In a recently published draft analysis, the U.S. Forest Service paints different scenarios in which South32 could potentially expand its mining operations into public land in Santa Cruz County.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement – a 750-page document published on May 9 – walks the public through four possibilities currently on the table: Under a “no action” approach, South32 would be restricted to operating its Hermosa Project operations only on private land. The second scenario would follow South32’s proposed action. The third alternative would consist of modifications to the proposed plan, based on public comments and analyses. For a fourth option, the U.S. Forest Service determined its preferred approach, which would be a mesh of two proposed actions.
kAm}@H[ 2D E96 w6C>@D2 !C@;64E 4@?E:?F6D E@ AC@8C6DD[ E96 286?4J 😀 2D<:?8 E96 AF3=:4 E@ H6:89 😕 @? E96 stx$]k^Am
kAm“p=E9@F89 2 AC676CC65 2=E6C?2E:G6 92D 366? :56?E:7:65 😕 E96 stx$[ E9:D 5@6D ?@E C6AC6D6?E 2 4@>>:E>6?E @? E96 A2CE @7 E96 r@C@?25@ }2E:@?2= u@C6DE[” E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 ?@E65 😕 E96 5@4F>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 w6C>@D2 !C@;64E’D 6IA2?D:@? :?4=F56D ?6H C@25 2446DD[ 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 2 D64@?5 E2:=:?8 DE@C286 724:=:EJ 2?5 6IA=@C2E@CJ 5C:==:?8 😕 AF3=:4 =2?5D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $@FE9ba’D |:?6 !=2? @7 ~A6C2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 stx$ =:DED A@E6?E:2= :>A24ED C6DF=E:?8 7C@> 6249 2=E6C?2E:G6[ DF49 2D 67764ED @? H:=5=:76[ G686E2E:@? 2?5 H2E6C C6D@FC46D] %96 5@4F>6?E >2C:EE:?8 AC@46DD F?56C E96 }2E:@?2= t?G:C@?>6?E2= !@=:4J p4E[ H9:49 C6BF:C6D 286?4:6D E@ 2DD6DD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24ED 367@C6 >2<:?8 564:D:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 ?@ $A2?:D9 =2?8F286 5@4F>6?ED AF3=:D965 7@C E96 stx$[ 2 7656C2= @77:4:2= 4@?7:C>65 H:E9 E96 }x]k^Am
kAm%@ 52E6[ $@FE9ba 92D C646:G65 2== C6BF:C65 DE2E6 A6C>:ED E@ F?C2G6= :ED w6C>@D2 !C@;64E @? AC:G2E6 =2?5 😕 E96 !2E28@?:2 |@F?E2:?D] %96 pFDEC2=:2? >:?:?8 4@>A2?J’D |:?6 !=2? @7 ~A6C2E:@?D – H9:49 @FE=:?6D 2== 2DA64ED @7 :ED =@42= >:?:?8 24E:G:E:6D – H2D FA52E65 29625 @7 E96 stx$ AF3=:42E:@? E@ :?4@CA@C2E6 D@>6 492?86D 32D65 @? AF3=:4 4@>>6?ED 2?5 @?8@:?8 2?2=JD6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 5@4F>6?ED] u@C :?DE2?46[ @?6 492?86 C6G@=G65 2C@F?5 $@FE9ba’D C656D:8? 7@C :ED D64@?5 E2:=:?8D 724:=:EJ 😕 @C56C E@ 2G@:5 EH@ DF3A@AF=2E:@?D @7 362C5=6DD 49:?49 H665[ 2? 6?52?86C65 A=2?E DA64:6D]k^Am
