In southern Arizona’s desert environment, water is essential to future economic prosperity and quality of life. The proposed Rosemont project indisputably threatens both the quantity and quality of water resources in southern Arizona, and thus our economy.
In just one example of the potential threats, a news article yesterday reported that the EPA weighed in strongly on the proposed Section 404 permit concerning Rosemont’s potential destruction of almost 102 acres of critical water resources in southern Arizona. In a letter sent to the Army Corps of Engineers (copy can be downloaded here), the EPA said that Rosemont has not “demonstrated” that it will be able to comply with watershed protection guidelines for “Davidson Canyon and Cienega creek, both designated as ‘Outstanding Waters’ by the state of Arizona.”
As a result, the EPA, in this letter, suggests that this permit be reviewed at the Washington Headquarters for both the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA.
Clearly, this is another blow to Rosemont and its PR efforts trying to convince southern Arizonans and potential lenders that the destruction of one of the mountain ranges that make our region a great place to live and work is inevitable.
But Ron Barber courageously persisted and was able to finish.
Is this the corporate citizenship we can expect from Rosemont that Rod Pace talks about?
Below is an interesting press release from the Mountain Empire Action Alliance completely discrediting the economic analysis for the proposed Rosemont Mine.
A copy of the MEAA report can be downloaded at here.
Purported Benefits of Rosemont Project “Systematically Exaggerated”
Potential of Proposed Mine to Cause Local Job Loss Also Ignored
SONOITA, Ariz. — Today, a highly critical report of the U.S. Forest Service’s evaluation of the economic impacts of the proposed Rosemont copper mine was released by the Sonoita-based Mountain Empire Action Alliance (MEAA). This report, written by nationally recognized economist, Dr. Thomas Power, found that the economic analysis used to justify the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains “systematically exaggerates the economic benefits while just as systematically dismissing or ignoring the economic costs of the Rosemont Mine.”
“If Rosemont’s economic exaggerations are eliminated and the instability in copper mining production and employment are taken into account, the positive economic impacts associated with the proposed mine would be only a quarter to a third of what the DEIS projects”, Power said. “Additionally, when the impacts to other sources of local economic vitality are considered such as tourism and the attractiveness of the Greater Tucson area to new residents and businesses, it is my view that the relatively modest positive economic impacts of this mine will be completely offset by equally modest negative impacts and as a result, it is highly likely that the Rosemont Mine would damage the overall economic vitality and well-being of the Greater Tucson area.” Continue reading
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Keep those cards and letters coming – Forest Service extends comment period on the Rosemont DEIS
As we read in the morning paper and elsewhere, the Forest Service has extended the public comment on the Rosemont draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) until January 31. If you have not yet commented, now is the opportunity to do so. If you have commented and have an additional thought or concern you can also comment again.
Here is how to comment: