Rosemont Mine EIS

[Jeffshadows]

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:

rosemont-noi-02282008.pdf

USFS - Rosemont Mine Notice of Intent

(44.97 KiB) Downloaded 217 times

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!

[Jeffshadows]

Rosemont radio ads: Call the supes

Rosemont Copper has been running radio ads telling listeners to urge the Pima County Board of Supervisors not to delay county action on a proposed air-quality permit for the copper mine planned for the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson.

In response to ads in the past week on nine stations, close to 200 people have called county officials, and dozens have sent supervisors e-mails, with nearly 90 percent urging them to let the permit go through soon to bring jobs to a depressed local economy. The air-quality permit is one of many that the controversial mine needs to open.

Supervisors said they have no intention of trying to delay the permit, in part because Rosemont Copper's attorney told them a week ago that they have no authority to act on it. Only Ursula Kramer, the director of the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, has such authority.

The ad stems from County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry's statement last month that the county might not decide that the mine's permit application is complete until after the U.S. Forest Service approves a Final Environmental Impact Statement, giving a firm location for the copper mine. The county must determine completeness before reviewing the permit application's substance, which takes up to 18 months.

The ad is consistent with Rosemont's view that deliberately lengthening the permit-review process by adding another 18 months is wrong, said Jamie Sturgess, a vice president for Rosemont's parent, Augusta Resource Corp.

Huckelberry wrote in a memo that the ad "appears to contradict the admonishment of the board and the county administrator by their own attorney."

Sean Martinez of Tucson wrote to Supervisor Ray Carroll in support of Rosemont: "Please do not delay the air quality permitting process for the proposed Rosemont mine. I have long been a supporter of mining in Arizona as a basis of our national security and economic future. Pima County needs industry for young professionals like myself to enter into. I will be graduating in May from the University of Arizona with a M.S. in systems engineering, and job prospects in my hometown of Tucson are not strong."

Supervisor Richard Elías called the ad "kind of absurd" given its timing.

"All of us know this is Ursula's decision," Elías said of the county's environmental-quality director.

"Rosemont can't have it both ways. They can't come down to the Board of Supervisors hearing and remind us what the law is and remind us that the director of our PDEQ be the sole arbiter of this permit and then put out a campaign that is demanding that the supervisors put pressure on the director to grant that permit," Supervisor Ann Day said.

The Forest Service hasn't scheduled a date to decide on the environmental statement. The draft environmental statement is due in the last three months of this year.

"The only thing that first drew settlers to this area was mining, and mining is still one of our five C's: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate," resident Zachary Mauler wrote to Carroll. "Arizona cannot, in my opinion, survive without mining."

The environmental-quality director's deadline to decide whether the permit application is complete is Monday.

"The threats by Mr. Huckelberry to deliberately delay the process should be rejected by the board, and I believe the county administrator still works for the board," said Sturgess, vice president of sustainability for Rosemont's Canadian-based owner. "We are certainly pleased to hear and read that the county supervisors confirm that they have not asked or supported Mr. Huckelberry in his threats to intentionally delay the administrative processing of the Rosemont air quality permit."

Contact reporter Tony Davis at tdavis@azstarnet.com or 806-7746.

[Jeffshadows]

FWIW - I just called Elias' office and told them to take their time. ;)

[chumley]

I saw during the iowa game on Saturday that Rosemont has a huge advertising placard across the end zone at pussycat stadium. So apparently their PR dept. is "doing the right things" to help sway public opinion in the community.

[BobP]

pussycat stadium

I wonder if thats where they got the idea for the new miller lite commercial....with the 2 legged cougar and the pusssycat guy.

Mines are bad right ;)

[Jeffshadows]

Could be!! Their ads are definitely not playing to the "Highest common denominator" so-to-speak...

[azbackpackr]

I just heard that the mining company in question was recently sold?

[big_load]

I just heard that the mining company in question was recently sold?

