The latest press release on the Rosemont Copper project from the USFS is at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado/ ... RDB5444954. It announces a comment period, only for those who have previously filed objections..

From our point of view what is informative is the Draft Record of Decision (link at at http://www.rosemonteis.us/final-eis). That PDF document describes the decision (allowing to the project, with provisions) and illustrates the boundaries of the project (page 27 of the draft decision, figure ROD-3, "Road changes under the selected action."

As expected, forest road 4053 (the Box Canyon launch road) will be broken at the perimiter fence. It is shown in the figure as status "Open Authorized Restricted (OAR)" which basically means there will be a gate through which only authorized personnel and equipment can pass. This is consistent with the proposal that the Rosemont project officials made to SAHGA representatives to allow SAHGA members access to the closed portion of the hang gliding launch road with some training and advanced notification requirements.

While, as previously noted, we have no legally enforcable right to use the closed portion of the road, there is reason to be hopeful that Rosemont officials will honor their prior committment to allow access.

John

That is consistent with what Dan Ryan told David Snyder an I.

Thanks for the follow up John

Eric

Augusta, the parent company of Rosemont Copper, has been acquired by another, evidently better funded, Canadian company called Hudbay. Here's an interesting interview with the Hudbay executives: http://tucson.com/business/local/hudbay ... de8d3.html.

All good info. The part I found interesting was that they still don`t know how they are going to get the ore to the plant ! Hard to believe.

A very short answer on the water question ? Always thought that might be an issue.

Thanks

Eric

Hudbay has closed some roads on its privately owned land, roads that lead to USFS property. The article seems to imply that the roads we use are all on USFS land, and those that were recently closed are on the west side of the mountain, but it's not entirely clear.
http://broadcaster.townnews-mail.com/t? ... D38BB0F4C1&

Wildlife update:
http://tucson.com/news/science/environm ... 815da.html

That's a pretty scary report.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged that the mine will cause significant adverse impacts on many of the species.

The new report acknowledges that the mine’s lowering of the water table to create the open pit could or would dry up a stretch of Empire Gulch, a key tributary to Cienega Creek, a nationally recognized stream running east of the mine site.

The creeks and surrounding wetlands are home to many of the endangered fish, frogs and birds that were among the species reviewed.

The opinion says many of the imperiled species have healthy populations elsewhere, including the [only known] jaguar [in the US], and noted that the mining company will monitor groundwater levels

AZ Appeals Panel Upholds Air Permit:
http://tucson.com/news/local/arizona-ap ... f805b.html

Another update:
http://tucson.com/news/local/fish-and-w ... d3761.html

Army Corp of Engineers has not (yet) approved the mine.
http://tucson.com/news/science/environm ... 19c33.html

A federal judge has overturned the 2013 USFS approval of the Rosemont mine, putting a stop to the mine, for the moment. This ruling will, of course, be appealed.
https://tucson.com/news/local/federal-j ... f0a82.html