Rosemont preliminary final EIS released to cooperating agencies for review

The Coronado National Forest today kicked off a 30-day comment period  for cooperating agencies on the Preliminary Administrative Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Rosemont Copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson.


Some of the materials are being made public on the Forest Service web site but they are not accepting further public comments at this time.    Check http://www.rosemonteis.us/ for announcements.

The cooperating agencies (AZGS is one, providing geologic expertise and reviews) have until July 31 to submit comments to the Forest Service.  

The Forest currently projects issuing a Record of Decision on Sept. 27, 2013 but cautions there are many other actions that are yet to be concluded, which may push back that date.

In preparation for today's briefing by forest officials, they noted that "The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed Rosemont Copper Project was released in October 2011, and the comment period for public and cooperating agency comments on the document was extended through January 2012. Since close of the public comment period, the Coronado National Forest (CNF) has been reviewing all comments received, conducting additional analysis and investigation, and refining the disclosure in the EIS to address public and cooperator concerns."