In the News

Click on a link to go to these news topics:

Rosemont Mine
TEP Power Lines
Davidson Canyon
Water & Clean Water Act
Mining and the Economy - Boom/Bust
Green Valley, Groundwater & CAP Pipeline
Patagonia area mines
1872 Mining Law
Mining Impacts


Rosemont Mine

AZ Daily Star, Rosemont expected to become lake when done, Jan. 17, 2010

AZ Daily Star, Studies vary on Rosemont's impact, Jan. 17, 2010
Map of Impacts
The proposed Rosemont mine could reduce the flow of Cienega Creek, one of the county's last perennial streams and a birdwatchers mecca about 10 miles from the mine site, one study predicts. Or it could leave Cienega Creek untouched and drain only a little water from Davidson Canyon, a lesser but still-important stream with cottonwoods, willows and crystal-clear water about five miles from the mine, another study concludes. Rosemont Copper Co. wants to pull about 225 million pounds of copper from the Santa Rita Mountains each year. To do that, it would dig a 2,000-foot deep, 700-acre pit that would stretch nearly two miles mile one way and half a mile in the other.

KGUN 9, McCain favors Rosemont Mine Plan , Jan. 17, 2010

Arizona Daily Star, 2012 CAP shortage called likely, Jan. 12, 2010

Watch Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll speak about the proposed Rosemont project on Arizona Illustrated on Nov. 18th

Read Gayle Hartmann's letter to the editor from Nov. 13
Mine foes aren't 'manipulating fear' but citing practical concerns


News about the Oct. 27, 2009 water forum in Green Valley:



Green Valley News:
http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/63water%20forum%201028.txt
http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/80waterforum1025.txt

KMSP video):
http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/Rosemont-mine-water-usage-66717187.html



News about the public meetings on Saturday Oct. 24th and related news regarding the USDA and Jay Jensen's visit:

AZ Daily Star:

http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_9960a5a8-c77a-51dc-a305-199a07f925d3.html (in Letters section - Outdated mining laws hurt environment)

US will consider option for no Rosemont mine - Oct. 24, 2009


Rosemont opponents give US official an earful - Oct. 25, 2009

Our view: It's good news that officials came in person to hear from opponents - Feds must keep open mind on Rosemont mine - Oct. 27, 2009


Green Valley News:
http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/75rosemont1025.txt
http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/78rosemont1024.txt
http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/82rosemont1021.txt

Nogales International:
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/doc4ae71bdf4baa3185983651.txt
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2009/10/27/news/doc4ae71df2c1d4e530986951.txt
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2009/10/20/news/doc4addda45f2494502365603.txt

KOLD videos:
http://www.kold.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=15088&topVideoCatNoB=158866&topVideoCatNoC=158876&topVideoCatNoD=158882&topVideoCatNoE=138849&clipId=4242245&flvUri=&thirdpartymrssurl=&topVideoCatNo=0&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv
http://www.kold.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4229848&h1=USDA%27s%20deputy%20under%20secretary%20to%20attend%20Rosemont%20mine%20meetings&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=44467&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=22649148

KMSP video (about the recently filed lawsuit):
http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/Rosemont-mine-lawsuit-65684227.html


U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS TO HOST TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PROPOSED ROSEMONT MINE
Top official from U.S. Department of Agriculture will attend the Oct. 24th meetings.
Read the full story
See our Events page for more details.

Arizona Daily Star, Rosemont foes fault Agriculture Secretary, Oct. 22, 2009

Green Valley News, Rep. Giffords and Grijalva's letter on the Rosemont Mine, Oct. 20, 2009

Conservation and Native American Groups Challenge Bush-Era Mining Givaways
Lawsuit Filed to Overturn Public Land Mining Regulations
Read the joint Press Release
Read the article by Dick Kamp in the Green Valley News from October 20th.

