LASC 195A-002 FALL 2011 ROSEMONT GO GO GO! WATER RESOURCES IN THE TUCSON BASIN University of Arizona — a class newsletter Special Points of Interest: Rosemont is essential to a green economy Rosemont will bring more jobs Rosemont will produce needed copper THE ASSIGNMENT In the Water Resources and water resources. in the Tucson Basin class The students used this at the University of Ari- information to write arti- zona, students spent the cles in favor of the mine semester looking at wa- and articles against the ter consumption in Ari- mine, focusing on how Caption describing picture or zona. The students were the mine will affect graphic. presented information groundwater in the area. on the Rosemont Copper Mine project. A repre- For more information sentative of Rosemont contact: [email protected] Inside this issue: Mine came to promote the construction of the copper mine. A local Ari- Marie Robillard 2 zona resident and retired professor also came to speak against the mine Amanda Miller 2 and how it will nega- tively affect residents Carli Ogle 3 Michelle Splaver 3 WHY ROSEMONT COPPER MINE SHOULD BE APPROVED Rebecca Boyce 3 The Rosemont Mine is a zona as a state and the essays, there is still more controversial topic that local city of Tucson. Top- to know about the Rose- Cutter Harrigan 4 has been debated ics about water use, mont Mine. throughout Arizona, but economy, environmental Keegan Baker 4 there are many benefits impacts, and more are that will come from this examined by the au- copper mine. These es- thors. Please keep in Breanna Tai 5 says will discuss the as- mind that even though several topics are dis- sets that the Rosemont Niki Iranmanesh 5 Mine will bring to Ari- cussed in the following Page 2 ROSEMONT GO GO GO! Rosemont Copper: Looking Towards a Brighter Future by Marie Robillard At a time when busi- produce a very valuable resource water saving technologies and nesses are struggling and the un- that is necessary to daily life1. Un- progressive conservation. Any employment rate has reached an fortunately, some still seek to pre- groundwater that is pumped out unfortunate high, why in the vent operation of this venture. will be recharged with water that world would anyone seek to pre- Perhaps one of the big- has already been purchased from vent a business venture that gest concerns regarding this opera- the Central Arizona Project3. In would create thousands of jobs? tion is the environmental impact of order to recognize the hydrologic Such are the obstacles for the operation. However, Rosemont issues of local residents, the com- company that seeks to begin op- already has plans in place to prac- pany has already offered to pro- eration of Rosemont Copper Mine tice aggressive reclamation and vide guaranteed protection of local near Tucson, Arizona. The pro- guarantee protection of native wells and has agreed to assist in posed project would have tremen- species4. Being in an arid environ- building a CAP pipeline to service dous economic benefits for the ment, water use is understandably residents of Green Valley, a nearby “Why in the world would southern Arizona community, another very important issue. Fully community. In summary, allowing anyone seek to prevent a including creation of more than aware of this concern, Rosemont Rosemont to begin operation business venture that would 2100 jobs over the course of op- has already guaranteed protection makes sense practically, economi- create thousands of jobs? eration, projected injection of $15 of local water sources. In compari- cally and environmentally. South- billion into the economy and gen- son to other mines, Rosemont ern Arizona simply can’t afford to eration of millions of dollars in tax operations would see a 50-60% pass on this opportunity for the revenue4. This is not to mention reduction in the amount of water community. the fact that the operation would used due to plans to incorporate Rosemont Copper: A Way to Save Arizona by Amanda Miller Rosemont Copper will produce up slight disadvantages. The environ- gram, stating that if their well dries to 73,100 jobs in Arizona, each job mental footprint that Rosemont up due to the mine then Rosemont earning $60,000 on average per will have is tiny compared to other will pay for them to get new water. year including benefits. It’s also mines, and Rosemont’s goal is to Dry stack tailing technology will beneficial because it will bring replace what they take and pro- also be used so that less water is $700 million per year to Arizona tect what is there. The water that needed. Much of the mine is also for at least 20 years based on sta- will be used will also be recycled in not visible to the public, which