ADEQ Holds Crucial Public Meeting on Air Permit for Controversial Copper World Mine

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will conduct a public meeting in Vail regarding an air quality permit for the proposed Copper World mine. Scheduled for Tuesday evening, the meeting is part of ADEQ’s ongoing review process. Located approximately 30 miles southeast of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains, the project has faced scrutiny from various environmental groups.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Corona Foothills Middle School, located at 16705 S. Houghton Rd., Vail, Arizona. The comment period for the air quality permit commenced on July 15 and is set to conclude on September 15. Several environmental organizations have voiced concerns, arguing that an open-pit mine would significantly impact the local ecosystem, particularly the Santa Ritas and the Santa Cruz River.

In August, the Center for Biological Diversity, based in Tucson, initiated a petition urging ADEQ Executive Deputy Director Karen Peters to deny Copper World’s permit application. The center described the current draft of the permit as inadequate for protecting air and environmental quality, characterizing it as a “free pass to pollute.” They expressed concern over potential emissions from proposed mining activities, including blasting and ore processing, which could release substantial amounts of toxic air pollutants.

The anticipated air contaminants from the mine include coarse and fine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and hazardous air pollutants. In response, the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas Association has encouraged supporters to email Peters or attend the meeting to voice their concerns.

Conversely, the Southern Arizona Business Coalition has urged community members to attend the meeting and express their support for the Copper World project. They emphasized the meeting as a critical opportunity for public input, stating that ADEQ officials would be present to hear feedback on the air quality permit.

Copper World, a project owned by Toronto-based Hudbay Inc., is expected to entail a $1.7 billion investment over its first phase and could create around 400 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs in Arizona, along with an estimated $250 million in property taxes. However, a review commissioned by the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas group challenges the economic benefits claimed by Hudbay, asserting that the project might have minimal positive impact on the Tucson economy while endangering local health and environmental resources.

Furthermore, the proposed mine could adversely affect tourism, outdoor activities, agriculture, and housing, according to the report. ADEQ intends to issue the permit, allowing for the construction and operation of the mine and a processing facility, despite the concerns raised.

Earlier in the year, ADEQ held a community meeting concerning a groundwater permit for the mine, which will largely exist on private land. The agency has already granted an aquifer protection permit that mandates the mine’s facilities be designed to mitigate impacts on groundwater quality, alongside a timeline for construction and operational activities.

Meanwhile, ADEQ has recently approved an air quality permit for another project, South32’s Hermosa Mine, which focuses on manganese and zinc in the Patagonia Mountains. The Copper World project will encompass six open pits over 15 years, processing a substantial amount of sulfide ore and generating millions of tons of waste rock.

Last year, Hudbay began preliminary work, including road construction and clearing land for tailings. Initially, the company aimed to develop the Rosemont Mine, a much larger project that faced significant opposition from environmentalists due to concerns over its impact on endangered species and habitats. Following legal challenges that stalled the Rosemont effort, Hudbay shifted its focus to the Copper World site.

In August 2022, ADEQ assumed responsibility for the air quality review from Pima County, prompted by a resolution from the Board of Supervisors opposing the Copper World project.