Within 2 weeks the scoping period for the Rosemont Copper Mine ends.  At that point, the environmental studies will begin and we won't hear anything from officials until spring of 2009.  There has been a lot of conversation and excitement (not always in a good way) about the proposed mine from local citizens and even from our elected officials.

On May 22, 2008, Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords sent a letter to the Coronado Forest Service regarding what they believe to be the flawed scoping period that is currently in progress.  As many in the public have not been aware of the process and facts were not all presented at the beginning, they requested that a complete Cine Plan of Operations be created and that the scoping process should be restarted at that point.

Additionally, our representatives pointed out that one of the Forest Service's objectives was "to grant permission to the Company to use NFS for certain activities related to the operation of the Rosemont Mine."  With an objective like that, it is highly unlikely that the option of denying permission to use our public lands is even being considered.  Why then are they even allowing public comment?

Here's an interesting article regarding whether or not the review is fixed:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:108889

And from a more optimistic viewpoint, an article talking about Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and their involvement in the opposition to the mine.  http://www.vailsun.com/articles/2008/06/27/news/news01.txt

If you're still interested in reading more, check out these articles published in the Tucson Citizen.

Opinion from tucson Citizen: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/89304.ph

Security risk of the mine:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/89565.php 

Don't forget to send in your comments to comments-southern-coronado@fs.fed.us.