Southern Arizona lawmakers say “no action” alternative should be an option
WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva are urging the Secretary of Agriculture to review the federal government’s ability to stop a controversial open pit copper mine from using public land south of Tucson.
In a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack, the Arizona lawmakers say the U.S. Forest Service incorrectly maintains that federal law prevents it from rejecting an attempt by Augusta Resources Corp. to use more than 3,600 acres of national forest for its proposed Rosemont Mine.
Giffords and Grijalva tell Vilsack that the Forest Service refusal to consider what is known as the “no action” alternative is based on a narrow interpretation of the law.
They cite two laws to refute the Forest Service position: One from 1897 gives the agency authority to regulate mining and preserve forests from destruction, while another from 1976 says the secretary can “take any action necessary” to halt the degradation of public lands. Giffords and Grijalva also note that the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 allows federal agencies to reject Augusta’s mine plan of operation.
“The proposed Rosemont Mine would have far reaching negative impacts on the forest and surrounding areas,” the lawmakers write. “We believe the Forest Service is ill advised to take the ‘no action’ alternative off the table before it has completed a comprehensive and robust examination of this alternative.”
Giffords and Grijalva ask Vilsack to review the Forest Service position. Click here to read the letter.