Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona

A Cherished Spot

The Scenic Santa Rita Mtns Credit: Peter Kresan/Univ. of AZ

Running through the Coronado National Forest, the scenic Santa Rita Mountains have long been a cherished spot in southern Arizona.  The Mountains and surrounding desert and grassland seas are globally recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, providing important habitat for many species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, bees and plants. The Santa Ritas are a part of a designated area of biological concern and a wildlife corridor that connects large tracts of isolated habitat from central Arizona into Mexico.

The Santa Ritas have also long been a popular escape for Tucsonians and tourists alike, providing countless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, off-road vehicle riding, hunting, camping, horse back riding and wildlife viewing.

The Rosemont Ranch Mine Proposal

In 2004, Rosemont Ranch was sold by ASARCO.  The new owner offered to sell the property to Pima County for conservation purposes but the County was unable to make the purchase.  Consequently, the owner instead sold the property to Augusta Resource Corporation, a Canadian company with no mining experience.

In 2006, Augusta Resource submitted a Mining Plan of Operations to the Forest Service that was rejected because it was inadequate and incomplete.  However, Augusta plans to resubmit the plan in 2007.  If the Forest Service accepts this plan, the NEPA process will begin, and an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared.

Local citizens are concerned about the following potential impacts to the area:

• Water - Leaching of exposed tailings surfaces and unintended leaks from other facilities could result in the release of potentially toxic heavy metals and other chemicals into ground and surface waters draining into Tucson area water supplies, and impacting nearby riparian areas.
• Air - Truck exhaust and dust from tailings and waste piles will be blown by prevailing winds toward major new residential developments east of the Tucson basin.
• Recreation - The loss of recreational lands will aggravate our increasingly crowded public lands associated with Pima County's population growth, and decrease the quality of recreational experiences.
• Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat - Development of the site will result in loss of a significant portion of the wildlife habitat and movement corridor on the eastern side of the Santa Ritas, potentially impacting endangered, threatened, and candidate species.
• Economics - Any economic benefits of the mine will be offset by the negative impacts to tourism-related businesses dependent on the area's scenic beauty.

For more information on these and other impacts, visit Save the Scenic Santa Ritas.

An Example of the Need to Reform the 1872 Mining Law

The Santa Ritas are not a place for a mine and the local community has vocally opposed the development of Rosemont Ranch.  For instance, when Representative Grijalva (Arizona CD 7) held a Tucson Field Hearing in February 2007, the public comments were more than two-thirds opposed to the mine and favoring 1872 Mining Law reform. The fact that the Santa Ritas are still being considered for such a project, even over the objections of the local community, is yet another reason supporting the need to reform the outdated 1872 Mining Law.

For More Information

• Save the Scenic Santa Ritas
• Coronado National Forest
• Learn about the sensitive and diverse southwestern sky islands ecosystems of which the Santa Ritas are a part
• On birding:  National Audubon Society's Santa Rita Mountains profile and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory's Guide to Birding Hotspots
• Sky Island Alliance