Critical minerals versus Mother Nature: Digging into the future of an upcoming Arizona mine

Officials promise safety with a southern Arizona mine that is on track to start production in 2027, while community health and environmental advocates raise concerns. The mine is permitted to pump and treat up to 7,000 acre-feet of water annually, then release most of that water back into local streams. However, the mine’s Plan of Operations said their consumptive water use will be 933 acre-feet a year, enough to supply roughly 2,800 homes.