Bill would block mining on federal land

Wick Communications

Environmental Liaison

U.S. Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords have re-introduced a bill that would block new mining claims on federal land in Santa Cruz and Pima counties and tighten requirements on holders of existing claims.

The bill is a slightly modified version of unsuccessful legislation they introduced in November 2007, and would include Coronado National Forest and Department of Interior land in both counties. Bills must be re-introduced in every new session of Congress.

The original bill had strong support from leaders in both counties and several municipalities.

“The environmental damage from mining in these special places will be too immense and this legislation will prevent future mining from occurring in the area,” Grijalva said.

In addition to halting new mining claims, the legislation would require that existing claims -— such as those for the proposed Augusta Resource Rosemont mine in the Santa Rita Mountains — would require “validation” of a profitable mineral deposit before further exploration or mining could take place. Concerns over the Rosemont mine and other claims in the Santa Rita, Patagonia Mountains and the San Rafael Valley led to the push for the legislation, particularly after Coronado National Forest and Bush administration officials declined to explore validating Rosemont or other mining claims in 2007.

If the legislation passes, and if the Rosemont mine receives a permit from the Forest Service, any new activity on the claim would require validation. The question of whether Rosemont mining claims are valid would circulate around questions of whether they have profitable deposits on mining claims and if some of the “mill” claims where wastes would be deposited are valid to use for mine wastes if they have profitable mineral deposits.

Augusta vice president Jamie Sturgess was unavailable for comment on the legislation.

Among Pima County preserve lands that would be affected are Tucson Mountain Park, Tortolita Mountain Park, Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Sweetwater Preserve, Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, Lords Ranch within the Ironwood Forest National Monument, Rancho Seco (Arivaca), Six-Bar Ranch (San Pedro River), and A-7 Ranch (San Pedro River).

“It’s truly exciting that these public lands are finally being recognized for their real values, and if this bill passes, our water resources and sustainable land uses in Southern Arizona will be protected for future generations from the short-sighted land use of mining,” said Save the Scenic Santa Rita’s spokeswoman Lainie Levick.