The Forest Service released a final environmental review Friday for a southern Arizona critical minerals mine, bringing the multibillion-dollar project that has been prioritized by both the Trump and Biden administrations a step closer to final approval.
The Hermosa Critical Minerals Project, in the Patagonia Mountains, would primarily produce manganese and zinc, which are identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as critical minerals. It is also expected to produce lead and silver. Already at work on private land, the developer, South32 Hermosa, applied to expand its development onto public land in Santa Cruz County. The company expects to start its first underground production in 2027.
Originally touted during the Biden administration for its potential to buoy the domestic supply chain for minerals used in electric vehicle batteries and other energy transition electronics, Hermosa became the first mine added in May 2023 to the federal FAST-41 initiative, which seeks to accelerate permitting for projects that benefit the country.
The Forest Service analysis released last week recommended approving the mine’s request to expand onto federal land and build a 226-acre mine-waste storage facility. It also includes a recommendation that a utility company build a 138-kilovolt transmission line on public land to bring power to the mine instead of using natural gas generators with gas delivered by heavy trucks for the mine’s life, which could last for 70 years.