Rosemont Environmental Impact Statement Delayed!
Read the story in the Sahuarita Sun, Oct. 17, 2009

Rosemont Copper announces they don't have the money to build the mine.
Arizona Daily Star, Rosemont Copper hires financial advisor, Oct. 17, 2009

Oct. 14, 2009, letter from Pima County to the Forest Service regarding Rosemont Copper's latest publicity statements

Letter from Secretary Vilsack of the Forest Service to Green Valley Coordinating Council on the No-Action Alternative, Oct. 14, 2009

Letter to Secretary Vilsack of the Forest Service from Green Valley Coordinating Council on the No-Action Alternative, June 17, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Key official to visit Rosemont, Oct. 4, 2009
A top U.S. Agriculture Department official is to visit Tucson later this month to get a close-up look at the Rosemont mine conflict. Jay Jensen, a deputy undersecretary for natural resources and the environment, will be here on Oct. 24, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords announced late last week.

The Sahuarita Sun, Rosemont takes case to GVCC, Sept. 18, 2009

KOLD.com, Opponents say Santa Rita "scar" is sign of things to come, Sept. 16, 2009

Green Valley News, Guest Comment: Everything is wrong with Rosemont Mine, Sept. 15, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Mine inspector OK's reclamation plan for Rosemont Mine, Aug. 18, 2009

Nogales International, Mine inspector's nod of Rosemont draws ire of its neighbors, Aug. 4, 2009

Green Valley News, Rosemont Mine: Not a Done Deal, Aug. 2, 2009

Green Valley News, Fred Tahse, friend of Santa Ritas is remembered, July 18, 2009

Green Valley News, Letters, from the Editor, Who Calls the Shots as Life Winds Down? July 18, 2009

The Bulletin, Rosemont mine study touts economic benefits to S. AZ, July 15, 2009

 

news archives ....

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Davidson Canyon, Arizona Water Quality Standards & Outstanding Waters

Arizona Daily Star, Army engineers to review quarry's Davidson plan, Aug. 26, 2009

Arizona Public Media, Mining in Davidson Canyon, Richard Elias, online video, Aug. 5, 2009

NY Times, Economic crisis complicates California's goals on climate, Feb. 25, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, County revisiting cement company's permit requests, Jan. 5, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Feds, state must cooperate on area land uses, Jan. 4, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, US-permit decision could slow limestone-quarry plan, Dec. 28, 2008

Letter from Ray Carroll to Army Corps on Davidson Canyon, Dec. 22, 2008

Letter from Arizona Branch Army Corps of Engineers requesting individual Section 404 permit for AZ-California Portland Cement, Dec. 18, 2008
--Map of the site

Arizona Daily Star, Permit to build haul road across Davidson Canyon won't be revoked, Dec. 17, 2008

Tucson Citizen, County can't undo approval of mine haul road, Dec. 16, 2008

Arizona Daily Star, Canyon where quarry sought gets top level of protection, Dec. 8, 2008

Arizona Daily Star, County OK's key permit for quarry in riparian area, Dec. 3, 2008

ADEQ, Draft Anti-degradation Implementation Procedures, April 2008


Clean Water Act, Water Quality (back to top of page)

NPR.org, Will the next war be fought over water? Jan. 3, 2010

Arizona Daily Star, Severe AZ water shortage possible, April 26, 2009

New York Times, West is told to expect water shortfalls, April 20, 2009

Common Dreams, Across America, Waters in Crisis, April 14, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Asarco to pay $170K to settle Silver Bell violations, Mar. 7, 2009

NPR, New EPA review prompts anxiety over mining jobs, Mar. 31, 2009

Arizona Home Builders file suit over Santa Cruz decision, Mar. 24, 2009

The Marshall Plan, NM Grant County Water supplies protected today from mining pollution, Jan. 13, 2009

Pima County, Clean Water Act Effectiveness Review, Jan. 13, 2009

East Valley Tribune, Court refuses to reverse Pinto pollution case, Jan. 13, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, High Court bans more pollution in AZ Stream, Jan. 13, 2009

Press Release, Carolot Mine water quality permit, Jan. 12, 2009: US Supreme Court denied an industry petition to review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which struck down a Clean Water Act permit issued by the U.S.EPA to the Carlota Copper Company.  The permit would have authorized Carlota to release significant levels of copper and other toxic pollutants into Pinto Creek, a tributary to the Salt River, which provides a portion of Phoenix's water supply.  The Carlota Copper Project is a proposed open pit copper mine covering over 3,000 acres near the small mountain town of Globe, Arizona, about two hours east of Phoenix. 

