The first hearing on HR2944 aimed at the Rosemont Copper mine, was held last Thursday by the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. [right, site of the proposed Rosemont Copper mine. Credit, Rosemont Copper]
The Green Valley News carried a summary of the testimony.
Thomas.gov summarizes the bill:
Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act of 2009 - Withdraws federal lands and interests located in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, as well as all federally owned subsurface interests under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in lands in Pima County, from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, and the mineral materials laws.
Withdraws all federally owned interests in BLM lands in Pima County from entry, location, or patent under the general mining laws.
No amendments have been offered to address concerns that the bill would prevent anyone from using the national forests in the two counties for any reason, and the prohibition against renewable energy (ie geothermal). The bill is sponsored by represenatatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords.
The testimonies are not posted by the Committee, but I did find the statement from Morris Farr, VP of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas posted elsewhere.
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