TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Environmental groups have announced a lawsuit aimed at overturning a key permit for a proposed open-pit copper mine in southern Arizona.
The Sierra Club and three other groups said Wednesday they filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a clean water permit issued for the Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson, saying it would threaten water resources and wildlife habitat.
Hudbay Minerals Inc. of Toronto announced last week that the mine had cleared the final step needed from the U.S. Forest Service.
The water permit the environmentalists are challenging was issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 8.
Hudbay says the mine will create 500 jobs after $1.9 billion in construction spending.
Environmentalists have opposed the project for years.
