Santa Cruz County approves early-action agreement with South 32 after residents press for independent testing

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on March 4 approved an early-action community investment agreement with the city of Nogales, the town of Patagonia and mining company South 32, authorizing county staff to finalize the agreement as presented by Deputy County Manager Chris Young.

County officials said the agreement funds 16 initial projects — including a protections roadmap, an independent emergency services audit, mobile health units, a childcare strategic plan, a nature-based restorative-economy capital investment plan and a housing strategy — intended to address immediate community needs while federal environmental reviews continue. "Protections remain central to all signatories," Chris Young said during a presentation laying out the projects and the process for developing scopes of work.

The agreement drew extensive public comment and board questions. Several residents urged the county to add independent environmental testing before proceeding with investments tied to the mine’s activities. "Can we please ask for a independent water assessment and an independent soil…