Teaching Newcomers How to Live Sustainably in the Desert webinar, 7pm Aug. 31

Dan advising new homeowner on gutters

Join Sustainable Tucson's Water Committee for the August meeting when sustainability realtor Alicia Mujica will present: Teaching Newcomers How to Live Sustainably in the Desert.

Meeting recording here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_DyYNAgvac

Alicia will share how she is leveraging her skills as a Sustainable Realtor to educate newcomers to Tucson about acclimating to the desert and adapting to a rewarding desert lifestyle. This includes working with the Water Committee on the Desert Lifestyle Tucson website and helping to develop curriculum for continuing education units (CEUs).

She will also share a recent home purchase in which she represented buyers purchasing a home built in 1959.The experience became an opportunity to rethink traditional approaches to drainage and water management. Lending requirements called for regrading and new rain gutters, but after a tour of the home, Dan was able to identify more sustainable solutions. The way forward included strategic water basin placement and rainwater harvesting, saving the buyers time and money while helping them gain confidence in practices that conserve water and protect their investment. Alicia will be using this example for an article on the new Desert Lifestyle Tucson website.

Alicia: As a Tucson resident for over 20 years, I’m passionate about this community and the unique lifestyle it offers. My love for the Sonoran Desert grows deeper every year, and I never tire of its beauty. My heart soars during monsoon season, when the desert comes alive with the scent of creosote, and again in spring, when the wildflowers bloom. I find that same connection with each hike through Sabino Canyon, Saguaro National Park, or my favorite little neighborhood loop, Linda Vista. If I time it just right after a good rain, I might even catch the Santa Cruz River flowing, which grounds me in so much hope and joy.

I care deeply about Tucson’s history, culture, and preservation, and I want to see our city grow in a way that protects its natural beauty and honors the heritage that makes it so special. We cannot do that without collectively considering what it takes to sustain our environment for future generations, correct past mistakes, and reduce our reliance on unsustainable water and energy resources.

Alicia's Bio I’ve been a licensed real estate agent for over seven years, and my journey into this career started after I sold my first townhouse and purchased a new home. This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming, process of buying and selling a home. I believe in the power of home ownership as a tool for financial security. For many, owning a home is one of the most impactful investments they’ll ever make, and I feel incredibly fortunate to help clients navigate this important milestone. My goal is to make the process as smooth and rewarding as possible by providing expert guidance, personalized advice, and unwavering support every step of the way. I offer my services and specialize as a Sustainable Realtor seeking solutions that will empower a client to decide their path forward.

Also, don't forget to mark your calendars for our September 28th meeting when Catlow Shipek, Senior Program Director with Watershed Management Group, will present his most recent hydrolocal data model. Catlow will demonstrate how Tucsonans can thrive with the water we have available, even with cutbacks in Colorado River Water. The Water Committee meets the last Monday of every month at 7pm. To receive announcements of upcoming meetings, email: Jana@sustainabletucson.org

Looking Back: A Year of Community Building

While gathering pictures for our annual newsletter, I was reminded of the many blessings we shared this past year. During these challenging times, I've learned that it's more important than ever to embrace the good things in life. For me that includes family, community, and using my talents to share the joys of sustainable living. 

One of our main priorities this year was building community by working with our neighborhood association. This year we enjoyed some nice gatherings and worked on several projects. We adopted Pinecrest Park and used the money from our neighborhood yard sale to install a Little Free Library there.  Local artist (and neighbor) Becca donated her time to paint fun animals on it. The Desert Sky Community School family came out for our ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

One of my favorite gatherings was our "Stories of Pinecrest" breakfast in the park. Inspired by tales I had heard from some long time residents, I ventured out into the neighborhood to gather more. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of our neighbors. And what wonderful stories! Back in the day there was a ranch in the neighborhood. As a child, Noni rode her horse where the park is now. There was even a speakeasy that rumor has it the outlaw John Dillinger visited! Ann shared how she left home at 14 to join the women's baseball team that inspired the movie "A League of Their Own!"  

John told how he played in the wash as a child. He even showed us his leather sling shot. Now he gives back by being a part of the wash cleanup team. 

Which brings me to our neighborhood beautification projects. Dan has led the wash cleanup team that meets the last Sunday of every month. This year we joined in a multi-neighborhood Arcadia Wash cleanup with Avondale and Swan way neighborhoods.  After some campers lent a hand with the cleanups, I made an effort to start a relationship with them.

We found ways to share our love of sustainability too. At our potlucks, neighbors bring their own coffee mugs and tableware to limit trash. When Environmental Services joined us for a presentation about their programs, we invited Stephen Menke from Sustainable Tucson to talk about Zero Waste. 

Stephen talking about the 6 R's of sustainability. I shared the Zero Waste kit too. 

Wow! Looks like we did a lot with the neighborhood this year!  We've found that some of the most impactful work we can do is with our own community. 

