Records of the non-profit working to stop mining in the Santa
Rita and Patagonia Mountains including meeting agendas, minutes, press releases, news
stories, informational bulletins and event announcements.
Collection Number:
MS 719
Language:
Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
E-Mail: LBRY-askspcoll@email.arizona.edu
Biographical Note
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (SSSR) is a non-profit whose volunteers aim to "protect the
scenic, aesthetic, recreational, environmental and wildlife values of the Santa Rita
Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley" by educating
citizens, outreach programs, and protection of these areas from mining. The group was
founded in 1996 in Sonoita, Arizona and was originally called Swapwatch. Later in 1996
the group renamed itself Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. The group began by focusing on
stopping ASARCO/Forest Service land exchanges taking place in the Rosemont Valley of the
Santa Ritas. ASARCO aimed to open an open pit copper mine in the area that would,
according to SSSR and concerned citizens, devastate the area. The land exchange proposal
was quashed in 1998. Yet, in 2005, August Resource--a small Canadian mining
company--purchased the Rosemont Ranch with aims to establish a large open pit copper
mine. SSSR and concerned citizens worried that Augusta Resource would dump waste on the
Coronado National Forest lands, which are public lands set aside for preservation and
future generations. The group continues to monitor these areas and has goals to assure
no mining takes place in the area.
Scope and Content Note
The Save the Scenic Santa Ritas records are divided into four series based on material
type. Series I contains correspondence, which is arranged chronologically. There are
several additional folders of subject specific correspondence, which is arranged
alphabetically, including comments sheets sent to the US Forest Service and well water
questions.
Series II includes organization materials including petitions, bills and resolutions,
board meeting minutes, memorandums, miscellaneous materials, handouts, flyers, and some
memorabilia. Items are arranged alphabetically by item type.
Series III consists of press coverage on mining issues, the Santa Ritas and surrounding
areas, and SSSR activities. The series contains internet printouts, letters to the
editor, and newspaper clippings. These materials are arranged by item type. There were
also nine bound SSSR press binders. Materials in these binders was removed from binders
but is arranged as originally arranged by SSSR members and tail ends the other
materials.
Series IV includes articles and publications relating to mining and other SSSR related
research. Items in this series are arranged alphabetically by title of article,
publication, or presentation.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from theowner of
the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers,
employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he
or she is an owner of copyright.
This series contains correspondence, which is arranged chronologically. A majority
of the correspondence is from concerned citizens to the US Forest Service and
SSSR, although other types of correspondence between SSSR members exists as well.
There are several additional folders of subject specific correspondence, which is
arranged alphabetically, including comments sheets sent to the US Forest Service
and well water questions.
This series includes organization materials including petitions, bills and
resolutions, board meeting minutes, memorandums, miscellaneous materials,
handouts, flyers, and some memorabilia. Items are arranged alphabetically by item
type.
box
folder
2
7
Board meetings and agendas, 2008-2010
2
8
Endorsement forms, 2008
2
9
FICO meetings and media campaign, 2008
2
10
Handouts, 2006-2010
2
11
Media information, 2007-2008
2
12
Memorabilia, undated
2
13
Memorandums, 2006-2009
2
14
Miscellaneous, circa 2006-2010
2
15
Opposition to ASARCO, early opposition to Augusta, ca. 1996-2008
This series consists of press coverage on mining issues, the Santa Ritas and
surrounding areas, and SSSR activities. The series contains internet printouts,
letters to the editor, and newspaper clippings. These materials are arranged by
item type. There were also nine bound SSSR press binders. Materials in these
binders was removed from binders but is arranged as originally arranged by SSSR
members and tail ends the other materials.
box
folder
2
21
Internet printouts, circa 2006-2010
2
22
Internet printouts, circa 2006-2010
2
23
Internet printouts, circa 2006-2010
box
folder
3
1
Letters to the editor, 2007-2008
3
2
Newspaper clippings, circa 2006-2010
3
3
Newspaper clippings, circa 2006-2010
3
4
Press binders -- News, 2008-2009
3
5
Press binders -- SSSR 1, 2007-2009
3
6
Press binders -- SSSR 2, 2007-2009
3
7
Press binders -- SSSR 2, 2007-2009
3
8
Press binders -- SSSR 3, circa 2007-2009
3
9
Press binders -- SSSR 3, circa 2007-2009
3
10
Press binders -- SSSR 4, 2007-2010
3
11
Press binders -- SSSR 4, 2007-2010
3
12
Press binders -- SSSR 5, 2007-2010
3
13
Press binders -- SSSR 5, 2007-2010
3
14
Press binders -- SSSR 6, opposition, 2007-2010
box
folder
4
1
Press binders -- SSSR 6, press, 2007-2010
4
2
Press binders -- SSSR 7, 2007-2010
4
3
Press binders -- SSSR 7, 2007-2010
4
4
Press binders -- SSSR 8, research, circa 2007-2010
4
5
Press binders -- SSSR 9, research, circa 2007-2010
4
6
Press binders -- SSSR 9, research, circa 2007-2010
4
7
Press binders -- SSSR 9, research, circa 2007-2010
This series includes articles and publications relating to mining and other SSSR
related research. Items in this series are arranged alphabetically by title of
article, publication, or presentation.
box
folder
4
8
Arizona Horse Connection , April 2008
4
9
"Arizona's Metallic Resources Trends and Opportunities", 2008
4
10
"Biological Values of the Rosemont Valley", circa 2008
4
11
"Board Retreat and Strategic Plan", 2007
4
12
"Collaboration in NEPA", 2007
4
13
Comments on the Rosemont Project, 2008
4
14
Community Water Company Central Arizona Project Water Delivery
System, 2007
4
15
Earthquake Journal , Spring 2007, 2008
4
16
Groundwater Model of the Santa Rita Rosemont Project Site , 2008
4
17
High Country News magazine, February 18, 2008
4
18
Hydrogeology of the Santa Rita Rosemont Project Site , 2007
4
19
Hydrogeology of the Santa Rita Rosemont Project Site , 2008
4
20
"Introduction to Linear Programming", 2008
4
21
"The Last Straw: Water Use by Power Plants in the Arid
West", 2003
4
22
"Mining's Potential Economic Impacts in the Santa Rita and Patagonia
Mountains Region of Southeastern Arizona", 2007
4
23
Miscellaneous, circa 2007-2010
4
24
"National Environmental Policy Act Scoping Comments for the Proposed
Rosemont Copper Project Environmental Impact Statement", 2008
4
25
"Predicting Water Quality Problems at Hardrock Mines", 2006
4
26
"Preserving the Santa Rita Rosemont Ranch", 2004
4
27
Proposed Rosemont Copper Project, undated
4
28
Reclamation: Managing Water in the West , 2009
4
29
Rosemont Copper publications, 2007-2008
4
30
"Rosemont Mine: Bad for the Environment, Bad for the Economy, Bad for
Arizona", undated
