Forest Service plans another Rosemont mine meeting

The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled another open house meeting dealing with the proposed Rosemont copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains east of Green Valley.

The next meeting will be 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in Vail in the Cienega High School auditorium at 12775 East Mary Ann Cleveland Way.

There were mixed reactions to the first three meetings, with one ending early in protest.

The Forest Service also said it will have a May hearing where people can speak for or against the proposed mine. The other open houses took written comments only.

The Forest Service said the meeting in Vail “will be an open house format, not a ‘hearing.’”

The previous open houses were held in Tucson, Green Valley and Patagonia.

The Patagonia one ended early when the Forest Service took down its information posters, gathered its equipment and left.

Jeanine Derby, Coronado National Forest supervisor said then many of the people there weren’t taking information or leaving cards of questions, so she canceled it about half of the way through.

The Forest Service said its open-house format “is designed to view informational displays, asks specialists about the Rosemont Copper Project and the environmental impact statement process.”

Head ranger Derby said there may be additional meetings to “assure the public has ample opportunity to learn about this project and to provide input.”

Derby said the Forest Service “scoping period” has been extended through May 19.

Comments will be accepted throughout the process.

Opponents to the proposed mine say it will spoil a naturally beautiful area, adversely affect the amount of groundwater north and east of Green Valley and create a traffic nightmare as copper ore is hauled away on large trucks, either on Arizona Scenic Road No. 83 or perhaps Sahuarita Road.

Augusta Resource has estimated the mine’s life will be about 25 years. The company claims the mine won’t wreck the environment and will be a financial boon to the area and its local workers.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749