US Forest Service signs off on South32 Hermosa’s mine plan in Arizona
Hermosa hosts one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc deposits, a battery-grade manganese deposit and the emerging Peak copper discovery.
The U.S. Forest Service has approved South32 Hermosa's Final Mine Plan of Operation (MPO) for a mine in southern Arizona, allowing the company to construct infrastructure on public land. The decision follows a July 7th issuance of the Final Record of Decision, which deemed the project to have the smallest disturbance footprint and minimal environmental impact.
This federal approval covers key infrastructure like a high-voltage transmission line, secondary access road, tailings storage, and water discharge points. Arizona had already permitted the mine on private land. South32's Hermosa mine sits atop one of the world's largest undeveloped zinc deposits, a battery-grade manganese deposit, and a potential Peak copper discovery.
The project is the first to be added to, covered under, and completed under the federal FAST-41 permitting program. Construction is already half complete on private land, with underground zinc mining expected by late 2027 and first production from the processing plant in the first half of 2028. South32's president, Pat Risner, expressed gratitude for the approval, emphasizing the significance of the milestone.
Federal officials, including representatives from USDA, USDA, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joined South32 employees and local stakeholders to celebrate the achievement. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Alexander Vaden highlighted the project's role in advancing national security by reducing dependency on foreign sources of critical minerals.
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