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Tribes, environmentalists battle copper mine in Arizona

Native American tribes and environmental groups are fighting plans for an open pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona, arguing that it could irreparably harm ancestral Indian lands and harm water supplies and wildlife habitat

In this photo taken Monday, May 13, 2019, a sign for Sonoita stands in the heart of southeastern Arizona where owners of wineries and other small tourism operations worry that the Rosemont Copper Mine proposed to be built in the nearby Santa Rita Mountains could harm their businesses with mining trucks rumbling down scenic state highway 83 that runs past the range. Native American tribes are seeking an injunction to halt work on the copper mine project they say will desecrate burial and other sacred sites in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona. (AP Photo/Anita Snow)
In this photo taken Monday, May 13, 2019, a sign for Sonoita stands in the heart of southeastern Arizona where owners of wineries and other small tourism operations worry that the Rosemont Copper Mine proposed to be built in the nearby Santa Rita Mountains could harm their businesses with mining trucks rumbling down scenic state highway 83 that runs past the range. Native American tribes are seeking an injunction to halt work on the copper mine project they say will desecrate burial and other sacred sites in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona. (AP Photo/Anita Snow)Read moreAnita Snow / AP
    by Anita Snow, The Associated Press
    Published 

SONOITA, Ariz. (AP) — Native American tribes and environmental groups are fighting to stop a Canadian firm from opening a copper mine in southeastern Arizona, arguing it could desecrate sacred, ancestral lands and pollute the air and water.

Opponents of the Rosemont Mine say they worry the project will dry up wells and waterways while ravaging habitat for endangered jaguar and other species. They have asked a federal judge in Tucson for an emergency order to prevent the project from proceeding while the merits of their lawsuits against the mining company are decided.

Preliminary work is set to start this summer.

Supporters say the project will immediately create 500 jobs and pour $16 billion into the local economy over 20 years.

The fight comes amid a larger battle across the West over using public lands for mining.