from Press Release of the Center for Biological Diversity...

TUCSON, Ariz.— A federal judge today overturned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s approval of a controversial open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains because of threats to jaguars and other endangered species.

U.S. District Judge James Soto determined that the agency violated the Endangered Species Act in approving the destruction of thousands of acres of recently occupied jaguar habitat at the Rosemont Mine site. This land is officially designated as critical habitat essential to the survival and recovery of jaguars in the United States. The judge also denied Rosemont’s challenge to the designation of jaguar critical habitat at the mine site.

“This is a wonderful win for the Santa Rita’s rare and beautiful animals, including the endangered jaguar,” said Marc Fink, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The judge put the focus right where it belongs, on the protections demanded by the Endangered Species Act, and on sound scientific analysis of what these imperiled species need to survive and recover. The jaguars and endangered frogs, snakes and fish that call this place home are too important and vulnerable to be sacrificed for mining company profits.”

The ruling deals another major blow to Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals’ proposed $1.9 billion mine in the Coronado National Forest, 30 miles southeast of Tucson. The mine’s imminent construction was halted by the same judge in July 2019.....

~~ from Press Release of the Center for Biological Diversity

~ from "Inside Tucson Business" June 10, 2011