Giffords and Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen also will tour proposed mine site
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will tour the site of the proposed Rosemont Mine on Saturday with a top official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The official, Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen, is coming to Arizona to get a first-hand view of the controversial open-pit mine that Augusta Resource Corporation wants to operate in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley.
As part of Jensen’s day-long visit, he also will attend two community meetings organized and hosted by Giffords. The meetings – in Elgin and Green Valley – are intended to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed mine.
Giffords and Jensen also will meet with ranchers attending the Empire Ranch Annual Roundup taking place near Sonoita.
Jensen has direct oversight of the U.S. Forest Service, the agency now analyzing the mine’s potential environmental impacts. He was invited to Arizona by Giffords and U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva.
In an Oct. 23 letter to Giffords, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack wrote that the purpose of Jensen’s visit is "to review the actions that the Forest Service has taken to date with respect to the proposed mine."
The Rosemont Mine – and the way the Forest Service has handled the proposal – has sparked considerable community opposition since it was announced in 2005. If it becomes operational, many fear it would cause irreparable damage to the area’s environment and quality of life.
Augusta, based in Vancouver, Canada, claims the mine will produce 221 million pounds of copper per year.
Speaking at the community meeting in Elgin will be Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Maynard, Morris Farr of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Nan Walden of the Rosemont Coalition and Wade Bunting of the Mountain Empire Action Alliance.
Speaking at the Green Valley meeting will be Chairman Ned Norris Jr. of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, Gayle Hartmann, president of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and Mike Carson, president of the Empire Fagan Coalition.
The mine site tour begins at 8 a.m. Media planning on participating in it should contact Rod Pace of Rosemont Copper at 520-445-7462. Media questions can be directed to Mark Kimble in the congresswoman’s office. He can be reached 520-400-7870.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and USDA Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen tour proposed Rosemont Mine site
WHEN: 8-9:45 a.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Singing Valley Ranch, 12700 E. Greaterville Road
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 10:15-11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Elgin Elementary School, 23 Elgin Road, Elgin
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords attends Empire Ranch Annual Roundup
WHEN: Noon-1 p.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Empire Ranch, off State Route 83, between mileposts 39 and 40, follow dirt road three miles to ranch
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 2:15-3:45 p.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Desert Hills Social Center, 2980 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley