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Residents press Sahuarita council on water, truck and health risks tied to Copper World proposal
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the council to press for protections related to the Copper World (formerly Rosemont) mining proposal, raising claims about a 4 billion‑gallon annual water use, tens of thousands of truck trips, hydrogen sulfide risks, and asking the town to reconsider a water‑related license; town staff said no well or pipeline exists yet and cautioned against unilateral contract termination.
At the Town of Sahuarita council meeting, residents raised urgent concerns about the proposed Copper World mining project and the town’s existing license arrangements with the company identified in public comments as Hudbay Minerals (formerly associated with the Rosemont project).
Rick Corrado said the project could spill tailings and airborne dust along Santa Rita and Sahuarita roads, bring trucks past local schools, and cited chemical hazards including hydrogen sulfide. He asked the council to limit truck access, require monitoring of air and water, and adopt proactive regulations to protect the town. Corrado described a worst‑case scenario similar to the East Palestine, Ohio rail incident and asked who would pay for road repairs.
John Doherty, executive director of City of Scenic Santa Rita, told the council his organization had filed a public records request about a town encroachment license and urged the council to terminate the agreement. Doherty and other speakers asserted the mine could withdraw "4,000,000,000 gallons of water a year" and run "40,000" truck trips; they said state documents and historical Rosemont filings informed their concerns.
Town staff responded by noting the town had received a public records request and that providing roughly 13 years of documents will take time. Town counsel and staff said the licensee has paid annual license fees, and that, at present, no well has been drilled and no ADWR permit to drill exists; therefore, they said, recharge or replenishment reporting requirements tied to a well have not been triggered. Staff cautioned that unilaterally repudiating an agreement before obligations are triggered could expose the town to liability.
The council did not take immediate formal action on the license during the meeting. Speakers announced additional public meetings and asked the town to expedite records requests and explore mitigation and monitoring measures.
