Pima County has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Rosemont Copper Co. is in violation of the county’s outdoor lighting regulations by failing to submit a lighting plan for exploratory drilling at Rosemont’s proposed mine site in the Coronado National Forest.
The county alleges in a lawsuit filed in Pima County Superior Court that Rosemont’s failure to submit the plan is in ‘stark conflict” with the company’s “commitment to the community to voluntarily comply with the Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code,” the Arizona Daily Star is reporting. Rosemont makes the pledge on its website.
Pima County enacted the outdoor lighting code in 2012 to “protect access to
the dark night sky” and support “astronomical activities” among other intended purposes.
The adverse impacts of the lighting and dust created by Rosemont’s proposed open pit project to the world-class astronomy research facilities located nearby have long been a concern of mine opponents. According to a 2007 University Arizona study, astronomical research contributes over $250 million a year and 3,000 jobs to Arizona’s economy.
The Rosemont Mine Final Environment Impact Statement (FEIS) states the project would result in “a 524% increase in sky brightness at horizon.” The mine is planned for the northeastern flank of the Santa Rita Mountains on the Coronado National Forest southeast of Tucson.
An economic study accompanying the FEIS states that the nearby Mt. Whipple observatory on Mt. Hopkins could shut down because of the adverse impacts to dark night skies from activities such as what would occur from the proposed mine. In comments on the FEIS, the observatories noted that “anecdotal evidence” of the mine’s potential impact on dark skies is the fact that none of the $700 million in next-generation astronomical research facilities has gone to Arizona astronomy organizations.
The lighting lawsuit is just the most recent in legal challenges facing the proposed $1.5 billion project. Last March, the state’s approval of the mine’s air pollution permit was revoked by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Rosemont are appealing the decision.
Pima County residents have filed a second lawsuit against ADEQ’s issuance of an “air quality control” permit for the copper project that is pending in Pima County Superior Court.
Pima County also filed a legal challenge to ADEQ’s decision to certify that the mine will not negatively impact regional surface waters that are protected under strict state guidelines. ADEQ is required to certify that the mine will not violate water quality standards under the federal Clean Water Act.
Rosemont’s misleading statements about its so-called ” community commitments” appear to signal that the project’s new owners, Hudbay Minerals, will continue Augusta Resource’s long list of deceptions in order to seek community support for the project.
Toronto-based Hudbay acquired Augusta Resource last summer in a $550 million stock purchase.
IT APPEARS THAT AT EVERY TURN OF THE SCREW , THE ROSEMONT COPPER PROJECT IS AT ODDS WITH THE AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE , NOW AND IN THE FUTURE , FROM EXPLOITATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE .
THE DECISION TO GRANT PERMITS FOR MINING RESTS WITH THE AUTHORITIES CREATED TO DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS . THEY ARE REAL AND RUN BY THOSE CHOSEN TO DO SUCH . THEY ARE THE ENFORCERS OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH SADLY AND IN MANY CASES , ARE LACKING .
MINING COMPANIES ARE MONEY MAKING MACHINES AND WILL FIND WAYS AND MEANS TO SUCCEED . THE US RESOURCE POLICY IS SO OUT OF DATE THAT IT IS MEANINGLESS .
I thought the county’s lawsuit had been dismissed because they were unable to tell whether the lights were caused by Rosemont or the fire-breathing dragons that had been sighted in the area.
Link
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2015/05/05/rosemont-copper-things-are-not-always-as-they-are-portrayed/
THE FLYING DRAGON IS THE LEGACY OF AUGUSTA RESOURCES AFTER THEY EMERGED AND FLEW AWAY FROM UNDER A PILE OF FABRICATED AND MISLEADING INFORMATION WHICH WAS SWALLOWED HOOK , LINE AND SINKER BY THE FOREST SERVICE . THE DRAGON IS NOW LURKING OVER PATAGONIA AS WILDCAT SILVER .