I have to admit that sometimes I get discouraged because of the pushback from the current administration. But I've found that taking action really helps, along with building supportive relationships.  That's why I hosted a get-together with a few like-minded ladies (that could fit in our little TV room.) We watched the recording of the play reading of "ReGeneration: The Tucson Story," visited, ate yummy food and toured the rainwater harvesting features in my yard. (Any get-together is an opportunity to share my basin! #lovemyrainbasin )  I plan to host more of these parties in the coming year. 

We always enjoy hanging out with other environmental advocates at Environmental Day at the Capitol and feeling a part of that community. Last year Sustainable Tucson's Water Committee shared the joys of rainwater harvesting and lobbied for better water policies with our state legislators. Wanna join us in February? 

I also found some common interests with new friends in Tombstone when I performed a historical reading of my favorite book, The Forgotten Botanist: Sara Plummer Lemmon's Life of Science & Art (that Mt. Lemmon was named after!) During the introduction I simply dropped in a line about how I loved the native plants in our rainwater harvesting basins. At the campfire that night, people asked me about it. Sometimes it only takes a few words to start the conversation. 

While we fight the good fight for our country and the planet, let's take time in the new year to embrace the good things in life - like building a community, spending time with family and friends and sharing our gifts.  

Wishing ya'll a rewarding New Year! 

Love, Jana and Dan 

Feel free to host your own movie party. You can find the recording of "ReGeneration: The Tucson Story" on Youtube. 

Celebrating new traditions...

https://www.sustainablelivingtucson.com/2022/07/celebrating-new-traditions-that.html

Time to Move Tucson!

All this downtime has given Tucsonans a chance to reflect on how we do things here. When the city shut down, people drove less and air pollution decreased! As soon as the state weakened the stay at home recommendations, air quality got worse. This is a teachable moment!

How can we expand travel options so more people can walk, bike, or take public transit? How do we improve reliability of travel time, particularly as we grow? Do you have an idea about how to make our streets safer? Do you have suggestions for areas that could use tree-lined sidewalks, biking trails, shaded bus stops, and traffic signs?

Your help is needed in shaping the City’s vision and action plan to answer these questions and more. Together, we can create the city we want to live in.

The City of Tucson is preparing a city-wide transportation master plan that will create a mobility blueprint for the City’s future in a rapidly-changing world. The plan will be innovative, creative, and inclusive. By working together, we can commit ourselves to create a mobility future that works for all of us.

The outcome of the planning process will be a document that informs the Mayor and Council’s decisions in the very near future about policy, resources, and how welcoming and livable our city is to visitors, residents, and business owners.

The City of Tucson has been hosting town meetings to introduce their mapping app. This app is so cool. You can click on specific areas and add your own suggestions about what should be included there (like sidewalks, biking trails, green infrastructure, shaded bus stops, safer crosswalks, etc.)

Do you know of an area of town that needs any of these features? Do you have your own ideas? This is your chance to share them!

Jana bringing glass bottles to Ward 6 before the pandemic 

I personally ride the bus, so I see the need for more stops, later running times and more shade. Right now you can't get everywhere in Tucson. I've heard stories of people getting stranded because they didn't realize that the bus stopped running so early. Imagine being stranded on a cold night. If we are going to get more people to ride the bus instead of driving all over town in single-occupant vehicles, then we need to make it accessible and comfortable. I shared that opinion on the survey. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas too!

Here is a link to the website with the transportation survey and the interactive map app. 

https://movetucson.org/

Have fun!

#MoveTucson

Premiere of Music Video Parody: No! (That Isn't Recyclable)

Sustainable Tucson Movie Night and Premiere of Our Music Video Parody!  

At a recent Sustainable Tucson meeting, Sherri Ludlam (Environmental Scientist from the City of Tucson Department of Environmental and General Services) informed us that China would no longer be accepting all of our dirty recycling because of contamination. When Alex Kosmider from Sustainable Tucson's Zero Plastic Waste Team heard about the threat to our recycling program, she decided to educate Tucsonans on the proper way to recycle. She rewrote the lyrics of Meghan Trainor's "No" to include what NOT to recycle. Team Recycle was formed to create a fun music video parody.

Join Sustainable Tucson for a fun-filled "Movie Night" and the premiere of No! (That Isn't Recyclable). Our hosts David Fitzsimmons and the Recycling Fairy Nicole Johnson will lead the Q & A with the filmmakers. After the intermission party we will screen the powerful documentary Trashed with Jeremy Irons. Here's the cool part! It will be shown at The Screening Room - where we shot some of the video! So you can enjoy popcorn and drinks in special compostable glasses!

Recycling was never this fun...

• A demonstration table by Zero Waste Tucson
• A "Book Exchange." Bring a book you don't read anymore and take a book! (We especially love books on sustainability!) 
• Game: Stump our resident recycling expert! Bring a piece of trash to see if it can be recycled.

