Pima County, local organizations voice concerns on proposed Copper World Mine permit

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Pima County officials have voiced concerns about a proposed aquifer permit for Hudbay’s Copper World Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Three county departments came together to submit a 20-page letter of critique to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Their concerns included the lack of additional permits, how close the mining project will be to water resources, and the storage of waste from processing.

It was part of a public commenting period on the proposed permit, which saw locals agreeing and disagreeing with the county’s comments.

“The permit is abiding by the rules and regulations that are set forth within ADEQ,” said Rick Grinnell with the Southern Arizona Business Coalition. “Right now as it sits, this project falls within the rules and regulations and I expect it to be approved.”

Grinnell is in full support of the proposed permit and has confidence in ADEQ.

“They do know what they’re doing,” Grinnell said. “These people are professionals. They didn’t just walk out of school and all of a sudden start doing this. These are professionals that have long tenure and an understanding of the rules. They have also been responsible.”

Robert Peters with Save the Scenic Santa Ritas said more research needs to be done.

“We hired three expert scientists, a couple of hydrologists, and a mining engineer to take a hard look at that permit, just like Pima did, and our experts came up with the exact same problems,” Peters said.

Arguably most concerning for Peters and the county is the waste that will be created.

“They’re not proposing to put a liner underneath the 600-foot tall tailing piles which contain toxic waste and some of these piles are going to go right in next to Carona De Tucson within less than a half mile of an elementary school,” Peters claimed. “They contain lead, selenium, and other toxic chemicals.”

13 News reached out to Pima County and Hudbay, the company behind Copper World Mine.

Both declined interviews, but Pima County said they’re open to a response from Hudbay on their letter.

Hudbay shared this statement:

“The Copper World Project is consistent with industry standards and will comply with all environmental laws to protect groundwater quality. The statements that Pima County has submitted, along with those of other interested stakeholders, are contributing to a robust public comment period which both ADEQ and Hudbay have encouraged.”

ADEQ tells 13 News it’s going to take several months for them to get through the 5,000 comments they’ve received, but once they do they’ll respond to them through a document called a Responsiveness Summary.

“Public feedback is a critical component of the permitting process,” said Randall Matas with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. “It’s very important so that we receive and review these technical comments and update the permit as needed to really end up with the strongest and most protected permit possible.”

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