Rosemont meeting stirs passions

TUCSON—While hundreds gathered Monday night at Rincon High School to oppose the proposed Rosemont Mine, several speakers at the public hearing talked about the jobs it will create and how mining for copper near Tucson would stimulate the Arizona economy.

In the last of three public hearings hosted by the National Forest Service, residents from Green Valley, Sahuarita, Tucson, Vail and Sonoita spoke out against the proposed 4,400-acre mine, saying there are too many environmental concerns to move forward.

“It is the will of most of Southern Arizona that this land stay in its natural state,” said Kim Beck, of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. “We have 6,000 signatures of people who are against this and a list of elected officials opposed to this project.

Speaking in favor of mining operations just off State Route 83 was Rosemont Ranch foreman Lyman Tenney.

“Arizona is a copper state,” he said. “That is a huge benefit to the United States as a whole. Everything in this world is either mined or grown. There is no other way to get it. The more things we can keep on our home turf, the more jobs we have, the better our economy is, and we can remain a super power.”

A handful of people in the mining industry spoke in favor of the project during the meeting. They spoke of its creating up to 500 jobs and stimulating the economy and said it would not deplete area water supplies as residents fear.

Most of those at the meeting, however, were against the project. With 106 people signed up to speak, the majority asked the Forest Service not to approve the project.

Attending the meeting were U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat representing Congressional District 8, and mine opponent Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll, a Republican whose District 4 includes Green Valley.

Carroll spoke briefly at the meeting, stating his distaste for Augusta Resource and what it plans to do.

Glen Wyman, a third generation miner, spoke directly to Carroll, telling the residents that they need copper, estimating that humans use an average of 1,300 pounds of copper in a lifetime.

Robert Robuck of Sahuarita said if the Forest Service approves the mine, they will be starting a double standard.

“If I were to cut down a tree in that forest, I’d be put in jail and would have to pay a big fine,” he said. “But they are going to be allowed to dump thousands of pounds of dirt all over the forest.”

Valerie Smith of Vail said she attended the final public hearing for other reasons.

“My reason for being here is strictly emotional,” she said. “The first time I drove down that road I fell in love with it. I can’t figure out why you would want to put a mine there. It’s beautiful. I just request that the mine people go away.”

Thelma Grimes is a reporter for the Vail Sun, a Wick Communications Co. newspaper.