What: Sustainable Tucson Movie Night
When: Tuesday, August 13, at 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: The Screening Room, 127 E Congress St, Downtown. (Near the Ronstadt bus station.)
Price: Free (like all of Sustainable Tucson's monthly meetings) But feel free to show appreciation to our host - The Screening Room - by purchasing concessions or a drink at the bar.

Saving Recycling One Step at a Time (Updated April 24, 2020)

First dance practice for Recycling Video

At Sustainable Tucson's November meeting "Recycling and Beyond", Sherri Ludlam, Environmental Scientist in the Department of Environmental and General Services, informed us that China would no longer be accepting all of our dirty recycling because of the contamination. 

plastic bags caught in the rollers of the recycling machine

Contamination is all the trash that doesn't belong in recycling - including plastic bags that jam up the machines. That contamination is costing the company contracted to do our recycling truck loads of money. Tucsonans put everything from dirty diapers to dead cats to Saguaros in our recycling cans. Sherri reminded us that there are actually people who sort through all that gross trash. On behalf of those workers, she asked that we don't throw anything in the recycling can that we wouldn't want to find.

All that contamination is making cost it prohibitive to run our recycling program. So the city has decided to cut back our recycling pickups to twice a month and may raise our fees. Some municipalities, like Sierra Vista, have dropped their recycling programs all together!

Spurred on by the threat to our beloved recycling program, some of us formed a Zero Plastic Waste team. Our first step was drafting a blog. "Lessons from the Recycling Queen." Then we produced a music video parody of Megan Trainer's song, "No" - that teaches Tucsonans what NOT to recycle.  Alex Kosmider, of Zero Waste Tucson, rewrote the lyrics and recorded a practice tape:

Plastic bags? No
Crushed cans? no
That pizza box? no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go

In the trash it goes. 
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

UPDATE: Primary footage was shot on June 22-23, 2019. Thanks to Recyco Inc. and The Screening Room for the great locations! 

No! (That Isn't Recyclable) had a sold-out premiere at the Screening Room on August 13th..  It's now live on Sustainable Tucson's Youtube channel! 

Here's a peek at our rehearsal process...

We started by learning Alex's song...

Our costumer Kasey (on the right) gets familiar with the lyrics. 

Singing rehearsal

Each of the singers recorded their part on the audio track....

Katie Popiel, of Musical Mayhem fame, taught this group of mostly middle-aged women and mothers her choreography. You rock, Katie! 

Break time! Walking the talk. No plastic bottles here! 

Next stop our shoot at Recyclo! 

GO TEAM RECYCLE! 

Latest News:

In an effort to get the message out to more people, we are conducting a fun Dance Challenge! 

Our beloved choreographer Katie has put together a series of short dance lessons. The first one is super easy, and they get progressively harder.  

Dance lesson 1: Easy smeazy dance lesson with Katie!

Dance lesson 2.  You can do this! 

Dance lesson 3: Step up your game!

Dance lesson 4: For those of you who want a challenge!

DANCE CHALLENGE: Using your cell phone record yourself dancing with the Recycling Video and post it on social media!

Check out my 10 second video!

See! I just danced the easier moves from the first two lessons and posted them on my f.b. page and facebook stories. The post (below) inspired a spirited conversation about our recycling program.

Be sure to include a link to our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6es76JcCp5M

#recyclingdance #recyclingdancechallenge

Not a dancer? Not a problem! You can help out by sharing the video with your peeps on social media!

Or simply read up on Tucson's recycling rules and share!

Lessons from our Recycling Queen

Steve K Champions Plan to Use Glass that Would Have Ended Up in Our Landfills

Go Team Recycle!

Lessons from our Recycling Queen - UPDATED March 2022

NOTE:  Recycling Rules change often. If you are unsure, please, check Recycle Coach. 

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/es/recycle-coach

Click on What Goes Where, type in item and click on the blues search button. 

Here's how this blog and Sustainable Tucson's Zero Waste Committee got started: 

After the city's inaccurately named "Recycling 101" event turned out to be more of a budget meeting than a presentation on how to recycle, Sustainable Tucson hosted our own program, "Recycling and Beyond."

On our invitation,  Sherri Ludlam, Environmental Scientist in the Department of Environmental and General Services came to our program and gave us a deep dive into the rules of recycling.  Her.topic was "old and new challenges to Tucson's recycling program." One of the new challenges was that China wouldn't be accepting all of our dirty recycling anymore because of the contamination. Contamination is all the trash that doesn't belong in recycling - including plastic bags that jam up the machines. That same contamination is costing the company contracted to do our recycling truck loads of money. Our bad. Tucsonans put everything from dirty diapers to dead cats to Saguaros in our recycling cans. Sherri reminded us that there are actual people who sort through all that yucky trash. So don't throw in anything that you wouldn't want to find in the recycling can.

