AZ Trail funded by mining company that seeks to build near trail

imported
#1

Recent and ongoing Arizona Trail construction on the northeastern side of the Santa Rita Mountains is being funded in part by Augusta Resource Corp., a Canadian mining company that is seeking to build an open-pit copper mine that would be located near the trail at the former Rosemont Ranch.

Read a (fairly objective) overview of the issue here:

To quote the article’s last paragraph:

The ultimate question remains “Should a mine be built here?” Answer that for yourself by visiting the area or educating yourself about the project at: ? www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/ ? www.rosemontcopper.com ? www.scenicsantaritas.org

How do fellow Arizona Trail users feel about this issue?

Is it hypocritical for the ATA to accept donations from an entity that in return seeks something of a pass for a project that would diminish the traditional qualities of this would-be National Scenic Trail?

Or is this simply a practical, realistic, 21st century approach to finally realizing the dream of a completed, border-to-border Arizona Trail?

To put it another way, should conservation - at any cost - be at the forefront when developing a long-distance recreation trail, or is it more important that the trail be completed in a timely manner so that more people can begin to make use of the resource?

blisterfree

#2

The issue of accepting funding or help from the mining company mentioning is not a simple black and white issue. I thru-hiked the area involved last season and did the roadwalk around the area instead of the bushwack. Having later reflagged most of the bushwack portion with Dave Hicks I wish I had been able to walk it instead of the dangerous, boring roadwalk I undertook instead. In the future hikers will be able to obtain water from 2 ranches that are owned by the minning company. This stretch of trail is without water and is difficult to do without a water resource along the way. I for one would rather work in parternership with the minning company that has been very trail friendly and willing to accomodate it as opposed to offering no involvement at all with it. I would rather work for a best situation for the trail rather than an adversarial relationship with what is likely to be a long time presence by the mining company.

Tom Conover

#3

I’m aware that there was opposition by BLM to formalizing and developing the original, de facto Arizona Trail corridor through the Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area, which was located well away from Rosemont and any would-be mine, was relatively pristine and quiet, and which offered water and shade as well. This was - and for the intrepid I suppose still is - a great, albeit trailless corridor, which I and many others have fond memories of.

Less clear is whether there was a comprehensive discussion among all parties about what the trail would ultimately look like by avoiding Empire-Cienega. Perhaps the only practical non E-C corridor is that which is currently being developed and which passes close to ground-zero for the open pit mine. But it would be interesting to know what impetus the mine has actually played here - whether Augusta and their financial pledge for trail construction became an incentive too good to pass up, in effect luring the trail into harm’s way before the ATA and BLM had truly exhausted all avenues of discussion over the Empire-Cienega routing.

I would have less concern over the current mine-intensive corridor if the AZ Trail were already in place and the mine issue had come up later on as an unfortunate matter that the ATA simply had to deal with. But having the mine issue play out concurrently with the AZ Trail’s final corridor development and construction makes one wonder if the powers that be are more interested in simply finishing the trail than in creating something genuinely worthy of National Scenic Trail status.

And yes, all impartiality now aside as it didn’t foster much discussion anyway, I’m vehemently against this mine, for reasons that go well beyond the Arizona Trail. Judging by the number of petition signatures to the Forest Service on the scenicsantaritas.com website, I’m hardly alone. It’s all too easy for the trail community to be misled by distorted notions of partnership and stewardship into thinking an open pit copper mine is no big deal, so long as the trail is good and personal hardship low. I would encourage Arizona Trail hikers and armchair hikers like to research the projected impacts of this mine on the area viewshed, air quality, existing backcountry quiet, water table, night sky, road and traffic patterns, and motorist/pedestrian safety. Then decide for yourself whether or not you’d enjoy hiking here.

blisterfree

#4

A Google Earth kml file showing the proposed mine and its proximity to the Arizona Trail is available for download here:

http://www.simblissity.net/rosemont-azt.htm

blisterfree

#5

Of course, a few prayer flags atop the Santa Ritas probably couldn’t hurt, in hopes that the Arizona Trail ultimately claims the best of both worlds - the financial backing to finish the trail, paid for by a mining company ultimately spurned by intense public opposition.

It could happen yet.

Handout for the Augusta Resource Share Holders Meeting, Vancouver, B.C., June 23, 2008:

http://www.scenicsantaritas.org/docs/AugustaAGMHandout062308.pdf

blisterfree

#6

Brett–

It’d probably be best to go to the source (Dave Hicks, methinks), but my understanding is that plans for Empire Cienega alignments were abandoned mostly because the BLM was dragging its feet and it seemed like it would be many years before tools could start moving dirt around. It didn’t have anything to do with money from the mine coming in.

I don’t think ATA really needs the money to build the remaining piece. The Cienega Corridor project has built 30+ miles of trail with very little funding and mostly volunteer work. It’ll get done faster with the money, but it could have been done without.

I’m no authority on this, just a humble volunteer crew leader / trail layout guy for the Cienega Corridor. I also laid out much of the Las Colinas stuff.

Agree the mine would suck.

Krein

#7

Thanks, Scott. You mean posting on here isn’t the same thing as going to the source? In this case, I mean.

But I won’t get started about the AZT and its ongoing and entirely solveable PR woes.

blisterfree