*** UPDATE – March 30, 2022*** 

San Antonio Exploration Drilling Project 

On March 30, 2022, John Kraft, Acting District Ranger for Forest Service Sierra Vista Ranger District announced his decision to authorize the Plan of Operations for the San Antonia Exploratory Drilling Project. This project approval was granted to IC Exploration, the US subsidiary of Barksdale, a Canadian exploratory mining company.

To eliminate the potential for direct noise-related impacts to the yellow-billed cuckoo, Forest Service has directed that IC Exploratin conduct all aspects of the proposed Project outside of the cuckoo breeding season (May 15 - September 30). Drilling is expected to begin in October 2022.

District Ranger Kraft stated he found there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an Environment Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). As a result of Mr. Kraft's findings, the San Antonio Project meets the requirements for a "categorical exclusion" as defined in 36 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 218.23. Categorical exclusions cannot be appealed.

The San Antonio Drilling Project Decision Memo and related documents are available on the Forest Service web site by clicking on: San Antonio Decision Memo. 

South 32 

On January 17, 2022 South 32 announced completion of their pre-feasibility study with shaft development expected to commence in 2024 and the first mine production projected for 2027.

South 32 has received permits from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality allowing them to proceed with orebody dewatering including discharge of "treated" water into Harshaw Creek. Construction and installation of infrastructure to support additional orebody dewatering has begun.

Despite tremendous community opposition, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors granted South 32 a road easement enabling South 32 to finalize the design and development of the "Cross Creek Connector" road. The new road will connect Harshaw Road with State Route 82 without going through the Town of Patagonia but it will cut directly in front of the entrance to the Red Rock Acres residental neighborhood to the east of Patagonia. The Cross Creek Connector road will supposedly be a temporary road (10 years) until South 32 receives Forest Service approval for a road through the Flux Canyon area.

South 32 continues to expand their "broader regional land" package by staking new, unpatented mining claims on Forest Service land in the Patagonia Mountains and northern San Rafael Valley. 

Unisource Energy Services 

Unisource Engergy Services is developing plans for the new Rio Rico-Harshaw 138 Kilovolt (KV) Transmission Line project. The Rio-Rico Harshaw line will serve South 32's Hermosa project. The line will also improve service reliability for all electric customers in the San Rafael Valley, Washington Camp and Lochiel areas of southern Arizona. For more information, click here.