A Less-Publicized Native American Controversy

Everyone has heard about the pipeline protests at Standing Rock that have been going on for months, but the seven-year controversy regarding the Rosemont Copper Mine in southern Arizona has failed to receive strong national attention. In this circumstance, the United States' inefficient legal processes, bureaucracies, and contesting federal agencies have worked in the favor of the Tohono O'odham--well, at least have worked in their favor to delay the various permit approvals for the mining project. There is an incredible amount of resistance to the Rosemont Mine.

Mining operations in the past (both in Arizona and nationally) do not have a spotless track record for avoiding negative environmental impact. The Santa Rita Mountains are ecologically crucial. The proposed mining site will also impact around 100 sacred or burial sites, and this is a large cultural blow to the Tohono O'odham. 6,177 acres of tribal resource collection areas will be impacted. The Rosemont Copper Mine is an unethical project.

I am outraged, but frankly not surprised, that the Rosemont Copper Mining project has not been completely denied. Is the amount of jobs that the mining production could generate worth it when you consider the number of negative environmental and cultural ramifications? Why have the Forest Service and Rosemont Copper not acted as transparently as possible? I would think that a lack or delay in transparency would be detrimental to the permit process. This is certainly a frustrating situation to learn about.