June 25, 2024
An economic analysis of the proposed Copper World mine determined the project will severely damage Pima County’s economy. The report was prepared by Power Consulting of Missoula, MT and commissioned by SSSR.
Please click on the links to access the executive summary and full report.
The report concludes Copper World would provide relatively little economic benefit while doing serious harm to more important economic sectors like tourism, outdoor recreation, and housing values.
Toronto–based Hudbay Minerals Inc. plans to construct the sprawling Copper World mining complex that will blast a series of open-pit mines on the Eastern and Western sides of the Santa Rita Mountains.d
Factors that would contribute to harming the economy include decreased property values from miles-long piles of tailings dust, depletion and possible contamination of groundwater, heavy truck traffic competing with passenger vehicles on public roads, and destruction of scenic vistas, places to recreate, and a globally important center for biological diversity. For example, the mine would destroy habitat of El Jefe, the world-famous jaguar, and Phase II of the project would cover the portion of the Arizona Trail that runs through the Rosemont Valley.
This report will be helpful in fighting other mines, beyond Pima County, because it includes generalized conclusions based on reviews of studies elsewhere in the U.S. and the world. For example, the report summarizes studies showing that, around the world and specifically in Arizona, areas with mining fail to keep up economically with areas without mining.
Photo Description: An overturned truck hauling copper concentrate near Hudbay’s Constancia Mine site in Uchucarcco, Peru.
Photo taken by Peruvian activist. Photo supplied by John Dougherty.
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