ARIZONA NEWS

Conservationists sue to stop mineral exploration in biologically diverse southern Arizona mountains

Jul 17, 2023, 6:00 PM

Mining quarry in Arizona...

Aerial view of Arizona Portland Cement division of the California Portland Cement Co. This limestone and shale quarry lies south of Twin Peaks Rd. in Avra Valley near the north end of the Tucson Mountains. Aerial support by LightHawk. (Photo by: Wild Horizon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

(Photo by: Wild Horizon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Conservation groups are suing to stop two mineral exploration projects in southern Arizona’s biologically diverse Patagonia Mountains.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Arizona Mining Reform Coalition and other groups want the U.S. District Court in Tucson to halt the exploration by Arizona Standard LLC, a subsidiary of a Canadian mineral exploration firm.

The lawsuit filed last month says the U.S. Forest Service didn’t adequately analyze how the exploration for copper and other minerals in the craggy mountains just north of the U.S.-Mexico border would have on public lands, water and endangered species like Mexican spotted owls, yellow billed cuckoos, jaguars and ocelots.

American Standard denied in a filing last week that the federal environmental guidelines had been violated.

The Patagonia Mountains are among southern Arizona’s dramatic and diverse “sky islands” that provide a key corridor for jaguars and ocelots roaming north from Mexico through a border wall gap to their range in the United States.

“Our priority must be to protect this critical habitat, which is the source of drinking water, clean air and the biological wealth that fuels our regional nature-based restorative economy,” said Carolyn Shafer, board president and mission coordinator of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Mugshot of Leonardo Santiago, who has been accused of first-degree murder in two Phoenix cases....

KTAR.com

Suspect in brutal murder/mutilation case implicated in another Phoenix homicide

One of the suspects in the murder and mutilation of a gay man at a Phoenix park has been implicated in a second homicide case, authorities said.

53 minutes ago

Cactus Park Precinct...

KTAR.com

Escaped prisoner caught by citizens at Phoenix gas station

An escaped prisoner was caught by citizens at a Phoenix gas station Thursday night shortly after he fled from a detention center.

3 hours ago

no motor vehicles sign near arizona border...

KTAR.com

Arizona’s Sinema says Lukeville Port of Entry closure ‘unacceptable,’ unsure when it will reopen

The Lukeville Port of Entry has been closed for five days with no end in sight, a situation Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says is "unacceptable."

6 hours ago

(Photo provided by Evolve Public Relations and Marketing.)...

KTAR.com

Google Fiber internet service is slated for Queen Creek in early 2025

Queen Creek is set to become the third community in Arizona to get Google Fiber - a high-speed internet service provided by Google.

6 hours ago

No freeway closures are scheduled in metro Phoenix the rest of the year. (ADOT Photo)...

KTAR.com

No weekend closures scheduled on metro Phoenix freeways through end of year

State transportation officials have no scheduled closures on metro Phoenix freeways through the end of the year.

6 hours ago

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall....

KTAR.com

Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall to retire after 10 years on the job

After 10 years on the job, Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall is planning to retire in January.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Follow @iamdamonallred...

Avoid a potential emergency and get your home’s heating and furnace safety checked

With the weather getting colder throughout the Valley, the best time to make sure your heating is all up to date is now. 

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

...

Desert Institute for Spine Care

Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) wants to help Valley residents address back, neck issues through awake spine surgery

As the weather begins to change, those with back issues can no longer rely on the dry heat to aid their backs. That's where DISC comes in.

Conservationists sue to stop mineral exploration in biologically diverse southern Arizona mountains