During a recent government meeting, significant concerns were raised regarding the environmental impact of a proposed manganese processing facility linked to Cell 32. Community members expressed urgent questions about the facility's location, groundwater depletion, and air quality implications.

Participants sought clarification on whether the processing would occur on-site at the mine or at an alternative location, such as Santa Cruz County. This inquiry was underscored by alarming reports from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADR), indicating a 50% decline in groundwater levels in Santa Cruz County over the past 30 years. Attendees voiced apprehension that manganese processing could exacerbate this critical water shortage.

Further concerns were directed at the facility's water usage, particularly whether it would utilize water from the aquifer during dewatering processes. Questions arose about the anticipated additional groundwater loss beyond evaporation from discharged water, highlighting the community's focus on sustainable water management.

Air quality was another pressing issue, with participants noting that current air quality modeling by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADQ) did not account for the potential impacts of a processing facility. Attendees demanded clarity on the permitting process for any project changes, including copper exploration and processing, and whether these changes would necessitate new environmental impact studies and public comment periods.

The meeting also emphasized the ecological significance of the region, with biologists identifying the sky islands as one of the five most biodiverse areas globally, home to numerous endangered species. Community members expressed strong opposition to any project that could threaten this biodiversity in the name of green energy, calling for more comprehensive studies to address the cumulative effects of the extractive industry in the area.

As the discussions unfolded, the community's call for transparency and thorough environmental assessments underscored the need for responsible management of natural resources in the face of industrial development.