“PATAGONIA, Ariz.—The U.S. Forest Service on March 5 announced it plans to soon…

“PATAGONIA, Ariz.—The U.S. Forest Service on March 5 announced it plans to soon approve the nation’s first critical minerals mine, South32’s Hermosa project, when it released the final environmental impact statement, which was permitted under a streamlined process. The federal government called it “a strategic investment in America’s energy future” that “directly supports U.S. energy and security needs.” But in Patagonia, Arizona, residents and environmentalists are preparing for the impacts the project will bring to a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, as the town, the nearby city of Nogales and Santa Cruz County inch closer to signing a community benefit agreement with the Australian mine company, South32, to mitigate and help address the impacts it is already bringing.” Excerpt From “Nation’s First Critical Minerals Mine Nears Approval in Biodiversity Hotspot” Inside Climate News https://ift.tt/a8h5XNk This material may be protected by copyright. https://ift.tt/a8h5XNk