Living on Earth: Redefining Rivers, Nov. 14, 2008

news archives ....

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Mining and the Economy - Boom/Bust (back to top of page)

Arizona Daily Star interactive map of Arizona's mines

Reuters.com, Copper marketplace tight, demand weak, June 10, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Copper price rebound boosts new mining ventures, April 17, 2009
(more pro-mining propaganda from the Star)

Zonie Report, Rosemont backers bask in copper price jump, April 17, 2009

National Post Mobile, Chinese buying revitalizes copper price, Apr. 3, 2009

USGS Data Series 140 version 3.0 "Historical Statistics for Mineral and
Material Commodities in the United States"
- This revision updates statistics for mineral commodities through 2007.

Arizona Daily Star, Asarco will demolish Texas smelter, Feb. 4, 2009 (this is one of the smelters Rosemont was considering sending their concentrate to if they ever got their mine built)

Arizona Daily Star, Freeport mining shows huge loss as demand for copper plunges, Jan. 27, 2009

Tucson Citizen, State of mining is bad, but could get worse, Jan. 21, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Morenci mine to cut 1,550 workers, Jan. 10, 2009

KOLD News, 1,550 layoffs announced at eastern Arizona Mine, Jan. 10, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Major layoffs for Arizona miners, Jan. 9, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Mining firms squeezed by lower demand, Jan. 1, 2009

 

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."

Click HERE to see the latest figures for Augusta's stock

 


Green Valley, Groundwater & CAP Pipeline (back to top of page)

The Arizona Republic, Unabated use of groundwater threatens Arizona's future, Aug. 2, 2009

Green Valley News, Caliche puts snap in CAP pipe plan, July 1, 2009

Green Valley News, Growth could help solve water problem, Mar. 31, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Asarco's Mission mine complex now using CAP, saving groundwater, Jan. 24, 2009

Inside Tucson Business, AZBiz.com, CAP board hears about differences in opposing pipeline plans, Dec. 15, 2008

Green Valley News, Mining company to fix sulfate problem, Dec. 13, 2008

Green Valley News/Sahuarita Sun, CAP board heard differences in two pipeline plans, Dec. 6, 2008

FICO presentation, Dec. 4, 2008
Community Water Company presention, Dec. 4, 2008

BOR Presentation at Aug. 26, 2008 Scoping Meeting in Green Valley
More info including maps

The Bureau of Reclamation has determined an environmental assessment is needed regarding potential impacts of the proposed construction and operation of a Central Arizona Project water distribution system and recharge facility by the Community Water Company of Green Valley, AZ. The Community Water Company has provided Reclamation with its final plans for taking and using its annual CAP Central Arizona Water Project water allocation of 2,858 acre-feet. CAP water would be recharged and CWC would continue to pump and deliver groundwater. Reclamation seeks public input regarding the potential impacts of the proposed action, alternatives that should be considered, and/or other concerns and issues that should be addressed in the EA. Comments may be sent by mail to:
Reclamation's Phoenix Area Office, 6150 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale AZ 85306, Attention: PXAO-1500, or faxed to 623-773-6486 by September 12, 2008.

Comments, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. The full Notice of Public Scoping Notice can be obtained by calling the Environmental Resource Management Division at (623) 773-6251, by e-mailing rkonst@lc.usbr.gov , or by downloading it from the Phoenix Area Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/

Tucson Citizen, AZ must be creative about water in future, Sept. 11, 2008

Bureau of Reclamation Presentation, August 26, 2008

GAO Report on Mining Royalties, August 2008

BLM Scoping for CWC Pipeline, August 11, 2008

news archives ....

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Patagonia Area mines  (back to top of page)

Tucson Weekly: Is the Forest Service rubber stamping exploration permits? Oct. 4, 2007

Arizona Daily Star on the Patagonia Mines, March 12, 2007

 


1872 Mining Law reform & Mining (back to top of page)

KGUN9, Support building in Congress for mining reform, Jan. 3, 2010

OregonLive.com, Sept. 16, 2009
"A lot of the mining community look to that law as gospel and believe it bestows rights on them that other citizens don't have," Jimerfield said. "When you have an 1872 law, people act like it's 1872."

