Protecting what's downstream from the proposed Rosemont mine

If you attended the Envision Tucson Sustainable Festival, you might have seen this sign from Save The Scenic Santa Ritas. Look what's just downhill of the proposed mine... The Cienga Creek flows right into Tucson's aquifer - WHERE WE STORE OUR DRINKING WATER! The proposed mine will be built in one of the most biologically diverse regions of the country. Ecotourism is a big boom to our 23 billion dollar tourist industry. Birdwatchers come from around the world to enjoy it. If the mine goes through, tourists will get a clear view of the huge, gaping pit as they drive down scenic highway 83. The economic impact of the 400 jobs that the mine will create won't begin to equal even 1 % of what ecotourism brings to our state economy. The mine is expected to be in operation for 20 years, but the devastation to the region's diverse ecosystem and our water supply will last for hundreds of years.

Mark, a member of Sustainable Tucson's Environmental Advocates, sent me the Daily Star article: "Rosemont takes steps to get past ruling that blocks mine." That reminded me that we need to continue to stay on top of this issue.

Hudbay, the directors of the Rosemont Mine, are fighting to save their multi-million dollar project. And why wouldn't they? They don't have to pay any royalties to the people of Arizona and they can use as much of our water as they want. It's big profits for them.

What can we do?

1) Please, write a letter to the editor telling how the Rosemont mine will personally impact you, your business or your family. Be sure to follow the guidelines and word count limit of the target publication (up to 150 words for the Arizona Daily Star.)

2) This is a good time to urge our Members of Congress to overturn the 1872 Mining Law (that got us into this situation by defining hard-rock mineral extraction as the “highest and best” use of most public lands, tying the hands of federal and local governments when U.S. or foreign mining interests want to mine our public lands).

3) Ask your Members of Congress to codify the Waters of the US Rule into law (so any sitting president can't change it at will.)

The following blog has the information I presented to Rep. Kirkpatrick on that:
https://desktopactivisttucson.blogspot.com/2019/01/my-water-presentation-to-rep-ann.html


CONTACTING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Find out who your Representative is: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Contact info for Reps here: https://www.house.gov/representatives

Contact info for Members of Congress here: https://contactingcongress.org/

More Information on the Rosemont mine:

http://www.rosemontminetruth.com/

I've done my best to post up-to-date information on my blog:
http://www.sustainablelivingtucson.com/2018/10/find-out-whats-up-with-proposed.html