Arizona Republic: Arizona public land use in jeopardy, groups say. Here’s why

Shi En Kim, Arizona Republic

At an outreach meeting over tacos and tortilla chips in Vail, 20 miles outside Tucson, the nonprofit Save the Scenic Santa Ritas had an urgent message for its dozens of attendees.

In two weeks, a U.S. Senate vote on a bill could topple all the organization’s hard work to oppose a behemoth mine that was moving into southern Arizona. Group leaders urged participants to call their representatives.