A decade after it was first proposed, the plan for an open-pit copper mine in Southern Arizona has experienced a setback. A regional office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommended the mine be denied a federal Clean Water Act permit.
The Rosemont Mine, which would be about 30 miles from Tucson, has been controversial since it was proposed in 2006. The Arizona Daily Star reported that a Corps spokeswoman said a full decision from the agency could be six months off.
If the Corps had recommended the approval of HudBay Minerals Inc.’s permit for mine, the recommendation would have gone directly to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Those in favor of the Rosemont mine said it would give the area a much-needed economic boost. Those against it say it would pollute the local environment and hurt tourism.
