A 160-acre Arizona State Land Department parcel next to the Copper World facilities will be auctioned off by the state early next year, and we expect Hudbay will try to acquire it. The land will allow them to significantly increase their tailings piles (mine waste), which means they would be able to mine more. And as Pima County Supervisor Heinz pointed out, if they’re going to mine more…would their air quality permit still be valid?
We need mines, but we also need them to be responsibly planned — Copper World is not that.
What is the Copper World project?
This open-pit mine complex threatens the ecologically valuable land within the Santa Rita mountain range. The mine is expected to deplete groundwater, cause far-reaching water pollution from runoff, and cause dust pollution from trucks accessing the mine on dirt roads — all while destroying cultural resources and sacred lands to the Tohono O’odham as well as environmentally sensitive parts of our landscape.
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, one of our coalition members, leads the defense against the mine.
HOW TO HELP TODAY >>>
1. WRITE TO GOVERNOR HOBBS
We need YOU to send letters to Governor Hobbs TODAY. We are requesting that she instruct Arizona State Land Department Commissioner Robyn Sahid to reject the auction of this parcel. The auction isn’t until next year — but the sooner we can get it canceled, the better.
Email your comments to: engage@az.gov
Mail to:
ATTN: Katie Hobbs, Governor
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Sample text (or write your own):
Dear Governor Hobbs,
I respectfully request that you instruct State Land Commissioner Robyn Sahid to reject the auction of 160 acres of State Trust Land included in ASLD Application #53-122457.
The auction of this property is expected to benefit only one party — Hudbay’s proposed Copper World mining project. This project would use 70 billion gallons of groundwater, harm natural and cultural resources, and pose pollution and health risks to nearby residents, including in Corona del Tucson. It is strongly opposed by local communities and by local jurisdictions, including Pima County.
Commissioner Sahid has said that the sale would allow the company to move its dumped tailings away from homes in Corona de Tucson. However, Hudbay hasn’t formally agreed to do so. They are incentivized to use the acreage for additional tailings and can instead process up to an additional 41 million tons of ore, generating at least 91.8 million pounds of copper concentrate, valued at about $344 million in revenue for the Toronto-based company.
Please instruct State Land Commissioner Sahid to reject Copper World’s request to auction this land.
Pima County reaffirms opposition to Copper World
On October 21, 2025, the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to reaffirm their opposition to the proposed Copper World project. The Coalition joined our member group, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, to support the resolution.
“Pima County has been actively opposed to this project for nearly 20 years. And it means so much to have continuity in leadership that continues to do the right thing for our community, and our natural and cultural resources.” — Kate Hotten, Co-Executive Director of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
“Joe Joaquin, who worked with the Tohono O’odham culture office for many years, used to say, ‘we take care of the Earth, and the Earth takes care of us.’ This is definitely a case where we should take care of the earth and preserve the North Santa Ritas for their many long-term values, including beauty, wildlife, recreational opportunities, history and cultural values.” — Gayle Hartmann, Board member and past President of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas.
Thank you for taking the time to invest in local change and for standing up against more mining in the Santa Rita Mountains!
