SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Ariz. (KGUN) — Mining company South 32 It recently announced a $2.16 billion investment in the Southern Arizona Hermosa Project in Santa Cruz County.

The Southern Arizona Hermosa Project is located in the Patagonia Mountains within the Coronado National Forest. The mining project has the potential to produce both zinc and manganese, both of which are classified as critical minerals.

It became the first mining project added to the Federal Government's mining plan last year. FAST-41 Authorized ProgramCurrently, the U.S. Forest Service Public Comment Comments on the mining project. Comments can be submitted until Monday, June 10th.

Project president Pat Risner said the project was laying the foundation for the next generation of mining with its “small surface area, reduced water consumption and, in the long term, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.”

But there has been some backlash. Joni Steller, a Patagonia resident, said: Patagonia Regional Resources Alliance (PARA)a local group advocating for the highest environmental standards to be applied to the Hermosa project.

“They don't seem to be as responsible towards the environment and towards people as they claim to be,” Steller said.

The company's investment of more than $2 billion will be used to extract zinc, lead and silver deposits in an underground mine that South32 says could become one of the world's largest zinc producers.

Reisner explained the need for zinc: “Zinc becomes important as we begin the energy transition to renewable energy because renewable energy requires a lot more zinc than fossil fuel energy.”

At this stage, the company has not yet decided whether to continue mining manganese at the site. South Africa, Australia and China are currently the world's main producers, but Lisner said it was important to secure a domestic supply.

“The cathode of electric vehicle batteries contains manganese. The electric vehicle industry has begun to develop manufacturing facilities in the United States, which will provide a domestic source of manganese.”

Stella is concerned about the impact manganese mining could have on the local community.

“It's a neurotoxin very similar to lead, so we're asking for standards to be as strict as those for lead,” Steller said.

Mr Reisner said all materials and products removed from the site would be placed in sealed containers, baseline environmental and local health assessments would be conducted and a good neighbour relations agreement would be signed with the local community.

As for the good neighbor agreement, he said, “(The agreement) will document and bind our commitments regarding environmental monitoring beyond what is required in our permit.”

Steller said PARA's biggest concerns are water, wildlife and air.

“They're planning to drain the mountain, but I don't think it's right to drain all the water from the mountain,” Steller said. “I'm concerned that the springs will dry up and wildlife won't have access to water when they're migrating.”

Linzer said water use will be reduced by 75% to 90% compared to a conventional mine. “We've looked at all of the historical concerns about environmental issues at the mine and are intentionally working to address them, whether that be through new technology, cutting-edge developments or new approaches,” Linzer said. “Our new dry-stack tailings treatment facility, the first of its kind in the U.S., will not only reduce our surface footprint, but it will also reduce our water consumption.”

If both mining projects move forward, about 900 jobs could be created at South32. The company said about 80% of the operations workforce would be current Santa Cruz County residents.

South32 hosts public tours of the grounds on the first Friday of each month.