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For those following what's shaping up for the Santa Ritas by way of the mining operation that wants to come to town, the Forest Service is planning on preparing an Environmental Impact Statement and wants your input. The project notice of intent is available on the FS website and I've also attached it to this posting:
I can't make any of the meetings, but I wish I could because we need as many people like us there as possible to show that opposition to the mine will not pass away with the contingent of retired folks in Green Valley that are championing the cause. No offense meant in what I just said, because I've heard that their new strategy is to wait a few more years until the "Political climate might be more favorable" (What else could they mean by that statement?) I know this is a heated topic, and I'm not advocating bad behavior or fanaticism; I just think we are a community that needs to be heard on these issues, once in a while...

Anyway, for those who can get out there, here's the meeting schedule:
1. March 18, 2008, Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus, 5901 South Calle Santa Cruz, Tucson, Arizona. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
2. March 19, 2008, Canoa Hills Recreation Center, 3660 South Camino del Sol, Green Valley, Arizona, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
3. March 20, 2008, Patagonia Union High School, Highway 82, Patagonia, Arizona, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m

The FS is planning another meeting for the Vail area; date, time, and location TBD. If you can't make it please take a few minutes and do like I did - send your comments on the proposal in by one of these channels:
• Mail comments to Team Leader, Rosemont Copper Project, Coronado National Forest, 300 W. Congress St., Tucson, Arizona 85701
• FAX comments to (520) 388–8305, ATTN: Rosemont Team Leader
• Or email to comments-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us

If you feel the mine is a good idea and have come up with a novel solution to the groundwater issue (among other things) you should comment, as well. This is a democracy, after all!

"On the pollution topic, I know these mines affect ground water, surface water and they secrete various poisons. If I'm not mistaken, they also cause some air pollution? Anyone know the nature of this air pollution? Obviously, there is going to be some dust/particulate matter, but is there also more than dust?"


Well as for the air pollution goes im not sure what they are pulloing out of the ground but i just came up through winkleman and hayden into superior the other day. Of coarse we saw the mines along the road so when i got home i looked it up. Turns out that the Ray Mine is ranked the number 1 pollution spot in the state by the EPA. The Residents of hayden have 50% lung cancer rate...... Thats something to think about when digging a mine near any town or city.

Part of that stat is probably due to actually working in the mine. Plus, the fact that working class people smoke cigarettes at a far higher rate than middle class people. So imagine if you did both for 30 years, you would likely have emphysema or lung cancer.

However, that being said, the mines do raise quite a cloud of nasty dust. The ones south of Tucson as well.

BlueFrog wrote: The Residents of hayden have 50% lung cancer rate......

1990: Health Services study shows that lung cancer rates in Hayden are 50 percent higher than in Tucson and Phoenix, the two major cities in the state

I'd like to give them a sick feeling in the pit of their stomachs. Don't think for a moment that they don't think that their existing investment is a trump card to play when the need it. I just hope that the FS sees the multi-million dollar investment the taxpayers have in keeping that land free of mining slag.

Sigh.

On Top of it all the mine is owned by mexico and is almost bankrupt. so when they do go under its gonna be all of us american taxpayers paying to clean up the giant polluted enviromental sink hole.

BlueFrog wrote:On Top of it all the mine is owned by mexico and is almost bankrupt. so when they do go under its gonna be all of us american taxpayers paying to clean up the giant polluted enviromental sink hole.

Good point!

I got the attached "brochure" in the mail yesterday - it's a full 11x17 - 6 pages - full color - offset print...This thing was EXPENSIVE. And it says VERY little. The graphics that are supposed to explain the evolution of the mine into a "reclaimed" mine are so small you can barely see them.

I guess I received this because I'm listed on so many organizations and committees that oppose the mine (not to mention petitions and letters to congressmen)... All I can say is that I hope my fellow environmental protectors aren't easily swayed by a patriotic vision of a blond child in the sun with a solar panel clapsed proudly to her chest. Puh-lease...

writelots wrote:blond child in the sun with a solar panel clasped proudly to her chest.

Shame on you! You would deny copper to a little girl with braids?

johnr1 and I drove through Hayden and Winkleman on Friday. I will second that there is a lot of air pollution. I could taste it. I wouldn't be surprised if those 2 mines are a big factor in the Gila River basically drying up in that area.

They might be a factor but the Gila is damned between North & South Buttes to irrigate the farms between Florence and Queen Creek. Which lead to the Sacaton issues. With no water it changed their lifestyle and eating habits. Five or so years ago they were the most over weight tribe which has caused horrible issues for the whole community.

joe bartels wrote:They might be a factor but the Gila is damned between North & South Buttes to irrigate the farms between Florence and Queen Creek. Which lead to the Sacaton issues. With no water it changed their lifestyle and eating habits. Five or so years ago they were the most over weight tribe which has caused horrible issues for the whole community.

I guess even a lack of water cascades down w/ respect to poor nutrition.

The government issued them food which kills them. They did that to all the Indians, in the name of humanitarianism. White flour and lard. What do you do with white flour and lard if you have no oven? You make fry bread. Fry bread is killing the Indians because eating it all their lives is a main cause of their diabetes--all over the western US. But they are just like anyone else, they like the foods they grew up eating, even if it is bad for them.

It is very hard to change your diet to something more healthy. You really have to be motivated, and you have to understand that what you eat is shortening your life. In my family, it is high cholesterol and strokes. Eating a low cholesterol diet takes some practice and study.

Oh, we were talking about mining? Imagine what is in that air around Winkelman. Ugh...

Very informative detail...

Ronald21 wrote:Very informative detail...

Hi Ronald,

I noticed your location; do you work for Rosemont?

Random ads placed side-by-side on my Facebook page today. Whatever algorithm is used to "target" doesn't seem to be working right.

chumley wrote:Random ads placed side-by-side on my Facebook page today. Whatever algorithm is used to "target" doesn't seem to be working right.

My Facebook page keeps getting ads soliciting donations for Teabagger politicians in other states

Jim Lyding wrote:My Facebook page keeps getting ads soliciting donations for Teabagger politicians in other states

Ya mean like Arizona :whistle:

chumley wrote:Random ads placed side-by-side on my Facebook page today. Whatever algorithm is used to "target" doesn't seem to be working right.

They keep pushing the employment angle. Pretty sad.

Now another Canadian company wants to reopen the Oracle Ridge Mine near Mt. Lemmon:
http://azstarnet.com/business/local/art ... 7c4a7.html

SkyIslandHiker wrote:Now another Canadian company wants to reopen the Oracle Ridge Mine near Mt. Lemmon:
http://azstarnet.com/business/local/art ... 7c4a7.html

Yea, I posted something about that last week. The fact that they are all Canadian wasn't lost on me, either. Maybe that South Park movie had it right...