Mail Tribune, Sept. 16, 2009
Man jailed after being accused of mining without a permit on Forest Service land.

New York Times, editorial (on the 1872 Mining Law), 137 Years Later, July 20, 2009

Read a fact sheet on S 140, the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2009

Fly Rod & Reel Online, The Mining Law of 1872, the law that time forgot.

Arizona Daily Star, 137-year-old US mining law could finally be overhauled, May 13, 2009

CNBC.com, Advocates say time is right to reform mining law, May 12, 2009

New York Times, Reform of the 1872 Mining Law won't save western splendors. April 16, 2009
"A decade, two decades ago, people would dismiss the environmental and safety concerns by saying these mines are distant from where people live," said Velma Smith, manager of the Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining. "The fact is they're getting less and less distant from where people live, where people go for recreation, and where municipal governments obtain drinking water, and that's why it grows more and more urgent to modernize this law."

Albuquerque Journal, Bingaman measure would revamp 1872 Mining Law, Apr. 3, 2009

EARTHWORKS PRESS RELEASE, April 2, 2009
*** New Bingaman Mining Legislation Would Bring Tens of Thousands of Jobs to Rural Communities
*** Senate Mining Reform Initiative Would Bring Bring 19th Century Law into 21st

Update on Mining Law Reform, Feb. 9, 2009:
The House bill has been introduced by Rep. Rahall. It is exactly the same language that passed out of the House last session. Earthworks is currently working to get cosponsors for the bill. A hearing is expected at the end of the month, and mark-up of the bill is expected in March. The bill should pass - much like it did last session - although with perhaps a larger margin. We are still waiting for the Senate bill, and hope to see something soon.

Rep. Rahall's HR-2262 Introduced Jan. 27, 2009 for reform of the Mining Law of 1872, Factsheet

Arizona Republic, BLM issues new volley in Canyon mine fight, Oct. 10, 2008

Land Letter, Enviros decry Bush admin revisions to mining regs, July 17, 2008

Sierra Club, Going for Broke, How a copper giant plans to make the public pay for its toxic mess, July 2008

Resolution saves canyon from mining — for a while

Common Dreams, Conservation groups support mining ban to protect Grand Canyon Watershed, March 28,2008

Arizona Daily Star: Our View: Antiquated 1872 law puts our state treasures and other parks at risk, Feb. 21, 2008

news archives ....

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TEP Power Lines     (back to top of page)

138 Kv Transmission Line Is a "Connected Action" August 28, 2009

Mine foes ask delay in routing electricity, August 29, 2009

Locations of power lines to Rosemont debated, August 29, 2009

Wick Communications, TEP Reduces Rosemont Power Options, June 1, 2009

The Zonie Report, TEP rekindles debate over Rosemont Mine, Mar. 30, 2009

Sahuarita Sun , 50 Show up to ask about TEP line to Rosemont, Mar. 27, 2009

Nogales International, Public meetings set for bid to get TEP power line, Mar. 24, 2009

Arizona Daily Star, Foes of mine won't take stand on power line route, Mar. 22, 2009
NOTE: SSSR's official position is that this NEPA process for power to the Rosemont Mine is a flawed process because there is no mine. Therefore, the Purpose and Need statement in the EA is irrelevant, and there is no need for this project since there is no mine.

Wick Communications, Economically strapped Rosemont Mine seeks TEP power line, Mar. 18, 2009, Dick Kamp, Environmental Liaison

Sahuarita Sun, Power lines to Rosemont Mine under consideration, Mar. 11, 2009
Details of the TEP planning process and a map of the area being studied are posted on the TEP web site

Arizona Daily Star, ACC rejects disputed stretch of power line, Aug. 19, 2008


Mining Impacts     (back to top of page)

Canwest News Service, Colorado mine recovery cleans up toxic Canadian legacy, April 18, 2009

Go to our page on Impacts from mining projects


"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better,
it's not."
The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss


      

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Watercolor of the Rosemont Valley by Bill Cook