Rosemont letter sent by mistake, Ag official says

An Oct. 14 letter to the GVCCC that indicated the federal government couldn’t block the proposed Rosemont Mine was sent in error, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Vilsack’s one-page letter sent to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., said, “When I reviewed an initial draft of the letter, I was unsatisfied with USDA’s response and asked that that particular letter and any correspondence on this topic be held up until I was satisfied that we had undertaken a thorough review.”

The letter goes on to say, “Mistakenly, that letter was sent,” and Vilsack said he accepts responsibility “for any inconvenience and misunderstanding that the letter may have caused.”

The Oct. 14 letter was sent to Green Valley Community Coordinating Council president Stan Riddle in response to a June 17 letter Riddle sent to Vilsack sharing the organization’s concern over the Forest Service’s “rejection of the ‘no action’ alternative” that could block the copper mine.

Vilsack’s Oct. 14 letter appeared to backed the contention of the Forest Service, which his department oversees, that it could not stop the process by issuing the “no action” ruling.

“The responsible official would only have the discretion to select the no-action alternative if all other reasonable alternatives would result in a violation of applicable Federal laws,” the letter said. “Therefore, the Forest Service works with the mining applicant to develop an acceptable and legally compliant plan of operations as an alternative to be considered during the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process. This precludes selection of the no-action alternative.”

The letter brought an outcry among Rosemont opponents, who wondered aloud whether they would get a fair hearing from the Agriculture Department when it sends an official to the area Saturday.

Deputy Undersecretary Jay Jensen will tour the proposed mine site and attend meetings in Elgin and Green Valley.

Vilsack’s letter Friday said the Forest Service is “reviewing the issues surrounding the Rosemont Project as part of its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.” That includes the no-action alternative, the letter said.

Vilsack said no decisions have been made, “and none will be made until we have completed a thorough review of the proposed mine, the mine plan of operation and any required mitigation.”

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, which opposes the mine, sent an email to members Friday reminding them to remain civil during the meetings with Jensen on Saturday.

“Deputy Undersecretary Jay Jensen is not the enemy,” it said. “We don’t want to tar and feather him. We need his help!”

Jensen and Giffords will be in Green Valley on Saturday from 2:15-3:45 p.m. at Desert Hills Social Center, 2980 S. Camino del Sol. The Elgin meeting is 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Elgin Elementary School, 23 Elgin Road.