SSSR Mission
To protect the scenic, aesthetic, recreational, environmental and wildlife values of the Santa Rita Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley through education and outreach, including protection of these areas from degradation due to mining activities.
Latest News
Arizona Daily Star, Feds, state must cooperate on area land uses, Jan. 4, 2009
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TO PROTECT DAVIDSON CANYON!
Dec. 18, 2008: Army Corps of Engineers requires AZ-Cal Portland Cement to file individual Section 404 Permit under the Clean Water Act for their limestone mine in Davidson Canyon <more>
Arizona Daily Stary, Santa Cruz is ruled "navigable", Dec. 5, 2008
USEPA Letter, Dec. 3, 2008
Arizona Daily Star, Rosemont mediator backs out of process, Dec. 1, 2008
Read the Fall 2008 issue of The Scenic News!
Show your support for SSSR and our efforts to stop new mining in Southern Arizona! Check out the groups who have Endorsed us, and have your group endorse us, too.
Rosemont Mine
Coronado National Forest website on the Rosemont Mine
Link to Public Comments from Scoping open houses and public hearings
Augusta Resource Corporation "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements-Sept. 30, 2008":
"While the Company continues to seek alternative financing arrangements there can be no assurance that capital will be available as necessary for expenditures for continuing mine development."
The Official Forest Service Scoping Period on the Rosemont Mine is over, but the NEPA process has not ended. Click HERE for Information on HOW YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEPA PROCESS!
Forest Service information on the Cooperating Agencies
SkyTruth images of the Rosemont Mine (requires GoogleEarth)
SkyTruth's simulations of the proposed mine
Ode to the Santa Ritas, by Valerie Smith, Vail
Can we afford the Rosemont Project? Handout for the Augusta Resource Share Holders Meeting, Vancouver, B.C., June 23, 2008
Augusta Resource, a Canadian company that has never operated or built a mine, does not have any permits to begin an open pit mine in the Rosemont Valley. Read their Executive Summary of the Mine Plan of Operations, submitted to the Forest Service on July 11, 2007.
Read the entire Mine Plan of Operations
See more documents about the Rosemont mine proposal
Go to our Resources page for more information on the NEPA process, the 1872 Mining Law, how to comment on the Rosemont mine proposal, impacts from mining, economic impacts, various reports and documents, and the resolutions passed by various jurisdictions in Southern Arizona against mining.
To see a great example of the legacy left by open pit mining, check out this Photo of the Berkeley Pit, Montana, a former open pit copper mine, and one of the largest contaminated sites in North America, located near the headwaters of the largest Superfund site in the country. <more info>
Photos of open pit copper mines
Link to more photos of open pit mines
Tired of hearing the Rosemont Copper spots on KUAZ 89.1 FM?
We guarantee you'll feel better if you support SSSR by sending us the donations you would normally send to KUAZ. It's easy! Try it! Just click the Donate Online button on the right side of this page! Or go to our Support Us page to see other ways you can help stop the Rosemont Mine.
World Changing: What does climate change do to our heads?
Interesting article about how the violation of our environment from something like an open pit mine can affect our mental health and well-being.
SSSR adopted this mile of Scenic Highway 83 back in 1997, and we are still working to keep it scenic and beautiful!
Eastern Santa Cruz County Mines: Patagonias, Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley
Contact the Coronado National Forest to find out the status of these mine projects that were approved with little or no public input or notification. Ask to be on the mailing list for all mining and mineral exploration projects in the Nogales Ranger District and the Sierra Vista Ranger District. Some of the companies behind these projects are closely connected with Augusta Resource/Rosemont Copper.
Press Release, WIldcat Silver, July 3, 2008 (This company is closely linked to Augusta Resource, and are trying to destroy the Patagonia Mountains as well as the Santa Ritas.)
1)
Four Metals: Black Pearl Minerals Consolidated, Inc.
Mining Plan Of Operations 5/51/06, Completed.
11/26/07, Mining Plan of Operations, Exploratory Drilling (phase 2), Forest Service Action:
Currently under review by Forest Service, and reconsideration by the operator who may be considering the submission of a revised Plan.
2)
Italian Canyon, Black Pearl Minerals Consolidated, Inc.
10/10/07 Mining Plan Of Operations, Proposed drilling and road work, Status:
Comment period has not commenced, delayed pending review of proposed plan by Forest specialists.
3) Hardshell Silver Mine, Wildcat Silver Corp.
Current Activity: Road maintenance for exploration on patented mining claims (private land).
4) Providencia Copper Mine,
White Cloud Resources, Inc.
Current Activity: Exploratory Drilling (5 holes to 1,500 feet depth on Forest Service land), existing road maintenance, new road construction.
5) Patagonia Jewel, Southwestern Minerals.
Mining Plan Of Operations 8/6/07, Activity: 5 years Mining, Status: Plan under revision, FS Action: Evaluation by Specialists, NEPA scoping.
6)
TM Project, American Copper Nevada , Inc.
6/1/07 Mining Plan Of Operations, Rev 8/30/07. Activity: Drilling 6 holes from 2 sites, FS Action: NEPA is completed, but
approval is delayed pending receipt of a requested plan revision delaying commencement of operations until next fall
.
Please contact the Forest Service at the address below and request to be put on the mailing list for these projects in Eastern Santa Cruz County. You will then be notified of all public meetings and comment opportunities.
Richard Ahern
Coronado National Forest
300 West Congress St.
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-388-8327 rahern@fs.fed.us
The Rosemont Copper Mine is NOT yet approved!
You can help make sure the Santa Ritas, Patagonia's, Canelo Hills and San Rafaeal Valley stay free of open pit mines, and our communities stay healthy. Go to our Action and Support Us pages to see how you can help.
If you have not already done so, please contact the Forest Service at the address below and request to be put on the mailing list for the Rosemont Copper Mine and the mines in Eastern Santa Cruz County. You will be notified of all public meetings and comment opportunities.
Beverley Everson (520-388-8428)
or
Richard Ahern (520-388-8327)
Coronado National Forest
300 West Congress St.
Tucson, AZ 85701
Spring Flowers at Rosemont Junction
photo: Nancy Zierenberg
In Memory of Rich Genser
On Sept. 9, 2008, the Pima County Board of Supervisors named the Starr Pass trailhead in honor of Rich Genser.
If you know wilderness in the way that you know love,
you would be unwilling to let it go.
We are talking about the body of the beloved, not real estate.
---Terry Tempest Williams