Forest Service Issues Approval of Rosemont Mine

Coronado National Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry has signed the final Record of Decision (ROD) for the Rosemont Copper Project. The ROD outlines Supervisor Dewberry’s decision to select the Barrel Alternative and approve the Mine Plan of Operations once amended, and to amend the 1986 Coronado National Forest Plan by creating a new management area around the mine site.

The Rosemont Copper Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision were released on December 13, 2013. The objection period began on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 and closed on Friday, February 14, 2014.

Receiving the final Record of Decision concludes a thorough process involving 17 co-operating agencies at various levels of government, 16 hearings, over 1,000 studies, and 245 days of public comment resulting in more than 36,000 comments. Having received the final Record of Decision, Hudbay will now commence the administrative process working with the USFS to complete the Mine Plan of Operations over the next several months. The other key federal permit outstanding is the Section 404 Water Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“This decision brings us another step closer to being able to build a modern mine that will fulfill the requirements of its permits, create jobs and strengthen the local economy,” said Patrick Merrin, vice president of Hudbay’s Arizona business unit. “The Rosemont team thanks the USFS and all the other co-operating agencies for their hard work and dedication to the public interest over the past 10 years.”

The proposed project would be conducted on an estimated 5,431 acres of combined private lands, National Forest System lands, and lands administered by the Arizona State Land Department. Proposed activities include an open pit mine and associated processing and disposal facilities approximately 30 miles south of the city of Tucson, Arizona. The operation would produce copper, molybdenum and silver concentrates.

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