kAm“pD @FC sC27E tx$ D9@HD[ $@FE9ba’D 2AAC@249 E@ >2?28:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C:D@D2 !C@;64E !C6D:56?E !2E #:D?6C D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAmqFE =@42= C6D:56?ED 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED 4@?E:?F6 E@ C2:D6 4@?46C?D @G6C $@FE9ba’D >:?:?8 @A6C2E:@?D 😕 E96 !2E28@?:2 |@F?E2:?D] {@42= 8C2DDC@@ED ?@?AC@7:E !2E28@?:2 pC62 #6D@FC46 p==:2?46 :?5:42E65 :E 😀 H@C<:?8 H:E9 D@>6 EH@ 5@K6? 6IA6CED E@ 5C27E @C82?:K2E:@?2= 4@>>6?ED 7@C E96 stx$]k^Am
kAm“%96 !2E28@?:2 |@F?E2:?D 2C6 A2CE @7 2 8=@32= 3:@5:G6CD:EJ 9@EDA@E C64@8?:K65 3J D4:6?E:DED 2D @?6 @7 E96 E@A C68:@?D 😕 E96 H@C=5 >@DE 😕 ?665 @7 C6D62C49 2?5 AC@E64E:@? 7@C DA64:6D DFCG:G2=[” r2C@=J? $9276C[ !p#p’D >:DD:@? 4@@C5:?2E@C[ HC@E6 😕 2? 6>2:=] “%96C6 D9@F=5 36 ?@ >:?:?8 😕 E96D6 >@F?E2:?D] !=2?6E2CJ 962=E9^962=:?8 😀 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 4@CA@C2E6 AC@7:ED]”k^Am
kAm$@FE9ba 2=C625J 92D 2AAC@G2= E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5 H:E9 E96 w6C>@D2 !C@;64E] pD @7 E9:D H66<[ C@F89=J c_ A6C46?E @7 4@?DECF4E:@? 92D 366? 4@>A=6E65 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J 6IA64ED E@ 364@>6 7F==J @A6C2E:@?2= 3J a_af[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 $@FE9ba ?6HD C6=62D6]k^Am
k9bm}@ 24E:@?k^9bm
kAm%96 “?@ 24E:@?” 2AAC@249 H@F=5 67764E:G6=J 2==@H $@FE9ba E@ 4@?E:?F6 :ED @A6C2E:@?D 😕 E96 !2E28@?:2 |@F?E2:?D @? AC:G2E6 =2?5 – H:E9@FE 2?J ?665 @7 2FE9@C:K2E:@? 7C@> E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46]k^Am
kAm“xEVD :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96 AF3=:4 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E[ WF?56CX E96 ‘?@ 24E:@?’ 2=E6C?2E:G6 😕 E96 sC27E t?G:C@?>6?E2= x>A24E $E2E6>6?E[ ]]] H6 H@F=5 DE:== 4@?5F4E E96 AC@;64E 2?5 E96 >:?6 H@F=5 36 56G6=@A65 7C@> AC:G2E6 =2?5[” #:D?6C ?@E65]k^Am
Pat Risner, president of South32’s Hermosa Project, affirmed that the mining company already has the necessary permits to operate on private land. The recently published Draft Environmental Impact Statement explores the possibility of expanding their mining operations into public land.
Photo by Daisy Zavala Magaña
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 stx$[ E92E H@F=5 >62? E92E 2 E@E2= @7 bf 24C6D @7 G686E2E:@? 😕 AC:G2E6 =2?5 H@F=5 36 C6>@G65 7@C E96 >:?:?8 @A6C2E:@?D] %96 C6>@G2= @7 G686E2E:@? 4@F=5 E96? 27764E E96 923:E2E 7@C DA64:2= DE2EFD DA64:6D 😕 E96 2C62[ :?4=F5:?8 E9C62E6?65 2?5 6?52?86C65 2?:>2=D[ E96 5@4F>6?E ?@E6D] t249 2=E6C?2E:G6 42CC:6D 2 G2CJ:?8 568C66 @7 :>A24E]k^Am
