Final federal permitting decision unlocks Hermosa's next phase

The Final ROD completes the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process needed for Hermosa's development onto adjacent federal land.

Completing the NEPA process enables South32 to fully develop the project beyond its privately held land. This includes building the ancillary infrastructure Hermosa needs to progress, such as a primary access road, a secondary dry-stack tailings facility and connection to power.

Pat Risner, Hermosa President, said the review process had strengthened the project at every stage.

"From the beginning, we designed Hermosa to be a different kind of mine, and the federal review process helped make it even better," Pat said. "Years of agency review, Tribal consultation and community engagement strengthened environmental protections, informed project refinements and shaped a project that can transform the local economy. We are grateful to everyone who participated throughout the process and look forward to continuing that engagement as we move from construction and development into operations."

Hermosa was also the first mining project covered under FAST-41, a US federal program that coordinates how agencies review major infrastructure projects. The review was extensive with more than 120 days of public comment, six federal and state agencies involved, and consultation with 12 Tribes with historic affiliation to the region.

Throughout the process, South32 has refined the Hermosa’s design in response to the feedback and input received, from redesigning the tailings facility to avoid sensitive plant species to designing the access road to reduce traffic through the nearby town of Patagonia. In total, we committed to more than 135 conservation, mitigation and monitoring measures, many of which will become federally enforceable.

With a surface footprint of 750 acres (about 300 hectares) and projected to use approximately 90% less water than other mines in the region, Hermosa has been designed to minimise its environmental impact. Once in operation, it is expected to strengthen the local economy, creating up to 900 jobs during peak operations and supporting investment across surrounding communities for decades to come.

"The Final Record of Decision for Hermosa is another important milestone for Nogales. It reflects years of collaboration to ensure the Hermosa project is developed in a way that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship," Maldonado said.

He noted that South32's investment extends beyond the project itself, including initiatives such as the Centro remote operating centre in Nogales.

"Hermosa has the potential to create new opportunities to support good-paying jobs and help ensure that more of our young people can build successful careers right here at home, and we appreciate South32's commitment to developing Hermosa responsibly while creating opportunities for local families, students and businesses.