National Forest, 30 miles southeast of Tucson.

 

“We are heartened that the federal judge recognized that the Forest Service fell short in their duty to protect public lands and resources,” said Gayle Hartmann, president of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. "Our public lands are a public trust, and we must not allow them to be illegally used to enrich a foreign mining company."

 

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition and the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter filed a lawsuit in November 2017 challenging the Forest Service’s approval of the mine. The Center also sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its determination that the mine would not jeopardize threatened and endangered species. A decision in that case is pending.

 

“This is a crucial victory for jaguars and other wildlife that call the Santa Ritas home,” said Randy Serraglio, conservation advocate at the Center. “The judge’s ruling protects important springs and streams from being destroyed. We’ll move forward with everything we’ve got to keep protecting this southern Arizona jewel from this toxic mine.”

 

In 2017 the Forest Service issued a “record of decision” for the Rosemont Mine, saying the project complies with environmental laws and regulations and should proceed. The decision authorized Hudbay to build and operate the mine for its projected life of 30 years. Today’s decision overturns the record of decision and the underlying environmental analysis for the mine project, sending both back to the Forest Service....”

~~ from Media Release of the Sierra Club

~ from "Inside Tucson Business" June 10, 2011