PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO MINING IN THE PATAGONIA MOUNTAINS, CANELO HILLS AND SAN RAFAEL VALLEY, ARIZONA

WHEREAS, The Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley, Arizona, are currently being considered for three possible open pit mines at Hardshell (Wildcat Silver), Four Metals (Black Pearl Minerals Consolidated) and Providencia (White Cloud Resources); and

WHEREAS, this property is located within and adjacent to the Coronado National Forest, and is in Santa Cruz County; and

WHEREAS, the lands being considered for mining are prime wildlife habitat, home to abundant game and non-game species such as deer, javelina, bats, mountain lion, coatimundi, quail, hawks, vultures, golden eagles, and songbirds; and

WHEREAS, this area is an important wildlife corridor and also has high open space values; and

WHEREAS, this area of the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley is used extensively by citizens of Santa Cruz County for recreation, including hiking, bird watching, camping, bicycling, horseback riding, hunting and off-road vehicle use, among other activities; and

WHEREAS, a mine is not compatible with recreational uses, natural values, and wildlife habitat; and

WHEREAS, copper mining in this area and elsewhere has historically been associated with air and water pollution (both surface and sub-surface), noise pollution and increased truck traffic; and

WHEREAS, mining on these lands will preclude future uses of these lands for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, the economic benefit of mining in this area does not outweigh the local citizens concern of the negative impacts to the adjacent Forest Service lands for a broad range of recreational activities and ecosystem health; and

WHEREAS, the public interest of Santa Cruz County and southern Arizona will thus, in sum, not be furthered by mining activities in this area.

NOW, THEREFORE, we the undersigned do hereby
1. Strongly oppose any mining activities in the Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley area.
2. Urge the U.S. Forest Service to reject any Mining Plan of Operations submitted by the companies in question for mining in these areas based on the issues described above.
3. Urge the U.S. Forest Service to withdraw permanently from mineral exploration and extraction all federal lands within the Coronado National Forest in eastern Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned