SSSR op-ed urging Gov. Hobbs to exercise her power to stop Copper World published in Tucson Sentinel
On Feb. 11th, Executive Director John Dougherty’s op-ed calling on Gov. Hobbs to step in and stop Copper World was published in the Tucson Sentinel. “Gov. Katie Hobbs has the power to stop the Copper World mine: She must exercise it. Unlike most major mines in the West that are located on federal land, the…
SSSR reveals Town of Sahuarita agreement with Hudbay that threatens aquifer
Tucson—Save the Scenic Santa Ritas revealed how the Town of Sahuarita’s agreement with Hudbay Minerals threatens to deplete more than a half-million acre-feet of groundwater beneath Sahuarita and Green Valley Saturday during a Town Hall meeting before more than 450 residents at the Sahuarita Unified School District auditorium. (An acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons.)…
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SSSR to host Town Hall on Copper World’s hidden impacts on Sahuarita and Green Valley
Tucson–Save the Scenic Santa Ritas will host a free Town Hall at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium to present information hidden from the public on the impacts of the proposed Copper World mine on Sahuarita and Green Valley. “Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals is misleading the community on the devastating…
SSSR requests Sahuarita to determine whether Hudbay is in violation of 2013 groundwater pumping agreement
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas has requested the Sahuarita Town Council to immediately determine whether Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals is in violation of an agreement to replenish 105% of the groundwater it plans to pump from the area aquifer for the Copper World mine. Sahuarita signed a 2013 Right-of-Way encroachment agreement with Rosemont Copper Company that allows…
County vows to press forward after truck ordinance withdrawn
A Message from SSSR Executive Director John Dougherty Dear SSSR supporters: Thank you for sending emails to the Pima County Board of Supervisors requesting passage of an ordinance that would place restrictions on the number of heavy trucks traveling across more than 200 miles of unpaved county roads. The board received about 200 messages in…
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Pima County releases report on impact of dust on human health
The Pima County Health Department was planning to make a presentation to the Board of Supervisors at is Dec. 16 meeting on a proposed ordinance to limit the number of trucks that can travel each day on unpaved county roads. The ordinance was pulled from the board’s agenda before the department could make its presentation.…
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Pima County wants to limit heavy trucks on dirt roads
Photo Credit: Erick Meza, Sierra Club The Pima County Board of Supervisors is considering a new ordinance that would limit heavy truck traffic across unpaved roads throughout the county. The county believes this ordinance can improve air quality countywide and help meet federal clean air standards. The ordinance would limit trucks from a single entity…
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Environmental groups, Pima County fight state land sale to Hudbay Minerals
Pima County and eight environmental groups are trying to stop the state Land Department from selling 160 acres that Hudbay Minerals Inc. wants to buy in the Santa Rita Mountains foothills south of Tucson so it can deposit mine tailings there. Read the full story on the Arizona Daily Star.
Continue Reading Environmental groups, Pima County fight state land sale to Hudbay Minerals
Coalition Letter to Governor Hobbs
Click the button below to see the letter sent by a coalition of eight environmental groups to Governor Hobbs on 10/28/2025. Read the letter
Environmental coalition requests Hobbs to cancel land sale sought by Copper World
Press Release:Contact: John Dougherty, Executive Directorjdougherty@scenicsantaritas.org Environmental coalition requests Hobbs to cancel land sale sought by Copper World Oct. 28, 2025—A coalition of Southern Arizona environmental groups led by Save the Scenic Santa Ritas today requested Governor Katie Hobbs to cancel plans to auction 160 acres of State Trust Land sought by Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals for…
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Pima County approves resolution to oppose Copper World
On October 21, 2025, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to reaffirm the county’s opposition to the Copper World mining project. To see comments at the call to the public from SSSR staff and board members, watch the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr9Jx0ldQQA&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scenicsantaritas.org%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scenicsantaritas.org&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE
Continue Reading Pima County approves resolution to oppose Copper World
Pima County Supervisors to consider Resolution opposing the Copper World mine
The Pima County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on a proposed resolution reaffirming the county’s opposition to the Copper World mine. If approved, as expected, it will be the fourth time since 2007 the county has passed resolutions opposing open pit copper mining in the Santa Rita Mountains. The resolution is being offered by District…
Continue Reading Pima County Supervisors to consider Resolution opposing the Copper World mine
State Land Department intends to auction 160-acre parcel that could generate a $300 million windfall for Hudbay
In a direct rebuff to Pima County, the State Land Department plans to auction a 160-acre parcel at the request of Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals, which would use the land to dump mining waste from its Copper World mine. State Land Commissioner Robyn Sahid informed county officials on Oct. 8 the land on the western base…
Mission Impossible: Hudbay’s goal to replace more than 70 billion gallons of groundwater needed for Copper World
October 6, 2025 Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals’ claims it has a “smart” water management plan with a “goal” to “recharge and recycle as much water as we use” for its planned Copper World mine. On its website, Hudbay states it will achieve this goal “by purchasing water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and allowing it…
State Land Department breaks promise to notify Pima County before advancing Copper World’s request to purchase land for toxic waste dumps
Related links: SSSR letter to ASLD, Pima County letter to ASLD, Tohono O’odham Nation letter to ASLD Sept. 12, 2025 Pima County’s top administrator is requesting a meeting with the Arizona State Land Department after it failed to notify the county it was advancing an application from Copper World to purchase State Trust Land to…
State advances Copper World’s bid to purchase 160 acres to expand tailings dump
Sept. 11, 2025 The Arizona State Land Department’s Board of Appeals today approved Copper World’s application to purchase 160 acres of State Trust Land that would allow the company to dump mining waste immediately south of Corona de Tucson. The board approved the application 3-0 without discussion or providing opportunity for public comment. The…
Continue Reading State advances Copper World’s bid to purchase 160 acres to expand tailings dump
SSSR launches new article: What’s Hudbay Hiding?