Present at both meetings was a bold young woman, Sharia Des Jardins, who gamely explained why you can't recycle freezer boxes. (See reason below). Besides doling out much needed explanations for the new recycling rules, Sharia was there to ensure that conversation covered more than just the profit margin for the recycling company. And Sustainable Tucson had it covered. After an enlightening presentation on the 6 R's  (Refuse Reduce Reuse Repair Recycle Rot) by Zero Waste Maven Alex Kosmider, we had a lively discussion that led to forming a "Zero Plastic Waste" working team.  We are already doing research to repeal the Arizona law prohibiting towns from banning plastic bags. Here is a video of our first meeting.

Since then, Sustainable Tucson's Zero Waste team produced a video called, "No, That Isn't Recyclable" and advocated against single-use plastic bags at the State Legislature. There are exciting new projects happening under committee lead Kevin Greene - including a new Repair Cafe! Find out more and how you can get involved here:

https://sustainabletucson.org/committees-working-groups/zero-plastic-waste-working-group/

Possible Zero plastics team project? 

 Of course it is still important to safeguard Tucson's recycling program by following the new rules. Toward that end,  I asked Sharia to clarify the recycling rules. I like to think of Sharia as our own "Recycling Queen." 

NOTE: Since this article was written the city now has a glass recycling program program where you can drop off clean glass bottles and jars to be crushed into sand for cement and sand bags. They have also started the Orange Bin Hard to Recycling program. You can place all the other plastics (even plastic bags and Styrofoam!) that weren't previously recyclable into an Orange Hefty bag and drop them off at the orange bins at various locations. 

Queen Sharia Des Jardins shares her own version of "Recycling 101"

I am the first to admit that the info put out by the city is confusing. They say that we can recycle plastic, cardboard, and paper. They show us pretty pictures on a nice blue background but there is much that they actually don’t say that would be helpful. The only way in which we will be able to fulfill our part in the aspects of proper recycling is to fully understand what is and isn’t good. And by that I don’t mean what is and isn’t good for their bottom line. I mean for the planet and for our future.

So, to begin with here are the basics:

Yes – plastics, bottles and containers with numbers 1-2.  Any bottles such as gallon milk jugs, water, soda, etc. should be lightly rinsed – preferably air dried, and the cap put back on before tossing in the bin. This goes for things such as laundry soap bottles too. Please don’t crush them either. 

Yes – aluminum cans from foods– rinse, leave labels on. Also, if you can don’t fully remove the lids. When using a can opener try to open it most of way but not fully so that the lid is still attached. The small, loose metal lids get lost at the sorting facility. 

Yes – soda cans – rinse, air dry. Please don’t crush it makes it harder for them to be sorted as they become smaller. 

Yes- paper – office paper, mailers, brochures, etc. They ask if it is small that you don’t recycle it. It just slips through the rollers at the sorting center. You can always put small slips in an envelope. Just don’t over stuff it or they will pull it off the line wondering what might be in it. No envelopes with plastic bubble on the inside. 

Yes- periodicals, phone books, etc. They are easy to sort and if they haven’t been ripped apart, they should be easy to recycle.

Yes – newspapers, paper bags – Most paper items are recyclable provided they don't contain grease, food residue or a wax coating. Things like glue, tape, staples and envelope windows are ok, but be sure to remove plastic wrappers.

Yes – corrugated cardboard – any of those Amazon or shipping boxes. Don’t worry about the tape unless it covers more than 50% of the box. Just remember to break them down and no need to cut them up in pieces. The bigger the better to fit through the machinery at the sorting facility. 

Yes – paperboard, molded fiberboard - cereal boxes, processed food boxes, egg cartons (not Styrofoam), etc. Again, break them down if you can. 

Yes – ½ gallon milk containers coated in wax, Gable top cartons like the ones used for milk, cream and juice are accepted for recycling. Cartons must be empty and rinsed clean. Can be flattened to conserve space. Plastic caps are ok.

Yes - containers from broth, soups, drink boxes that are foil lined. 

NOT IN BLUE BINS: Glass – bottles, jars, etc. Lightly rinsed and air dried, no lids. (Save water by putting a little water in the bottle and shaking it..) But now you need to bring them to grass drop off spots located around town. 

Ridged plastics such as buckets, storage containers,  landrey baskets, igloo coolers, and chairs are picked up at bulky trash day. (We hope they sort through them and recycle them.) 

No – frozen food boxes! What! They accept waxy milk cartons, but not freezer boxes?! That’s right folks, you thought they were just a box but no, they are paperboard mixed with plastic so that when they are exposed to temperature fluctuations and wetness the boxes won’t collapse. 

No – greasy pizza boxes –  Anything that has come into contact with food or grease is a no go. Worst contamination you can do. If the lid is clean, you can rip it off and recycle it. 

Greasy pizza box - NO! 

No –  dirty bakery boxes, takeout boxes – these have also come into contact with food and grease. If there is a single spot on it it is contaminated. Please put these in the trash not the recycling bin. 

No – loose shredded paper. Do not place shredded paper loose in your recycling container. Place it securely inside a cardboard box, paper bag or clear plastic bag.

Local businesses or organizations accept paper for reuse or recycling. Visit the Tucson Clean & Beautiful Recycling Directory for more information.