kAmxE H@F=5 2=D@ AC@9:3:E 23@FE g_ A6C46?E @7 962GJ H@C< G69:4=6D 7C@> EC2G6=:?8 E9C@F89 E96 %@H? @7 !2E28@?:2[ 2?5 H@F=5 :?DE625 C6BF:C6 E9@D6 ECF42E6C:2= 36:?8 EC2?DA@CE65 E9C@F89 E96 E@H? 2?5 962GJ G69:4=6D 52>28:?8 A@AF=2C C@25D]k^Am
kAm$@FE9ba >FDE 2=D@ AF>A 8C@F?5H2E6C 7@C :ED @A6C2E:@?D] %92E >62?D E96 H2E6C E23=6 😀 6IA64E65 E@ 564C62D6 2?5 4@?D6BF6?E=J C65F46 D@>6 24C6D @7 C:A2C:2? K@?6D] &?56C E96 “?@ 24E:@?” A=2?[ E92E 24C6286 😀 6IA64E65 E@ 36 6:89E 24C6D – 9:896C E92? $@FE9ba’D AC@A@D65 2AAC@249[ H9:49 😀 6DE:>2E65 E@ C65F46 EH@ 24C6D @7 C:A2C:2? 2C62D]k^Am
kAm%92E 564C62D6 😕 E96 H2E6C E23=6 F?56C 2== E9C66 D46?2C:@D 4@F=5 2=D@ E6>A@C2C:=J C65F46 @C 6=:>:?2E6 36EH66? `a E@ `c A@:?ED @7 H2E6C 2446DD 😕 4C:E:42= 923:E2E 2C62D 7@C E96 ?62C E9C62E6?65 ;28F2C] w@H6G6C[ E96 stx$ ?@E6D E92E E96C6 H@F=5 DE:== 36 DFC7246 H2E6C D@FC46D 7@C E96 ;28F2C H:E9:? `a]c >:=6D @7 6249 @E96C[ 2D 6?7@C465 3J E96 &]$] u:D9 2?5 (:=5=:76 $6CG:46]k^Am
k9bm!C@A@D65 A=2?k^9bm
kAmx7 2AAC@G65[ $@FE9ba’D AC@A@D65 A=2? H@F=5 C6>@G6 2AAC@I:>2E6=J ccb 24C6D @7 G686E2E:@? @? 7656C2= =2?5 2?5 2?@E96C D:I 24C6D @? AC:G2E6 =2?5] %92E H@F=5 2=D@ :?4=F56 23@FE cbg 24C6D @7 4C:E:42= 923:E2E E@ >2<6 H2J 7@C E96 >:?6 D:E6 2?5 2 ?6H C@25]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 24E:@? 42==D 7@C F?56C8C@F?5 >:?:?8 2?5 DFC7246 FD6 @7 AF3=:4 =2?5] $@>6 @7 E92E DFC7246 FD6 H@F=5 :?4=F56 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 2 D64@?5 E2:=:?8D DE@C286 724:=:EJ 2?5 2? F?56C5C2:? 4@==64E:@? A@?5j 56G6=@A>6?E @7 EH@ C2A:5 :?7:=EC2E:@? 32D:?D 7@C EC62E65 H2E6C 5:D492C86j 2?5 3F:=5:?8 2 ?6H >:?6 !C:>2CJ p446DD #@25 E@ =:>:E EC277:4 E9C@F89 !2E28@?:2]k^Am
kAm%96 !C:>2CJ p446DD #@25 H@F=5 4@??64E E96 w6C>@D2 !C@;64E D:E6 E@ $E2E6 #@FE6 ga[ D@FE9 @7 !2E28@?:2[ 23@FE 2 92=7 >:=6 ?@CE9 @7 E96 !2E28@?:2 {2<6 6?EC2?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 !2E28@?:2 #68:@?2= %:>6D]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 E9C66 AC@A@D65 24E:@?D[ E9:D D46?2C:@ H@F=5 :>A=J E96 9:896DE G@=F>6 @7 >:?6 EC277:4 24C@DD AC:G2E6 2?5 AF3=:4 =2?5D – A@D:?8 E96 9:896DE A@E6?E:2= E@ :>A24E 6>6C86?4J C6DA@?D6 E:>6D]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 “>@5:7:65 AC@A@D65 24E:@?” A=2?[ E96 G@=F>6 @7 >:?6 EC277:4 H@F=5 72== D@>6H96C6 😕 36EH66? E96 @E96C EH@ 2=E6C?2E:G6Di =6DD EC277:4 E92? $@FE9ba’D AC@A@D65 24E:@?[ 3FE >@C6 E92? E96 “?@ 24E:@?” 2AAC@249]k^Am
k9bm|@5:7:65 2=E6C?2E:G6k^9bm
