GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Sen. John McCain says a huge open pit mine project proposed for the eastern slope of the Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson, can be good for the economy and unemployed Arizonans.
During an appearance in the southern Arizona community of Green Valley Friday, McCain said the state’s high unemployment rate presents a good argument for going forward with the Rosemont Copper mine.
Opponents of the mine worry about water supplies and the environmental impact.
McCain says environmentalists can’t “run and ruin this economy.”
He later added that it’s important to have the proper studies to determine the mine’s effect on the environment.
The Coronado National Forest is expected to release a draft environmental impact statement on the mine by the end of June.
Augusta Resource Corp. plans to begin producing copper, molybdenum, silver and gold from the site by 2011.
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Information from: Green Valley News, http://www.gvnews.com