Shredded paper in a see through bag so waste management workers can identify it.

No – plastic lids for containers such as yogurt and sour cream. Those lids are actually made of lower grade plastics than the containers themselves. They are also small and less likely to stay on through transport than tops that screw on. Once loose they will fall through the rollers at the sorting facility or gunk them up and cause shutdowns. 

No – plastic films that that are security covers - such as the lift off ones on yogurt containers. Those aren’t even recyclable at the shops. 

No – Styrofoam in recycling cans. The city has no way to recycle this. 

No – compostable containers. These may be from lettuce or other produce/foods. These are not made of plastics that are recyclable. They are made to break down in the landfill or your compost pit, but actually don't break down there either. They take a special composting practice.  

Compostable plastics aren't the same as traditional plastics. They require specialized composting facilities not available to most municipalities. Please place these materials in the trash.

No – plastic bags – absolutely not! They are the bane of recycling centers across the nation. If you must take them from the grocery stores, please return them to a participating store that will recycle them for you. They go to a completely different type of facility to be processed. 

Remember these guys...

What to take to your local grocery stores that accept recycling:  Plastic bags, deflated air pillows from shipping, Tyvek packaging, plastic shipping envelopes, etc. If the plastic had foods in it or has become dirty or sticky, please at least rinse and dry if not clean before recycling. You can contaminate a whole bin while the shop waits for it to be full enough to send off for processing. 

No – trash – this includes anything you know for sure won’t ever have another use. Things like used diapers, kitty litter, doggy doo, broken stuff. Furniture, strollers, etc. 

Please remember that when you put things in your recycling bin that aren’t recyclable someone has to pull those things out. If you wouldn’t want to touch them, please don’t make them do it either. Consider compassionate recycling!

Guest blogger Sharia Des Jardins

Sharia has been doing eco/green coaching professionally for the last 3 years. She managed an eco-friendly home and kitchen store in Portland for many years. While running the T-Rex Museum in Tucson - sustainability, ecology and recycling were part of every group tour for the 6 years she was there. She made sure that every staff member ended their tours with the inevitability of human extinction if we continue in the manner of which we are accustomed to treating the planet. She has been educating friends and family for the last 20 years about what they can do. Sharia also works part time at Jen’s Organic Home and Baby here in Tucson since her return to the city in April 2018 after over a decade of living in the Pacific Northwest.


Check our Sustainable Tucson's music video, No! (That Isn't Recyclable) here.  Consider sharing to increase your positive impact!

Download the city's Recycle Coach on your phone here. 

Sustainable Tucson's holiday party: "Celebrate Our Sustainable Future."

You are invited to Sustainable Tucson's holiday party.

Tuesday, December. 11, 6-8:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

St Mark's Presbyterian Church, 3809 E 3rd St. Geneva Room
(Parking on 3rd St. and 2nd St. 2nd St. lot is closer to the Geneva Rm.)

Share the bounty of the season at our holiday potluck. Non-alcoholic drinks provided by Sustainable Tucson. Save a dinosaur; bring your own flatware and glasses.

REASON TO CELEBRATE 

If you read the recent IPCC study on climate change, you might not think there is much to celebrate this holiday season. The idea that climate change is progressing faster than first predicted can be quite a jolt, even if you’re already working to fight it. But it could also be an opportunity to come together as a community to envision and create a better, more sustainable and resilient Tucson!

At this year's holiday party, Sustainable Tucson will be celebrating the possibilities by creating a festival atmosphere with street fair activities:

Design Your Dream Neighborhood: Create a walk-able, inviting neighborhood from a typical Tucson neighborhood map using blocks that represent elements of complete streets. (Model built by Changemaker High School students.)

Creating Our Future: Draw the ways we can create a sustainable future for Tucson by 2038 on panels we will join together into a paper quilt.

Community Tree: Add leaves with your ideas about what we can do as a community to make Tucson Sustainable by 2038.

Time Capsule: Place your note to the future in our time capsule to be opened in a year: What are your hopes for Tucson or what will you make happen in Tucson in the coming year?

"Tales of Future" storytelling stage: Local Comedian Jeremy Segal will host impromptu stories about pursuing your vision for a sustainable future and other fun environmental stories.

Come celebrate with us!

What's Up with the Proposed Rosemont Mine?

