Groups file appeal over air quality permit for Copper World Mine
Organizations, people residing near Santa Rita mountains filed an appeal with ADEQ
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - People living near the Santa Rita Mountains are frustrated over the environmental and health impacts of mines operating in the area.
This led several non-profit groups to file an appeal with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality over a permit they granted to the Copper World Mine.
To reach the mines, employees and heavy machinery vehicles have to drive on an unpaved dirt road that is miles long.
This has frustrated residents living nearby, who are concerned the mine operations will increase dust, air pollution, and other environmental problems.
13 News spoke to Luanne Gegeanis, one of the nearby residents in Sahuarita, who has previously expressed frustration over the dust coming from the mines.
“The wind changes in a minute. In the blink of an eye it’ll be one direction and then the other, so you don’t really know if dust will blow your way,” Gegeanis said.
Gegeanis said she is worried about her health and the future of the landscape if the dust and other environmental problems are not solved soon.
“I didn’t move here to see what they’re doing, destroying the Santa Ritas,” Gegeanis added. “They’re polluting the air with the dust, they’re not mitigating the problem, and they won’t mitigate the problem.”
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, a non-profit, and other groups filed an appeal over the permit ADEQ gave the mine.
Rob Peters, the group’s executive director, said some of their scientists reviewed the permit and saw several issues with it.
“What ADEQ did, our experts believe, is miscount the amount of emissions the mine will do,” Peters explained. “As a result of that miscounting, they gave the mine a more permissive Class II permit. Which doesn’t have the same degree of restrictions, care and oversight that a class I will have.”
Peters said the appeal has the support of 3,000 residents living in the area. The group is suggesting a Class I permit from ADEQ will be better for the community.
“A Class I permit would do much more for protecting the health of the people living in the communities near this giant mine,” he said.
ADEQ told 13 News they received the appeal but it would not comment on it as the case is pending.
Hudbay Minerals Inc. provided a statement to 13 News which said,
“Hudbay is currently reviewing the appeal and we intend to intervene in the case. We are confident that the thorough review conducted by ADEQ and its decision to issue Copper World its Air Permit, will be upheld by the court.
But even with the plan in the works and the appeal filed – Peters said change is needed for the sake of people living nearby.
Hudbay Minerals is working on a dust mitigation plan for the unpaved stretch of road going to the mines. Hudbay said the plan is “progressing” and more details will be provided once a plan is in place.
But even with the plan in the works and the appeal filed – Peters said change is needed for the sake of people living nearby.
“The agencies, ADEQ in particular, need to stop bending over backward to benefit foreign mining companies at the cost of health and economic well-being of people living in Pima County,” Peters said.
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