November 26, 2008 "Working Group" Halted

“WORKING GROUP” HALTED
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED ROSEMONT COOPER PROJECT
REMAINS ON SCHEDULE FOREST SERVICE CONSIDERS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

TUCSON, ARIZONA ( November 26, 2008) – Coronado National Forest officials were notified by the U.S Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution of their decision to halt formation of  a public “working group” to participate in an independent review of the environmental analysis for the proposed Rosemont mine. 

The U.S. Institute decision will not affect the Forest Service schedule to complete the legally mandated Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed mine, currently estimated for July 2010, nor will the decision affect other forms of public involvement already planned.

The working group concept, first proposed to the Forest Service by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and agreed to by Forest Supervisor Jeanine Derby in March 2008, would have brought together people representing the spectrum of public opinion to review the work of government specialists developing the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed mine.

“It was an innovative, ambitious idea,” said Deputy Forest Supervisor Reta Laford. “The U.S Institute’s professional judgment that the working group is not feasible for this particular project means we’ll continue assessing other opportunities to maintain public involvement.”

Since March, 2008, the Forest Service has conducted nine public meetings and received over 11,000 comments about the proposed Rosemont Copper Project in the Santa Rita Mountains approximately thirty miles southeast of Tucson.

The next public comment period will collect input about the draft Environmental Impact Statement, which is planned for publication in the fall of 2009.  The Forest Service has already announced plans to extend this legally required 45-day comment period to 90 days to ensure the public will have adequate time to review the document.  Public hearings will also be held at that time.

For more information about the Rosemont Copper Project Environmental Impact Statement, the public is invited to visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/rosemont or call 520-388-8300.