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas is committed to sharing information with our members about Copper World and its impact on our local ecology, economy, and culture. In keep with this practice, we’re launching a new column called, “What’s Hudbay Hiding?” The series provides a deep dive into the realities of the proposed open-pit mining complex. In our…
Continue Reading SSSR launches new article: What’s Hudbay Hiding?
Hudbay-Mitsubishi joint venture locks in exporting 30% of Copper World’s planned production
August 18 2025 Toronto-based Hudbay Mineral’s planned joint venture with Japanese mineral resources company Mitsubishi Materials undercuts the company’s public relations campaign that Copper World is “designed to deliver finished copper directly to U.S. customers”. Hudbay announced last week that Mitsubishi will invest $600 million in the Copper World project. The investment will allow Mitsubishi…
Scientists spot jaguar as border wall, mining projects advance
Photo credit: University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center August 7, 2025 Scientists at the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center have recorded new sightings of a male jaguar this summer in the Sky Island Region of Southern Arizona. This news comes on the heels of the U.S. Fish and…
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Groundswell builds in Green Valley and Sahuarita amid fears of big traffic problems
On April 12, 2025, 300+ residents from the region joined us in Sahuarita to hear the latest updates on Copper World and mobilize as a community. Check out the live recording here. For a focused presentation with slides, view a condensed recording here. Primary Concerns: Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals will send 40,000 heavy trucks a year…
Continue Reading Groundswell builds in Green Valley and Sahuarita amid fears of big traffic problems
Adelita Grijalva, Regina Romero, Kevin Dahl, and hundreds gathered in downtown Tucson to oppose Copper World
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, hundreds gathered outside the Federal Building in downtown Tucson in a public display of solidarity. This Rally for the Santa Ritas brought together residents, environmental advocates, and regional leaders in a powerful demonstration of opposition to the proposed Copper World mining project and the broader threats posed by the unchecked…
Pima County releases new Memo to the Board of Supervisors
On April 23, 2025, Pima County released a new Memo to the Board of Supervisors. In it, Jan Lesher, Pima County Administrator, provides an update on Hudbay’s Copper World project. Topics discussed: Project Permitting Status Santa Rita Road Dust Mitigation Pima County Blasting Permit Dark Sky – Lighting Complaint Water Quality Monitoring S.544 – Mining…
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UofA researchers find heavy metals in Davidson Canyon water
April 23, 2025, Unanticipated increases in metal contaminants in Davidson Canyon stream flows could be related to ongoing Copper World earth moving activities on the eastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains, University of Arizona researchers are warning. The water testing was conducted in a stretch of Davidson Canyon south of its confluence with Cienega…
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Copper World Opponents Appeal ADEQ’s Air Permit
Press Release For Immediate Release, January 31, 2025 Jeremy Nichols, Center for Biological Diversity, (303) 437-7663, jnichols@biologicaldiversity.org Chairman Austin Nunez, San Xavier District, Tohono O’odham Nation, anunez@waknet.org Rob Peters, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, (970) 201-7642, robpeters@scenicsantaritas.org David Steele, Farmers Investment Co., (520) 907-2620, davidss@simginc.com Appeal Challenges Arizona’s Approval of Dangerous Air Pollution from Copper…
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Dust kicks up along Santa Rita Rd, Hudbay tasked with creating a dust mitigation plan
Truck driving along Santa Rita Rd. Photo Credit: Erick Meza, Sierra Club Borderlands We have been in regular communication with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Pima County DEQ, and the Arizona State Land Department to get a mitigation plan in place for the road dust along Santa Rita Rd leading up to the…
Local opinion: We fight for the Santa Ritas to Preserve culture, water and life, Austin Nunez
Local opinion: We fight for the Santa Ritas to Preserve culture, water and life Austin Nunez Special to the Arizona Daily Star The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Austin Nunez, San Xavier District Chairman, Tohono O’odham Nation Jan. 26, 2025 Since time immemorial the Tohono O’odham have lived in harmony and…
SSSR and FICO file lawsuit against State Land Department and BOA
11132024-Law-Suit-Filed-ASLD-BOA.pdf
Continue Reading SSSR and FICO file lawsuit against State Land Department and BOA
Board of Appeals ratifies OML violation
10082024-BoA-approves-Open-Meeting-Violation-.pdf
SSSR and FICO win Open Meetings Lawsuit against state Land Department’s Board of Appeals
Sept. 19, 2024 We are beyond thrilled to share the news that we won our lawsuit against the State of Arizona for unlawfully granting a right-of-way to Hudbay! Read the press release to learn more. This win opens the door to severely limiting Copper World’s expansion on the west side. WE NEED YOU NOW TO WIN…
Court rules Board of Appeals violated Open Meetings Law
09182024-Court-rules-ASLD-BOA-violates-open-meeting-law.pdf
