Copper World’s proposed-aquifer protection permit too weak, Pima County says
Copper World's proposed-aquifer protection permit too weak, Pima County says Elko Daily Free Press
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Arizona County Officials Call for Stronger Aquifer-Protection Requirements for Copper World Mine
Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona needs to strengthen aquifer-protection requirements for the massive proposed Copper World mine to guard against groundwater pollution beneath it, Pima County officials say.
Less Protection for Aquifer Compared to Rosemont Mine
The county officials say the Copper World proposal offers less protection for the aquifer than did the Rosemont Mine earlier proposed at the Santa Rita Mountains site southeast of Tucson.
Concerns Raised by County Officials
- Use of water to convey tailings in a slurry pipeline
- Operation of an unlined tailings facility
- Uncovered waste rock dumps at closure
- Inadequate monitoring systems
- Proximity to municipal water supplies and rural domestic wells
County Officials Demand Greater Protection
“Local communities deserve greater protection from pollution than is reflected in the draft permit conditions as currently written,” county officials wrote to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
Hudbay’s Response
Hudbay Minerals Inc., the mining company behind the Copper World project, claims that its project meets all industry standards and will comply with all environmental laws. The company also asserts that its tailing seepage will meet drinking water standards.
Community’s Water Supply
County officials want ADEQ to add tougher permit conditions, design requirements, and review procedures to better protect the aquifer.
Discharges from 16 Facilities
The ADEQ permit would regulate discharges from 16 Copper World facilities, including open pits, mine tailings disposal areas, waste rock storage facilities, and stormwater ponds.
Key Concerns and Responses
- No tailings liner: County officials argue that tailings storage facilities should be lined to prevent seepage into the aquifer. Hudbay claims that the ground’s geology and underdrains will capture seepage.
- Stormwater pond capacity: County officials question the capacity of the mine’s main stormwater pond to handle runoff from a 100-year storm. Hudbay asserts that the pond’s capacity is determined through a complex water balance analysis.
- “Hydraulic sink”: County officials argue that the large East Pit should be regulated as a discharging facility. Hudbay maintains that the pit will act as a hydraulic sink and not discharge pollutants into the aquifer.
- Timing: County officials claim that the permit is premature because Hudbay has not obtained federal permits for tailings pipelines and roadway reconstruction. Hudbay states that the state permit is valid and does not require federal permits.
- Mine life: County officials assert that the project’s total life could stretch 44 years. Hudbay maintains that the current project is a 15-year plan and future phases are subject to further study and permits.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Addressed in the Article:
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Specific Targets:
- Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
- Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
Indicators:
- Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
- Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added
- Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
- Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement
- Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. | Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. | Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. | Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. | Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area |
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Fuente: elkodaily.com
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