Press Release – May 6, 2024

Above: A 7-minute video guide to public participation in Hermosa Critical Minerals Project Environmental Impact Statement, provided by Coronado National Forest.

On May 10, 2024, the Coronado National Forest will publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register, initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process and 30-day scoping period for the Hermosa Critical Minerals Project (Hermosa Project). The proposed EIS will evaluate and disclose the potential environmental effects of the South32 Hermosa Inc. Critical Minerals Exploration and Mine Plan of Operations submitted by the proponent, South32 Hermosa Inc.

During this scoping period, the Forest Service is requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant information or issues, studies, or analyses concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment. Your comments and concerns received during scoping will be considered during our effects analysis of the Hermosa Project and will help define the scope of the EIS.

Once the NOI is published, comments can be submitted electronically using the Public Comment Form at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=65668. The electronic form to submit comments will not be accessible prior to the publication of the NOI. Written comments may be submitted via mail or hand delivery (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and Memorial Day) to:

      Kerwin S. Dewberry, Forest Supervisor
      Coronado National Forest
      ATTN: Hermosa Critical Minerals Project
      300 West Congress Street
      Tucson, AZ, 85701

Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, including holidays.

The Forest Service is offering two public scoping meetings in an open-house format to provide an opportunity for public involvement and input on the proposed Hermosa Project. The public scoping open houses will be held as follows:

  • May 20, 2024, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Patagonia Union High School, 200 Naugle Ave, Patagonia, Arizona
  • May 21, 2024, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Hotel Americana, 639 N Grand Ave, Nogales, Arizona

​Follow the progress of the Hermosa Project on the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard at https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/south32-hermosa-critical-minerals-project.

The proposed Mine Plan of Operations and supporting documentation are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/coronado/?project=65668.