kAm%96 >@5:7:65 2AAC@249 H2D :?7@C>65 3J AC6G:@FD AF3=:4 4@>>6?ED E92E H6C6 DF3>:EE65 5FC:?8 E96 D4@A:?8 A6C:@5 2?5 @E96C 2?2=JD6D]k^Am
kAmxE :?4=F56D E96 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 2? @G6C9625 9:89\A@H6C65 `bg\<:=@G@=E EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6[ H9:49 4@F=5 C6DF=E 😕 :?4C62D65 7:C6 C:DA2C65 E@ E96 @E96C EH@ 2=E6C?2E:G6D] %96 >@5:7:65 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 2=D@ 2==@H E96 >:?6 C@25 2446DD E9C@F89 E96 6I:DE:?8 u@C6DE $6CG:46 C@25D 2?5 E96 rC@DD rC66< r@??64E@C – 2D @AA@D65 E@ 3F:=5:?8 E96 ?6H !C:>2CJ p446DD #@25 7@C $@FE9ba]k^Am
kAm%96 E2:=:?8 D:E6 724:=:EJ F?56C E96 >@5:7:65 2AAC@249 H@F=5 C6DF=E 😕 2 =2C86C :>A24E E@ G686E2E:@? 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 AC@A@D65 A=2?] xE 2=D@ 2D 492??6=D[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ 4C62E:?8 C2A:5 :?7:=EC2E:@? 32D:?D]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 >@5:7:65 2AAC@249[ 2 E@E2= @7 cch 24C6D @7 G686E2E:@? @? AF3=:4 =2?5 H@F=5 36 C6>@G65[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2? 255:E:@?2= cg 24C6D @7 G686E2E:@? @? AC:G2E6 =2?5] ~7 E9@D6[ 23@FE bef 24C6D @7 G686E2E:@? 😕 4C:E:42= 923:E2E 7@C E96 ;28F2C H@F=5 36 C6>@G65 7@C E96 >:?6 D:E6 2?5 2?@E96C ae 24C6D 7@C E96 EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6]k^Am
kAm~7 E96 E9C66 2=E6C?2E:G6D[ E9:D 2AAC@249 AC6D6?ED E96 =62DE :>A24E E@ 4C:E:42= 923:E2ED 7@C D6G6C2= DA64:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 ;28F2C[ |6I:42? DA@EE65 @H=[ J6==@H\3:==65 4F4<@@ 2?5 q2CEC2>’D $E@?64C@A]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 >@5:7:65 2=E6C?2E:G6[ 23@FE 7:G6 24C6D @7 C:A2C:2? K@?6 H@F=5 36 C65F465 2D 2 C6DF=E @7 =@H6C H2E6C E23=6D]k^Am
kAms:D492C8:?8 EC62E65 H2DE6H2E6C :?E@ w2CD92H rC66< 2?5 p=F> vF=49 4@F=5 :?4C62D6 E96 5:G6CD:EJ[ 23F?52?46 2?5 AC@5F4E:G:EJ @7 A=2?ED 😕 DEC62>D:56 2C62D[ 2?5 :?4C62D6 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 2G2:=23:=:EJ 7@C 2?:>2=D[ E96 stx$ ?@E65] qFE E92E 5:D492C86 @7 H2E6C 4@F=5 2=D@ 6C@56 C:G6C32?D[ 2?5 42FD6 @E96C 568C252E:@? @7 C:A2C:2? G686E2E:@?] %92E 2?2=JD:D 2AA=:6D E@ 2== E9C66 2=E6C?2E:G6D[ 3FE $@FE9ba’D AC@A@D65 24E:@? 2?5 E96 >@5:7:65 24E:@? H@F=5 D66 E9@D6 :>A24ED E@ 2 =6DD6C 568C66 5F6 E@ =@H6C 5:D492C86 C2E6D @G6C 2 =@?86C A6C:@5 @7 E:>6]k^Am
The Hermosa Project is located in the Patagonia Mountains. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement explores potential effects regarding wildlife, vegetation, groundwater and even volumes of traffic.