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Local opinion: Copper World will enrich Hudbay but hurt Pima County
Rob Peters, Thomas Nelson and Steve Brown Special to the Arizona Daily Star Sep 6, 2024 updated Sep 9, 2024 Read the story on tucson.com here. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writers: Re: the Aug. 14 article “Economic study on Copper World Project is flawed.” Pictured from left to right: Thomas…
Continue Reading Local opinion: Copper World will enrich Hudbay but hurt Pima County
SSSR Hosting a Townhall Meeting on July 20
Join us for a community town hall meeting! Learn the latest mining plans Hudbay has proposed in the Santa Rita Mountains, including the status of current progress, i.e. water and air permits, land sales, etc… Unpack the findings from our recently released economic report, and learn the truth about the economic impact of mining and…
Economics Report Press Release
06252024-Economics-report-Press-Release.pdf
Our lawsuit with the State of Arizona went to court
In January 2024, SSSR and Farmers Investment Company, a Sahuarita pecan farming operation filed a lawsuit alleging that the Arizona State Land Department’s Board of Appeals violated the state’s Open Meeting Law in connection with granting Hudbay a right-of-way to pipe toxic tailings across the state’s pristine Santa Rita Experimental Range. The right-of-way also covered…
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Stories from the Guardian of the Santa Ritas: John Wakefield
Our storytelling series featuring the Guardians of the Santa Ritas continues with a feature of John Wakefield, a geologist turned activist. ——————– Reflections on mining from a former exploration geologist Imagine the sense of pride experienced by a young geologist—a member of an exploration team in the Kalahari desert of Botswana. Our collective endeavors led…
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Help us spread the word about Copper World with your community
We’ve had the privilege of being invited to speak about the Copper World project with a few groups recently, notably the Corona de Tucson Preservation Alliance, Quail Creek Homeowner’s Association, and Green Valley Recreation Amigos Men’s Club, to name a few. We would love to speak with your community! Are you a member of a…
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Stories from the Guardian of the Santa Ritas: Elizabeth Bayless
We are excited to launch a new storytelling series featuring you, the faithful Guardians of the Santa Ritas. First up, you’ll meet Elisabeth Bayless, who shares her story and love for our beloved mountains. Then find out how you can share your story, join the fight, and get the latest updates on action we’re watching.…
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See Rob’s presentation for the latest info on Copper World
In case you missed it, SSSR Executive Director, Rob Peters, presentation in partnership with the CDT Preservation Alliance, a group of engaged homeowners and stakeholders fighting alongside us against open pit mining in the Santa Rita Mountains. Rob presented the latest updates on the proposed Copper World mine. The presentation ran about 1 hour, with…
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URGENT ACTION | Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Photo credit: Center for Biological Diversity. Exploration drilling for Copper World on west side of the Santa Rita Mountains. Updated: 5/7/2024 Thanks so much to all of you Guardians of the Scenic Santa Ritas who responded to our urgent alert last week to contact a list of five key Democratic members of the House of…
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ADEQ Stakeholder Meeting & Call for Comments | Aquifer Water Quality Standards Rulemaking
ADEQ is seeking stakeholder input from across the state on a draft implementation rule, draft implementation plan, and initial permit amendment timeline for the Aquifer Water Quality Standards(AWQS) Rulemaking.This rulemaking includes the prospective establishment or adjustment of seven standards: arsenic, bromate, chlorite, microbiological contaminants, haloacetic acids, total trihalomethanes, and uranium.View/download documents for review and comment:Draft…
SSSR sues Arizona State Land Department
SSSR files lawsuit against the Arizona State Land Department SSSR made news by filing a lawsuit on January 19 contesting the Arizona State Land Department’s approval of a right of way across the Santa Rita Experimental Range. The right of way would allow Hudbay to pipe liquified mine tailings north for disposal on its private lands. If…
San Carlos Apache opinion: Why is Arizona giving away groundwater to mining in a water crisis?
Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, wrote a compelling letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times. He points out that some backroom deals would give the two mining companies behind the proposed Resolution Copper Mine more than $400 million worth of groundwater. Free! Sounds like what we see proposed here…
How Hudbay’s Santa Rita mining will impact Southern Arizona’s waterways
The proposed Copper World Complex mine is carving roads and berms that will impact wildlife and waterflow. “The whole thing drains right into the Santa Cruz” Read the full story on AZ Luminaria here.
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Tohono O’odham leader: Time to fix outdated mining law
Austin G. Nunez, chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s San Xavier District, calls for reforming the 1872 Mining Law. Click here to read to full story.
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