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1 1 (March 24, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govelag0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congrsonal Research Servtie hnformingqth eg itv debale sincel 114 The Proposed Rosemont Copper Mine March 24, 2023 A preliminary mine plan of operation (MPO) was submitted to the Forest Service (FS) in 2007 for the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine (RCM), located partially within the Coronado National Forest near Tucson, Arizona (Figure 1). In May 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling in 2019 that vacated the FS's 2013 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), 2017 Record of Decision (ROD), and 2019 approval of the amended MPO. The vacated MPO would have disposed of mine tailings and waste rock on FS lands. Given the role copper plays in the U.S. economy and congressional interest in application of the federal mining laws, Members of Congress may be interested in the history of and challenges to proposed mining activities at the RCM. Copper Background Copper, recognized for its thermal and electrical conductivity, is commonly used in heating and cooling appliances, plumbing, and in electrical applications (e.g., wires and cables, windings for transformers, generators, and motors). An estimated 26 million metric tons of copper were produced globally in 2021. The United States in 2021 produced approximately 1.2 million metric tons of copper in the form of mined ore, and approximately 1.2 million metric tons from refining operations. Arizona produces about 70% of domestic copper. In 2021, the United States was estimated to be the fifth largest producer of copper ore and the fifth largest producer of refined copper. The United States consumed approximately 2 million metric tons of copper in 2021, including over 900,000 metric tons of copper imports. The Rosemont Copper Mine The RCM was a proposed open-pit copper mine, consisting of approximately 995 acres of private land, 75 acres of state-owned land, and 3,670 acres of mining claims on FS lands. The mine was originally expected to produce 550 million tons of ore and 1,288 million tons of waste rock during its 19-year operation. The initial RCM would have processed ore into copper (from oxide ore via solvent extraction and electrowinning) and copper concentrate (from sulfide ore) at facilities located at the mine. Additional byproducts would have included silver and molybdenum. Later modifications to the RCM increased the expected ore production and eliminated the planned processing of oxide ores. The RCM was expected to produce approximately 2.7 million metric tons of copper and 88,000 metric tons of molybdenum, and other mineral by-products. The proposed mine would have operated for approximately 25 years. The MPO proposed disposing of the waste rock and tailings on FS and private lands. The proposed mine would have directly disturbed over 5,600 acres; the waste rock and tailings areas would be reclaimed and revegetated, while the 955-acre pit would not be revegetated. Figure 1 indicates the location and layout of the proposed mine as considered by the FS (i.e., the Barrel Alternative). Figure 1. Location of the Proposed RCM ARIZONA / N / ML . Source: U.S. Forest Service (FS), Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Rosemont Copper Project: A Proposed Mining Operation Coronado National Forest Pima County, Arizona, Volume I, MB-R3-05-6, 2013, p. viii, at https://cdxapps.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/ public/action/eis/details?eisld=88299. Notes: The shown Barrel Alternative is the option that was selected for further review by the FS. Timeline of Recent RCM Events Copper mining has been occurring in this region of Arizona for over 100 years. The list of dates and actions below

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