^{Santa Rita Mountains}

^{Open Pit Mine}

^{Public Forum Update}

The August 14th ADEQ public forum outlining the details of Hudbay's open pit mine permit focused on air quality and the steps they are taking to monitor its effect on the environment and local communities.

Despite being advertised as a presentation only event, the ADEQ allowed several hours for public questions. Many attendees challenged the ADEQ's findings and monitoring systems set in place to control the activities of Hudbay and its subsidiary, Copper World, who will be operating the mines for the next 44 years if the permit is approved.

Major take-a-ways include:

• Hudbay's intention to produce sulfuric acid for use on-site and for sale to other mining operations, and its potential for a spill or air dump contaminating the environment and surrounding communities.
• Fine particles of waste materials such as lead, mercury, uranium, and cadmium that could be transported by prevailing air currents to surrounding homes and schools, including Copper Ridge Elementary School located just 1.2 miles from the northern edge of a major tailing's pile.
• The possibility of an "atmospheric plume" from the mine that will drift northwest from the permanent tailing's piles located throughout the 26 square mile mining area.

There's still time to voice your concerns.

• Attend the second ADEQ in-person public forum on September 10th. Comments are welcome and will become public record.

• Send a letter opposing the mine by writing directly to the ADEQ. Review the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas Asso. Comment Information on how to send a letter opposing the mine. Page two contains a sample letter you can copy and insert with your own information.

• Complete the ADEQ's website public comments page.

Comments and letters must be received

by SEPTEMBER 15th. So please act now!

Click Here to view the entire ADEQ public forum presentation plus Q&A's.

Click here to view a KGUN 9 News segment.

Photo courtesy of Save the Scenic Santa Rita Mountains Asso.

Sonoran Institute Awarded $1.6 Million State Grant

Funds to be used to

plan for clean-up of the Santa Cruz River

Tucson 13 News reports that the Sonoran Institute, working with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, has secured a $1.6 million grant from the Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to study the Santa Cruz River.

As reported, this grant is a planning grant, so it’s all about doing homework and then making that information available for local governments to assist in future Sants Cruz River actions.

Sonoran Institute Director Luke Cole states they will focus on five goals associated with this grant.

• Economic study
• Riparian Master Plan
• Stake holder group study
• Expand annual publications to keep the community informed
• Put together a municipal planning workshop.

Congratulation Sonoran Institute on obtaining this important funding. Your work makes a difference and helps to “Keep our desert and communities livable and thriving.”



Click Here to view the Tucson 13 News link to learn more.

Seedball

for Wildlife!

August 25

8:00 am - 10:00 am

Do you want to get your hands dirty for conservation?

Come help the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection make seedballs!

Made with a mixture of clay, soil, water and native seeds, seedballs are a great habitat restoration tool.

They keep seeds protected and in place with a perfect packet of nutrients, so they are ready to sprout when it rains.

Join the Coalition for a morning of fun in the Event Garden at the Reid Park Zoo with Strategic Habitat Enhancements and Coalition staff!

They will be making seedballs to restore habitat for pollinators and wildlife on the Oracle Road Wildlife Bridge in Oro Valley and learning about our native Sonoran Desert plants.

You can even take a seedball home, and watch it grow!

This is a great event for the whole family. We hope you can make it!