(Tucson, AZ)–In a major blow for Rosemont Copper, Pima County today denied a crucial air quality permit for the the mining company’s planned open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson.
The County said in a statement that the Canadian company failed to disclose “material facts” and that it will be a major source of air pollution.
Long-time mine opponent Dr. Tom Purdon, said today, “clearly Rosemont has failed to demonstrate that it will comply with federal, state, and county air quality regulations.”
According to Purdon, an area physician, “Rosemont is apparently more concerned with green washing than providing sufficient information to regulatory officials who protect the air we breathe from the dust and other air pollutants this mine will create. Rosemont cannot hide the fact that the proposed mine will be a major source of pollution.”
Rosemont’s failure to secure the required permit places the company’s plans to operate an open pit copper mine south of Tucson in serious jeopardy.
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