Their attempt was based on a separate ruling earlier this month preventing Hudbay from moving forward with the larger and neighbouring $2 billion Rosemont open pit copper project
In his 16-page verdict, District judge James A. Soto said that the proposed Rosemont and Copper World mines in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson were not legally related.
This means the tribes do not get the restraining order they requested and that the US Army Corps of Engineers does not have an obligation to include Copper World as part of a mandated review of Rosemont, which remains stalled on environmental grounds.
“Plaintiffs have gotten what they wanted: Rosemont no longer has the permit,” Soto wrote. “Consequently, there is no case or controversy left for the court to decide.”
Hudbay has decided to focus on the initial development of Copper World, which is on private land rather than federal land.
The company started early site works…