Hudbay receives all permits for Copper World project in Arizona - Jan. 2, 2025 

Hudbay wants tax credits to build copper leaching plant in Santa Ritas - Oct 14, 2023

Hudbay changes mining plans - June 12, 2022

Rosemont Mine wash decision reversed - June 8, 2022 

Appellate court blocks proposed Rosemont Mine south of Tucson - May 12, 2022

Hudbay intent on clearing acreage: Tries to duck suits by giving up permit - May 5, 2022 

Clearing begins for big mine in Santa Rita Mtns. - April 20, 2022

Rosemont mining company plans to begin site preparation work soon - KGUN 9, April 06, 2022

Army Corps suspends permit for Rosemont Mine
- Arizona Daily Star, August 27, 2019

Army Corps suspends Rosemont Clean Water Act permit - Tucson.com, August 26, 2019

Federal judge bars Rosemont Mine construction
- Arizona Daily Star, July 31, 2019

Judge blocks Arizona copper mine project in national forest
- Los Angeles Times, ASSOCIATED PRESS August 1, 2019

Judge won't reconsider his ruling stopping the Rosemont Mine - Arizona Daily Star, October 31, 2019

Federal judge again rules against Rosemont Mine - February 10, 2020

Hudbay fights order to stop grading at mine site near Tucson - February 12, 2023

U.S. District Judge James Soto heard oral arguments Tuesday on several cases related to the Rosemont Copper Mine, including a request by mine opponents for a preliminary injunction to halt construction until all other court cases challenging the mine are decided.

The main disagreement at the preliminary injunction hearing was whether the Army Corps of Engineers has the responsibility and authority to regulate downstream secondary and cumulative impacts from dredge and fill operations on the mine site.

Attorneys for tribes and environmental groups who oppose the mine argued that the agency has that authority. They argue that when the Army Corps of Engineers granted the mine's 404 permit under the Clean Water Act, it didn’t adequately analyze related impacts, including dewatering and polluting nearby water sources.

The attorney for the Army Corps of Engineers disputes that claim and says the Forest Service is the main regulatory agency for the mining project, and pointed to proposed mitigation for those impacts on Sonoita Creek.

Opponents also criticized Rosemont and the Army Corps of Engineers for insufficient public notice and financial guarantees on the mine project.

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition and the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter have filed suit against the Army Corps of Engineers over that 404 permit. In April, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to back the lawsuit.

The Tohono O'odham, Pascua Yaqui and Hopi tribes oppose the project over concerns it would damage ancestral homelands, and have filed a lawsuit challenging the Forest Service decision to approve the final environmental impact statement for the mine.

District Judge Jame Soto made his decision on the injunction on July 31, 2019.

Conservation Groups and Native American Tribes seeking injunction to stop Rosemont Copper Mine
KGUN 9, July 22, 2019

Let's keep up the momentum...

Hudbay Minerals will appeal federal court ruling stopping Rosemont Mine - Tony Davis Arizona Daily Star, August 2, 2019

Hudbay CEO looking at other Rosemont Mine options besides appealing - Arizona Daily Star , August 9, 2019

'Shocking,' 'blockbuster' Rosemont Mine ruling has national implications, experts say - Arizona Daily Star, August 10, 2019

Rosemont takes steps to get past ruling that blocks mine - Arizona Daily Star, October 27,2019


Proposed copper mine construction likely delayed until 2023 - 9 On Your Side

Rosemont Mine: Owners say they’ll resume work in 2023.  Predicts order to stop project will be overturned - November 13, 2019

US to appeal ruling that blocked Rosemont Mine -ARIZONA DAILY STAR, December 29. 2019

Latest Rosemont Mine ruling a partial victory for the jaguar in Arizona - Tucson.com, May 11, 2020

What can we do?

Please, write a letter to the editor telling how the Rosemont mine will personally impact you, your business or your family. Be sure to follow the guidelines and word count limit of the target publication (up to 150 words for the Arizona Daily Star.)

This is a good time to urge our Members of Congress to overturn the 1872 Mining Law (that got us into this situation by defining hard-rock mineral extraction as the “highest and best” use of most public lands, tying the hands of federal and local governments when U.S. or foreign mining interests want to mine our public lands). Also to codify the Waters of the US Rule into law (so any sitting president can't change it at will.)

In the following blog is the information I presented to Rep. Kirkpatrick:

https://desktopactivisttucson.blogspot.com/2019/01/my-water-presentation-to-rep-ann.html

UPDATE: Good news!

October 23, 2019. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The US House of Representatives today passed legislation to finally reform the Mining Law of 1872. The legislation provides the first update to the mining laws since the time of pick and shovel miners.
https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2019/10/sierra-club-praises-passage-hardrock-mining-reform

https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/the-press-pool/natural-resources-committee-passes-mining-reform-mining-pension-bills-01iUT-zxcEO2QFFwkiY4Hw/

https://naturalresources.house.gov/media/press-releases/chair-grijalva-sen-udall-introduce-hardrock-mining-reform-legislation-to-modernize-mining-royalties-address-taxpayer-funded-mine-cleanups

https://naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/HR__%20(Rep.%20Grijalva)%20Hardrock%20Leasing%20and%20Reclamation%20Act%20of%202019.pdf

Important information to help fight the Rosemont Mine can be found here: 

http://www.rosemontminetruth.com/

If you’ve been looking at the newspaper, you may have seen an op-ed from the Tucson Chamber of Commerce saying that it is time for us all to stop “fighting” and for the Rosemont mine to start. That was followed by a number of letters to the editor that clearly explained why the mine is a really bad deal for southern Arizona.

