Sahuarita — An overflow crowd of Copper World opponents spilled into the chamber’s foyer during Tuesday’s Sahuarita Town Council meeting as Save the Scenic Santa Ritas presented the town with a petition signed by 133 Sahuarita residents demanding a public hearing on the proposed mine’s impact on area groundwater.
More than 75 persons attended the meeting and nearly all were there in opposition to the mine. Copper World would destroy the northern half of the Santa Rita Mountains, unleash more 40,000 dangerous trucks a year on Sahuarita’s roads, and pump 170 billion gallons of groundwater to export unrefined copper overseas for processing.
Fourteen citizens told the council they were opposed to the mine during the call to the public. No one spoke in favor. Citizens cheered and applauded as speaker after speaker expressed their concerns about the project. Mine opponents pressed “No Copper World” signs against a glass wall that were easily visible to five of the seven council members in attendance.
Residents pointed to communities living with the aftermath of copper mines that have ceased operations and left only pollution and destruction in their wake. Others shared their grave concern about groundwater quantity in the region, especially with recent news about the Colorado River cuts facing Arizona.
“Save the Scenic Santa Ritas encourages residents of Sahuarita and the surrounding communities to continue to voice their concerns and hold their elected officials accountable,” SSSR Outreach Coordinator Paige Humphrey said. “The Sahuarita Town Council has the power to stop this project.”
Sahuarita has a contract with Hudbay that requires the mine to replenish 105% of the groundwater it pumps with Central Arizona Project water in exchange for the right to install its primary water supply pipeline along the Santa Rita Road through town.
SSSR presented evidence to the town last month that Hudbay is already operating five production wells covered by the agreement and that Hudbay has not replenished the groundwater with CAP water. SSSR requested the town to enforce the agreement and refuse to issue permits needed to install the pipeline.
The town rejected SSSR’s request.
The Southwest is gripped by the worst drought in more than 1,000 years and Colorado River runoff this spring is at record lows. Central Arizona Project allocations from the Colorado River are being reduced, making it very unlikely that Hudbay can secure enough CAP water to replenish the groundwater it will extract.
SSSR’s petition requests the town require Hudbay to present evidence during a public hearing that it has secured enough CAP water to recharge the aquifer for the life of the mine that is projected to last 44 years.
SSSR is still collecting petition signatures, which can be found here.
“If Hudbay can’t prove it has secured sufficient CAP water to recharge the aquifer, then the town should not allow Hudbay to install its water pipeline needed to operate the mine,” Humphrey said.
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I have objected this mine every since the beginning they are going to suck up our water like a sponge pumping 24-7 for a 22 mile span. The pollution will be horrible plus our beautiful mountain will be destroyed and not to mention the truck traffic. WE MUST STOP IT !
Excellent Article, John! Thank you!