Arizona OK’s copper open-pit mine site’s reclamation plan near Tucson

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TUCSON, Arizona (AP) – A plan to recultivate a proposed new open pit copper mine on the western slope of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson has received state approval because of adversary objections that Hudbay Minerals Inc. did not address major problems.

Meanwhile, project supporters called Hudbay’s plan to recultivate its Copper World project as thorough and environmentally sound, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

State Mine Inspector Joe Hart approved the Hudbay reclamation plan on October 19, four days after the Office’s official deadline for filing public comments.

Comments from Pima County and environmentalists that the plan does not address water quality, water supplies and desert protection concern matters that should be addressed by other agencies reviewing mine plans, the office said.

Government approval of a reclamation plan is required for any mining project in Arizona that would destroy at least two acres of private land.

Hart’s letter of approval also states that the company must also issue a bond by December 18 to ensure the mine reclamation costs are funded.

Chuck Huckelberry, the Pima County administrative officer, and an adviser hired by a conservation group said the plan was lacking in areas such as dust control, waste disposal, groundwater quality and impact on cultural resources, long-term monitoring and maintenance of the site.

The two argued that the reclamation plan was premature as it was submitted to the state before Hudbay officially proposed a plan to mine the area.

However, the Southern Arizona Business Coalition, a mining advocacy group, wrote on Oct. 7 that Hudbay’s filing “provided a comprehensive preview” and a commitment “to the process and commitment required to complete the proposed plan.” demonstrated.

Hudbay officials said the company’s drilling on private land has found copper showings on the western slope of Santa Ritas that are potentially rich enough to support up to three open pit mines.

They have also said that it is likely that they will start mining the western slope before mining the Rosemont mine on the eastern slope of Santa Ritas. This is in large part due to the prolonged delays at Rosemont due to a 2019 federal court ruling that halted construction on the mine, which is now being appealed.

Hudbay officials said they will not make a formal decision to mine the western slope until their drilling on the site is completed and a preliminary economic analysis of its value is completed. The latter will happen in the first six months of 2022, it said.

However, the reclamation plan said the mining company specifically said it would build three open pit mines on the western slope.

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