At Sustainable Tucson's October 9th meeting, Gayle Hartmann, president of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, gave us an update on what is happening and what is likely to happen in the near future. It isn't a done deal. Several organizations including Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Tohono O'odham, Yaqui, and Hopi nations are suing the mine. They have an excellent case.

Filmmaker Frances Causey also screened her documentary about the Rosemont Mine:

“Ours Is The Land” is a short film that depicts in moving and powerful detail the spiritual, cultural, and physical connection of the Tohono O’odham people of Arizona to Ce:wi Duag or the Santa Rita Mountains which are imperiled by the proposed creation of the mile-wide, half-mile deep Rosemont open pit copper mine. Desecrating this revered area with a mine would fundamentally alter the cultural landscape of the Tohono O’odham nation.

What I learned from this presentation:

The proposed mine will be built in one of the most biologically diverse regions of the country.  Ecotourism is a big boom to our 23 billion dollar tourist industry. Birdwatchers come from around the world to enjoy it. If the mine goes through, tourists will get a clear view of the huge, gaping pit as they drive down scenic highway 83. The economic impact of the 400 jobs that the mine will create won't begin to equal even 1 % of what ecotourism brings to our state economy. The mine is expected to be in operation for 20 years, but the devastation to the region's diverse ecosystem and our water supply will last for hundreds of years.  

Impact on our water supply: The mine will be nearly 1 mile deep -  below the level of the aquifer and the ranchers' wells. That same aquifer provides Tucson with 20% of our water.  And the toxic tailings will end up in our water. When the mine stops running it will become a huge toxic lake.  The Rosemont mine has been formed into a limited liability company - so they will leave it for tax payers to clean up. We have an antiquated law in Arizona, the 1872 Mining Law,  that allows mines to use as much water as they want.  All this during a drought that has drastically reduced the water level in Lake Mead where we get our CAP allotment.

The documentary "Cyanide Beach" tells how the directors of the Rosemont mine were also on the board of Augusta. They promised the people of Sardinia, Italy that they would clean up the poisonous tailings left from their open pit gold mine, but instead they left a toxic lake that threatens the town's water supply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPALNtyFmHY

According to Edward Manuel and Richard Elías: 

"For the greater community, including Tucson, Hudbay expects to remove up to 18,500 acre-feet of groundwater from the mine site before actual mining would begin. Based on an estimate of 108 gallons of water used per person per day, that’s enough water to serve the average person in Tucson for 56 million days! Remember, this is what must be pumped before Hudbay can even start mining. It does not include the long-term groundwater pumping needed from the wells near Sahuarita for the 20 years or more of mining operations. Nor does it include the loss of groundwater that will seep into, and then evaporate from, the mine pit, forming a toxic pit lake that will never be remediated.

The Rosemont Mine would involve massive earthworks, thereby impounding mine runoff in new places where water will seep into the ground. With Tucson downstream of the mine, is the Corps really confident that impounding water in the toxic pit lake and runoff on top of fractured rock will not lead to pollution of our community’s aquifers? There is no plan and no money for addressing dam breaks and pollution of streams that feed the Tucson water supply."

If writing Rep. Kirkpatrick you might want to thank her for: 

In the letter, Grijalva and Kirkpatrick, both Democrats, requested the Corps provide the Natural Resources Committee extensive documentation about the decision-making process being used by the Corps in determining whether to issue a Section 404 Clean Water Act permit for the mine. They also requested a meeting with the Corps prior to it publicly announcing its permitting decision.

Grijalva and Kirkpatrick met with Corps officials on Feb. 28. After the meeting, they issued a joint press release stating that the Corps is set to issue the crucial permit “without full consideration of the facts.”

“We both believe critical questions remain unanswered, including whether there has been adequate review under the National Environmental Policy Act,” states the joint letter signed by Grijalva and Kirkpatrick. “We’re going to pursue every avenue to ensure Rosemont is handled transparently, and we will be conducting additional oversight of this project.”

Congresswoman Kirkpatrick and Congressman Grijalva have joined forces to take the Army Corps to task for their decision. Raul chairs the Natural Resources Committee and Ann sits on the Appropriations sub-committee that determines the Army Corps appropriation. They have some leverage in those roles.

Grijalva steps up Rosemont probe following ex-forest supervisor's revelations - Arizona Daily Star. August 24, 2019

Forest supervisor says her boss ignored critical questions about Rosemont Mine - Arizona Daily Star, August 17, 2019

And the bad news is...

On August 30, 2019 Hudbay filed a motion with the court to reconsider parts of the ruling it issued in July. The motion describes areas where Hudbay believes the court inappropriately assumed the responsibility of the regulators and misinterpreted current mining law and regulations. The motion requests that the court amend the judgement and remand Rosemont’s Final Record of Decision to the Forest Service for additional investigation or explanation while leaving the FEIS in place during this time.

