TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Hudbay Minerals Inc. says its planned new open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona mountains near Tucson has cleared the final permitting step.
The Toronto-based company said Thursday the U.S. Forest Service approved the project’s operations plan and the Rosemont Mind is “now a fully permitted, shovel-ready copper project.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a key water permit for the mine on March 8.
Hudbay says the mine will eventually create 500 jobs at the mine after $1.9 billion in construction spending.
Environmentalists have opposed the project for years, contending it will damage water sources and scar the land, while Hudbay has said the project will include support for conservation, cultural and recreational projects.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.