I suspect there will be a lot of churn in that area. Low yields on everything else are creating a commodities bubble.

[JimmyLyding]

Augusta Resources wasn't completely sold, but it sold a 20% stake worth $176 million to a South Korean consortium. That $176 mil is roughly a little less than 1/4 of the estimated investment needed to completely develop the mine. Augusta Resources has generated exactly zero profit from mining operations to this point. Its balance sheet looks like some of the ones we studied in business school. Some highlights: $5.5 million in cash, yet $173 million in total assets primarily due to long-lead equipment deposits (seriously), mineral properties, and deferred development costs. Are you kidding me? Augusta's investors are obviously making quite a bold wager.
I almost forgot to mention that Rosemont is Augusta's first mining project. This is an entity that is a mining company only on paper.

What happens if things don't go as planned? What if the price of copper takes a dump? How about Augusta being sued for millions upon millions of dollars for whatever? The laws relating to mining, water extraction, air pollution, etc. change? Answers: Augusta's investors cancel Christmas and US taxpayers are left to clean up what's left.

[big_load]

@Jim Lyding
Bubbly, bubbly, bubbly. I wish I had the guts to make some big bets against commodities.

[JimmyLyding]

I'd love to know what the short markets are for Augusta Resources and copper. I've seen the figures for the copper short market, but it's far too complex for me to interpret especially because so much of that is far-off in the future.

[Jeffshadows]

I wouldn't bet against gold or a couple of others, either; but, copper has been all over the place and has burned many companies bigger than Agusta in the past...

Either way, in our society, it is always foolish to bet against greed. They are probably right to assume that they can do whatever they want to us and our land because they are dangling the golden carrot (Jobs.) It makes me ill, but what makes me even more ill is that I am probably alone in my feelings...

[azbackpackr]

You know I am with you, Jeff. So are most of the folks on here.

I did sign that petition a couple years ago put out by Friends of the Santa Ritas. Not sure what else to do, since I have no time or money to donate.

[PLC92084]

We have a foreign-owned company trying to open a huge quarry just North of San Diego. Dangling the same carrot ! We (the residents) don't want it but the local governments are salivating over the revenue they'll derive if it goes in...

[Jeffshadows]

We have a foreign-owned company trying to open a huge quarry just North of San Diego. Dangling the same carrot ! We (the residents) don't want it but the local governments are salivating over the revenue they'll derive if it goes in...

How did our representatives get so out of touch, or are they?!

[PLC92084]

I think they're not only out of touch, but in many ways, criminal (case in point, Bell, CA council members, mayor, etal). We, the citizens are so busy trying to stay afloat with family, jobs, etc., we don't have the time or the will to play watchdog, constantly. They know it and use it to their advantage...

I've always wondered why cities, counties, etc. have to continuously grow and raise taxes in order to keep the budgets balanced. If they weren't over-spending, wasting tax dollars, stealing, there should be enough money to keep everything running smoothly. It seems it's only the ordinary citizens who have to balance their checkbooks and live with a budget...

Did I just bump up my Cynicism score!?

[Jeffshadows]

If you did, then ours must be about the same!

[PaleoRob]

From Facebook:
"U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01)
Finally, what we've all been waiting for. This Thursday the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will take up the Land Exchange bill. Big thanks to Senator Kyl and his team for helping make this happen. We will keep you posted on how to the progress of this important job creating piece of legislation."
This is a land swap taking some 2300 acres from the USFS in exchange for ~5500 acres to come "under federal protection".

[azbackpackr]

YAY! Good news!

http://www.scenicsantaritas.org/20131107_EPA_Letter.pdf

[azbackpackr]

I thought this news was HUGE. But no one cares? Or are you waiting to see what happens next?

[chumley]

I thought this news was HUGE. But no one cares? Or are you waiting to see what happens next?

I have no idea what it says because I fell asleep somewhere around page 27.