TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) – The Copper World mining project in Santa Rita has faced a lot of support but also opposition from the beginning.

And Wednesday evening marks the first of two public air quality approval hearings that could determine the future of the project.

Among the strongest opponents to the project were activist groups such as Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).

The CBD’s main concerns about the project relate to the classification of the air permit.

“We have serious concerns that ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality) has not properly quantified the air pollution here and has incorrectly determined that the Copper World Mine is a Class II source of air pollution when it should actually be a Class I source,” says Jeremy Nichols, a leading CBD advocate.

The definition of Class II and I permits can be found here.

According to Nichols, the group believes that more regulations should apply to a project of this magnitude.

“With a Class I permit, there are more opportunities for public comment, there is the opportunity for a public hearing, and there is the opportunity to request EPA intervention if the permit is flawed and needs to be denied. We don’t have that opportunity or that avenue with a Class II permit,” Nichols says. “A Class II permit is subject only to state regulations. The state regulations are certainly good, but they are not as stringent as if you overlay a federal set of rules on top of them.”

In a statement to KGUN 9, Hudbay said: “Hudbay has full confidence in ADEQ’s rigorous review of our permit application. We recognize the importance of public participation in the permitting process and value constructive feedback from all stakeholders, including local communities, environmental groups and regulators.”

However, the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas group has also taken measures of its own, including an economic study to measure the impact Copper World could have on southern Arizona and Pima County.

“If the permits are not restrictive enough to protect the health of the people of Pima County, especially the people who live near the tailings and contaminated water, who will want to live there?” Peters says.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality told KGUN 9 that it is ultimately the agency that decides which permits are required for which projects.

“My technical team has looked at the permit application, reviewed the modeling, reviewed all the requirements and in our professional opinion, this is a Class II air quality permit. The opposing party will have the opportunity to ask questions and submit formal comments to ADEQ at the (today’s) meeting, to which we will then formally respond as to why we made this decision,” says Daniel Czecholinski, Chief of Air Quality at ADEQ.

Copper World has also recently received support from local politicians, including 19th District Representative Lupe Díaz.

“The type of jobs we’re talking about here are shaped by the fact that we’re in a time of recession and inflation and people are looking for work. And that will attract people from many different sectors,” Díaz said.

The next public meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10, at Corona Foothills Middle School, 16705 S. Houghton Road in Vail.

The public comment period runs until September 15.

For further details please visit the ADEQ website.

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