“It is our belief that the court went beyond its authority and jurisdiction, by conducting its own validity assessment of Rosemont’s unpatented mining claims.” said Andre Lauzon - Vice President, Arizona Business Unit. “Last week’s filing is our first step in the appeals process and correcting what we believe is a misinterpretation by the court of the current laws and regulations that govern mining activities on public lands throughout Arizona and the United States.”

US Army Corps of Engineers Record of Agreement: 2008-00816-MB, March 8, 2019

Rosemont Mine wins final permit needed for construction, March 9, 2019

Rosemont go-ahead casts aside EPA fears over water - March 10, 2019

Hudbay Will Appeal Unprecedented Rosemont Court Decision - GlobeNewswire, August 1, 2019

Rosemont Copper Co. asks judge to junk or amend ruling that stopped mine - Arizona Daily Star
September 4, 2019

LATEST UPDATES on the Rosemont Mine:

Hudbay changes mining plans - June 12, 2022

Rosemont Mine wash decision reversed - June 8, 2022 

Appellate court blocks proposed Rosemont Mine south of Tucson - May 12, 2022

Hudbay intent on clearing acreage: Tries to duck suits by giving up permit - May 5, 2022 

Clearing begins for big mine in Santa Rita Mtns. - April 20, 2022

Rosemont mining company plans to begin site preparation work soon - KGUN 9, Apr 06, 2022

Pending Supreme Court case could undercut regulation of Rosemont Mine - Feb 6, 2022 

Rosemont gets approval to store CAP water in basins south of Tucson, over city's objections - Jan 8, 2022

Band leader's foundation sells land to Rosemont - Oct. 27, 2021 

Hudbay tells state it will build three open pits on the Santa Ritas' west slope - Oct 3, 2021

Rosemont preps appeal of July ruling that blocked construction - Dec. 21, 2019

Pima County Board of Supervisors Memorandum on the Army Corps of Engineers approval of the Rosemont Copper Project.

Conservation Groups and Native American Tribes seeking injunction to stop Rosemont Copper Mine
KGUN 9, July 22, 2019

Grijalva and Barber vs. Tucson Chamber on the Rosemont EIS, Aug. 21, 2019

U.S. Reps. Raul Grijalva and Ron Barber wrote a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Viilsack, who oversees the Forest Service.

Tohono O'odham, Pascua Yaqui, Hopi Sue to Stop Rosemont Mine, April 12, 2018

Robert Vint: Environmental degradation caused by Rosemont would last forever, Oct 12, 2018

Manuel and Elías: Rosemont mine would bring devastation to Southern Arizona, Dec 9, 2018

Hudbay has failed to provide legal justification for Clean Water Act permit, Natural Resources Committee chairman says. March 5, 2019

Rosemont Mine gets final permit - Green Valley News, March 8, 2019

Army Corps confirms it intends to issue permit to allow Rosemont Mine construction, March 8, 2019

Limits on scope of analysis are key to the Army Corps' Rosemont Mine approval - Mar 19, 2019 Updated Mar 21, 2019

UPDATED: Rosemont mine project is a go; Rep. Kirkpatrick weighs in - Updated March 22, 2019

Gayle Hartmann: Rosemont mine would spell disaster for Southern Arizona - March 27, 2019

Lawsuit Filed to Protect Arizona's Waters, Wildlife From Proposed Rosemont Mine

Bill Wade: Why Interior Secretary nominee Bernhardt is bad for Arizona - March 30, 2019

Complaint filed 

Nature Conservancy, Hudbay square off over mine's impact on Sonoita Creek -Updated Apr 15, 2019

Pima County Board of Supervisors backs resolution opposing Rosemont Mine. April 17, 2019

In a land of wild cats and scarce water, a battle over mining heats up - National Geographic, April 25, 2019

Suit filed by Center for Biological Diversity, 09/25/17

Will This Court Case End the Mining Industry’s 150-Year Dominance of the West?
One legal loophole might change everything. Mother Jones,  08/02/2021

Hudbay ramps up spending to drill on the Santa Ritas' west slope - Aug 7, 2021

Western Santa Ritas an easier target for Hudbay - August 8, 2021

Some lesser known history on Arizona's mining tradition:

 https://raglooms-heirlooms.blogspot.com/2016/01/arizonas-real-mining-tradition.html

Another mining fight...

Ask Members of Congress to Co-sponsor the Save Oak Flat Act

Q&A with Hudbay: Major find could bring mining to western side of Santa Ritas - March 29, 2021

Study: Resolution Copper mine will use 250 billion gallons of water as drought ravages Arizona - Oct. 4, 2021

U.S. House committee moves to block Rio Tinto's Resolution mine - September 10, 2021

Another mine in the Sky Islands: 

Southern Arizona mine gets $166 million from feds to make battery ingredient - September 20, 2024

Some good news for the environment: 

US Forest Service resumes cleanup of abandoned mines - Jan. 13, 2023

https://arizonadailystar-az.newsmemory.com/?publink=040a12e0e_134aa05