tistics. The mine will only cost the mine for cooling the machines, means that Southern Arizona will about $1 million to open, whereas to run the machines and to help continue to hold its natural beauty. other mines in the US cost at least sort the dirt from the copper. The Rosemont Copper is a good idea $3 million to open, which is amaz- excess soil will be placed on top of because many jobs will be brought ing for the size of Rosemont at the the rock layer surrounding the to Arizona and the environmental 5th largest Copper mine in the US. mine rather than the toxic mine impact that the mine will have is tailings. Rosemont will also offer a very small compared to most other The environmental impact that well protection program because mines in the world. Rosemont Copper will have is very they plan on using groundwater, small and the mine is well- so anyone within a certain area of designed, although there are some this mine will be offered this pro- Page 3 LA SC 195A -002 Why We Welcome the Copper Mine by Carli Ogle The Rosemont Copper mine can bring come of over 55,000 dollars. The mine will cutting net water use in half. The mine will many benefits to the nation’s copper market and generate 15 billion dollars over its lifetime use water sparingly to separate the copper the economy. By having the Rosemont Copper through tax revenue and purchasing necessary from the sulfide ore and oxide ore. Overall, mine, the United States can decrease its foreign materials to keep the mine running. By con- the Rosemont copper mine would not be dependency on copper and purchase it domesti- structing the Rosemont Copper mine, the constructed if it didn’t meet strict environ- cally. The demand for copper is rising, making the housing market will also benefit along with mental standards. Rosemont copper mine even more essential. This many local businesses. Rosemont Copper mine will mine is estimated to produce 7.7 billion pounds of The Rosemont Copper mine has a benefit people and businesses on a local copper, adding to Arizona’s leading copper produc- very low impact on the environment com- and national level. It benefits the economy tion in the United States. More importantly, this pared to other mines. It will have the smallest while taking into account environmental means that by producing large amounts of copper, footprint of all the other local mines and is concerns. In general, Rosemont Copper our local economies will benefit. designed to be energy efficient. The Rosemont mine is a good project to pursue and many Opening the Rosemont Copper mine will Copper mine will have very low water use. will benefit from it in the end. have huge impacts on the local economy. The mine Water will come from the Central Arizona will create 2100 jobs with an average yearly in- Project. This will recharge the groundwater, Don’t Mind a Mine by Michelle Splaver Establishing a new copper mine in the With an increase of population in water, Tucson would not be concerned of a Santa Rita Mountains would be beneficial to Tuc- Tucson the demand for copper will increase; if deprivation if this mine were to be built. son because of the increasing demand for the the city alone does not have mines to obtain There is no better option but to metal. Because copper is frequently used in the copper needed to accommodate the daily establish another copper mine here in Tuc- sources such as in houses, cars, and even coins, need, then there will not be enough produc- son. There are already water conservation opening another mine would allow for the con- tion copper products to satisfy those needs. plans in place, and a profusion of copper sumption rate of copper to stay steady. It is esti- Creating a mine would also have a positive would be produced to support the ongoing mated that in 2050, there will be a billion people in effect on the Tucson water situation. If the demand. Considering the Rosemont Copper the western world. Considering the fact that there mine were to be built, there is already two Mine would contribute 700 million dollars a are 450 pounds of copper in an average house in years worth of water supply stored for the year to America, it should be constructed. the United States, the amount of mined copper Tucson Basin. Rosemont Copper Mine would must increase. Copper is an essential constituent also import 105% of water that the mine in sustainable products that are rising throughout would require, leaving Tucson with a 5% net the developing world and in Arizona itself. gain of water. With the increase of demand in A Mine That Conserves Water by Rebecca Boyce The proposed Rosemont Copper Mine is a contro- million in local economic stimulus each year.