Tucson, Ariz. (November 7, 2019)—Archaeology Southwest has submitted formal comments to Neil Bosworth, Superintendent of the Tonto National Forest. The comments responded to the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) released by the forest regarding a proposed copper mine and land exchange.
Archaeology Southwest’s commentary was prepared by John R. Welch, Director, Landscape and Site Preservation Program Director, and submitted by Welch and William H. Doelle, President and CEO.
Welch has issued the following statement about our key areas of concern:
“Archaeology Southwest’s review of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Resolution Copper mine and land exchange released this past August revealed a critical shortcoming. We found that the agency responsible for planning and assuring compliance for the project, Tonto National Forest, virtually ignored its responsibilities to involve the public in the consideration of archaeological sites and other historic properties affected by the proposed mine.
“Our formal comment on the DEIS states, in part, ‘the descriptions and analyses of the historic properties, the assessments of eligibility and effect, and the measures to resolve adverse effects contained in the DEIS are incomplete and fail to enable meaningful or sufficient public involvement in the Section 106 process prescribed by the National Historic Preservation Act.'”
We will continue to provide updates on our concerns and Tonto National Forest’s response. The comments are available in their entirety here (opens as a PDF).
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About Archaeology Southwest
Archaeology Southwest is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, that explores and protects the places of our past across the American Southwest and Mexican Northwest. For three decades, Archaeology Southwest has fostered meaningful connections to the past and respectfully safeguarded its irreplaceable resources. Learn more at archaeologysouthwest.org.