Revised on: Aug. 23, 2024 - 8:06 a.m.
This permit of interest online resource provides interested parties easy access to information about the Hermosa Project, owned by South32 Hermosa Inc., formerly Arizona Minerals Inc. (AMI).
Facility Information
The Hermosa Project, owned and operated by South32 Hermosa Inc., is located approximately five miles south of the Town of Patagonia, Arizona in Santa Cruz County.
Location
749 Harshaw Road, Patagonia, Arizona 85624
Recent Permitting Activity
Clean Water Act
On July 3, 2024, ADEQ issued a renewal Clean Water Act individual permit to South32 Hermosa Inc.:
South32 Hermosa Inc. also has coverage under the Mining Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for industrial stormwater discharges.
- Notice of Intent (NOI) Certificate | View >
- Mining Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) | Learn More >
South32 Hermosa Inc. also has coverage under the De Minimis General Permit (DMGP) for water well development and maintenance.
- Notice of Intent (NOI) Certificate | View >
- De Minimis General Permit (DMGP) | Learn More >
Aquifer Protection Program Permitting Significant Amendment
In December 2023, ADEQ received an Individual APP permit application (significant amendment) from South32 seeking to amend the APP Permit No. P-512235
- Application significant amendment to APP (2024) | View >
- ADEQ’s Comprehensive Request for Additional Information| View >
- South32 Hermosa Inc. Response Letter | View >
Public Notice
The comment period for the preliminary decision to issue the APP permit significant amendment to South32 Hermosa, Inc., for its Hermosa Project is Aug. 23, 2024 – Oct. 6, 2024 | View Public Notice >
There will be an in-person public hearing on Oct. 2, 2024, 6 p.m. | View Details >
Facility Reports
Clean Water Act
The individual permit requires regular monitoring of the treated discharge. The monitoring frequencies are specified in the permit and vary from monthly to annually, depending on the parameter. South32 must send these monitoring results to the ADEQ each month through Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR).
ADEQ uses these monitoring results to check if South32 is following the effluent limits set in the permit. ADEQ can change the permit if the DMR data shows there is effluent toxicity, a need for more permit limits, or if the levels in the permit are exceeded.
You can view and download the DMR data for South32 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Compliance and Enforcement Online (ECHO) website by entering the AZPDES Permit Number (AZ0026387) at the following link:
Facility Archives
