HikeArizona.COM

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!

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

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.

chumley wrote: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 ;)

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

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

azbackpackr wrote: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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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...

PLC92084 wrote: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?!

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!?

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

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".

YAY! Good news!

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

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

azbackpackr wrote: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.