Photo by Daisy Zavala Magaña
kAm%96 stx$ 2=D@ @FE=:?6D E92E 8C@F?5H2E6C =6G6=D 😕 ?62C3J AC:G2E6 H6==D H@F=5 564=:?6[ H:E9 E96 =6G6= 56A6?56?E @? E96:C =@42E:@?] uF== C64@G6CJ @7 8C@F?5H2E6C 😀 6DE:>2E65 E@ E2<6 FA E@ `d_ J62CD 27E6C E96 >:?6 4=@D6D[ E96 5@4F>6?E ?@E6D]k^Am
kAm%96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46D’ AC676CC65 2=E6C?2E:G6 :?4=F56D 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 !C:>2CJ p446DD #@25 2?5 E96 E2:=:?8D DE@C286 724:=:EJ[ 2D 56D4C:365 😕 $@FE9ba’D AC@A@D65 24E:@?] xE 2=D@ :?4=F56D 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 `bg\<:=@G@=E @G6C9625 EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6 2?5 E96 H2E6C 5:D492C86 >6E9@5D :?4=F565 😕 E96 >@5:7:65 24E:@?ik^Am
k9bmx?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 AF3=:4 4@>>6?EDk^9bm
kAmpD E96 4@>>6?E A6C:@5 C6>2:?D F?56CH2J[ E96 r@C@?25@ }2E:@?2= u@C6DE H:== 9@=5 EH@ AF3=:4 >66E:?8D E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 2?5 AC@G:56 :?7@C>2E:@?2= >2E6C:2=Dik^Am
kAm• %96 7:CDE >66E:?8 H:== E2<6 A=246 7C@> cib_ E@ eib_ A]>] @? |2J af 2E !2E28@?:2 &?:@? w:89 $49@@=[ a__ }2F8=6 pG6]k^Am
kAm• %96 D64@?5 >66E:?8 H:== E2<6 A=246 7C@> cib_ E@ eib_ A]>] @? |2J ag 2E }@82=6D w:89 $49@@=[ `h_d }] pA2496 q=G5]k^Am
kAm|6>36CD @7 E96 AF3=:4 92G6 F?E:= yF?6 ab E@ DF3>:E 4@>>6?ED C682C5:?8 E96 stx$] !6@A=6 42? DF3>:E AF3=:4 4@>>6?ED @?=:?6[ E9C@F89 6>2:= @C 3J >2:=]k^Am
kAm%@ DF3>:E 4@>>6?ED @?=:?6[ C6D:56?ED 42? G:D:E E96 7@==@H:?8 =:?< E@ 2446DD 2 !F3=:4 r@>>6?E u@C>[ H9:49 H:== 4=@D6 2E >:5?:89E @? yF?6 abi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^35CI6aICQm9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^35CI6aICk^2m]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 =@@<:?8 E@ DF3>:E 4@>>6?ED 3J 6>2:= D9@F=5 255C6DD k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iD>]7D]Cb4?7?6A2oFD52]8@GQmD>]7D]Cb4?7?6A2oFD52]8@Gk^2m 2?5 >2<6 DFC6 E96 DF3;64E =:?6 C625D[ U=5BF@jw6C>@D2 rC:E:42= |:?6C2=D !C@;64E]UC5BF@j %96 286?4J 2D:E 2EE249>6?ED 😕 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C>2E[ DF49 2D A57[ A=2:? E6IE[ C:49 E6IE 7@C>2E[ @C (@C5]k^Am
kAmp?5 E9@D6 =@@<:?8 E@ DF3>:E 4@>>6?ED 3J >2:= 42? 255C6DD E96:C 4@CC6DA@?56?46 E@ E96 7@==@H:?8ik^Am
kAmz6CH:? $] s6H36CCJk^Am
kAmu@C6DE $FA6CG:D@C[ r@C@?25@ }2E:@?2= u@C6DEk^Am
kAmp%%}i w6C>@D2 rC:E:42= |:?6C2=D !C@;64Ek^Am
kAmb__ (6DE r@?8C6DD $EC66Ek^Am
kAm%F4D@?[ p+ gdf_`k^Am
kAm%96 7:?2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E DE2E6>6?E 😀 6IA64E65 E@ 36 AF3=:D965 😕 u63CF2CJ a_ae[ 244@C5:?8 E@ :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> E96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46] %@ G:6H E96 7F== stx$ 2?5 @E96C DFAA@CE:?8 5@4F>6?ED G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^>H7I<2a9Qm9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^>H7I<2a9k^2m]k^Am