Rosemont Copper Mine Construction Halted in Arizona, an Industrial Info Market Brief

On July 31, U.S. District Judge James Soto ruled against Hudbay Minerals' $1.9 billion Rosemont copper mining project in Arizona. The ruling overturned the U.S. Forestry Service's 2017 approval of the project and brings to a halt the mine's construction. The initial construction stages were due to start this month. The decision could have national implications regarding the development of mining projects on federal lands.

The U.S. Corps of Engineers had approved the project in the first quarter of 2019 and Hudbay Minerals had been gearing up for construction ever since. Hudbay Minerals is appealing the decision. Litigation over the mine has exceeded a decade.

The project has been studied for more than 23 years. In 1996, previous owner Asarco initiated an environmental impact study (EIS) with the U.S. Forestry Service for the project. See map below for the location of the project.