South32’s Hermosa project will not only be an economic driver for Santa Cruz County, but for the entire United States, producing critical minerals that will power our 21^st Century energy economy. I applaud South32 for their commitment to proactive and continued community consultation and input that has led to this federal permit Record of Decision and look forward to seeing the project’s continued benefit for Southern Arizona.

If we’re serious about bringing supply chains back to America and reducing our dependence on foreign countries, we need to responsibly produce more critical minerals here at home. This is exactly what the Hermosa project is doing.This milestone shows we can move projects through an efficient permitting process to create good-paying jobs while strengthening our national security.

Congratulations to the U.S. Forest Service and South32 for reaching this significant milestone in the permitting of the Hermosa Project. This project was the first mining project covered by FAST-41 and helped lay the groundwork for the 57 additional mining projects that have followed during the Trump Administration. I look forward to our continued partnership with federal and industry stakeholders as we get this project to the federal permitting finish line in the coming weeks.

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. South 32 is making a long-term investment in the people and future of Nogales through investments like its remote operating center “Centro”. 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.

The U.S. Forest Service's Record of Decision is an important milestone that reflects South32's commitment to meeting the stringent environmental and regulatory standards required throughout the FAST-41 permitting process. While the process has been long and demanding, it reflects South32's commitment to doing things the right way and its intention to be part of our community for generations. Their success is now tied to the success of Nogales and Santa Cruz County, and we look forward to working together to create new opportunities for workforce development, good-paying jobs, and long-term economic prosperity.

The Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the South32 Hermosa project as it reaches this significant federal permitting milestone. This $3.3 billion investment will transform our region, drive broad-based economic development, and create high-quality jobs for hundreds of Santa Cruz County residents. We particularly appreciate how South32 has proactively engaged with our community, adjusting plans to address local concerns while ensuring critical infrastructure upgrades that will benefit our neighbors for decades to come.

South32’s Hermosa project represents the kind of investment Arizona needs to strengthen domestic supply chains, support critical minerals production, and create long-term jobs in Santa Cruz County and across the state. It’s also a model for how permitting should work. Hermosa has gone through years of environmental review, public input, and interagency consultation, and the project remains on track under the federal permitting schedule. That’s the kind of predictable, transparent process Arizona needs more of if we want to lead in industries critical to our economy and national security.

Southern Arizona's future depends on projects that create opportunity while respecting the people, communities, and landscapes that make our region unique. Throughout its presence in our region, South32 has demonstrated a commitment not only to economic development, but also to supporting local nonprofits, investing in community initiatives, and creating shared value for the communities it serves. Equally important, the company has recognized the responsibility that comes with operating in a place where the land, culture, and heritage are deeply intertwined. Their engagement throughout the environmental review process reflects an understanding that long-term prosperity and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand. The Hermosa Project represents an important opportunity for job creation, investment, and economic growth in Southern Arizona, while reinforcing the principle that responsible development should honor both the land and the people who call it home.

The Chamber of Southern Arizona applauds South32's receipt of the federal Record of Decision for the Hermosa Project, a milestone that reflects years of rigorous environmental review and genuine responsiveness to community input, from rerouting traffic away from Patagonia to maximizing water retention in the Patagonia Mountains. This $3.3 billion investment exemplifies how critical minerals infrastructure can be built responsibly, delivering lasting economic opportunity, energy reliability, and workforce development for Santa Cruz County and the broader region for decades to come.

South32 Hermosa consistently takes a community-based approach to solving challenges associated with mining.  The research and initiatives they invest in at the University of Arizona reflect a commitment to holistic solutions.

South32 Hermosa’s commitment to Santa Cruz County is already delivering meaningful results through our innovative workforce development programs. We’ve been working with the South32 team for some time now to better understand the county’s training and education needs, as well as the company’s future workforce needs, to develop mutually beneficial programs. This collaborative approach led to the launch of a Santa Cruz Center electrician certificate program in partnership with Pima Community College and South32 which was backed by a $440,000 grant and full scholarships for students. In a region where unemployment is nearly double the Arizona average and persistent poverty levels disproportionately impact Nogales families, securing local, skilled employment pathways brings genuine uplift. This agreement lays the foundation for a long‑term partnership between SCCPCCD and South32 that will enhance education, promote career readiness, and create economic opportunities for all County residents. With South32’s support, these workforce training initiatives are creating sustainable value by empowering residents to build well‑paying careers locally, strengthening economic resilience, and contributing to a shared vision of community prosperity.

Pima Community College (PCC) students in Santa Cruz County have benefited from South32's investment of time, expertise, and resources to launch workforce development programs at the Santa Cruz Center in Nogales. In partnership with the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District, PCC, and South32 Hermosa have created new training opportunities in electrical and automated industrial technology for local residents.

South32 Hermosa has supported these programs through investments in instructional equipment and materials, marketing, scholarships, and faculty compensation. The company has also contributed its workforce training expertise to help ensure program outcomes align with the needs of the mining and manufacturing industries, giving PCC graduates a stronger pathway to local employment.

This partnership demonstrates the value of collaboration between industry and higher education in expanding career opportunities and strengthening the regional workforce. PCC and South32 Hermosa are now planning and developing additional workforce programs to meet the evolving needs of Santa Cruz County.

South32 Hermosa has demonstrated a strong commitment to workforce development, community investment, and creating meaningful opportunities that benefit Southern Arizona. Through its partnership with the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District, Pima Community College, and local nonprofits and community partners, the company is expanding access to career training and building clear pathways to high-quality, good-paying jobs. These locally delivered, hands-on workforce programs allow residents to train for in-demand careers close to home while strengthening opportunity across the region. Such efforts create shared value for both residents and the communities in which South32 Hermosaoperates and are essential to advancing economic mobility and prosperity across Southern Arizona.

Southern Arizona’s future depends on strong partnerships that connect education, industry, and our communities. South32 Hermosa has demonstrated a meaningful commitment to investing in the people of our region by supporting workforce development initiatives that prepare local residents for high-demand careers. Collaborations among South32 Hermosa, Pima Community College, the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District, local school districts, nonprofit organizations, and community partners are creating accessible pathways to family-sustaining careers while strengthening our regional economy. As both an industry partner and a Governing Board Member, I believe these partnerships are critical to ensuring that Southern Arizona’s workforce is prepared to meet the opportunities of today and the industries of tomorrow.

The Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s Office is appreciative of the social investment partnership we have with South 32. With their support, we have been able to expand and enhance educational opportunities for our youth and their families in the areas of STEM, early literacy, and summer enrichment.

The Workforce Arizona Council recognizes the importance of projects that create lasting economic opportunity while strengthening local communities. South32 Hermosa will advance Arizona's workforce priorities by creating high-quality jobs, expanding career pathways, and fostering partnerships that support workers, families, nonprofit organizations, and the broader region. As Arizona continues to build a workforce system that aligns with industry needs and promotes community prosperity, projects that deliver shared value through responsible growth will play an important role in shaping the state's economic future.

On behalf of ARIZONA@WORK Santa Cruz County, I am pleased to express our strong support for the South32 He1mosa Project and the significant economic and workforce opportunities it will bring to Southern Arizona.

As the administrator of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs in Santa Cruz County, we recognize the project's potential to create high-quality jobs and increase demand for workforce training and employment services.

The Hermosa Project aligns closely with our mission to prepare residents for in-demand careers through training, career services, work-based learning, and employer partnerships. We look forward to supporting South32 by connecting qualified job seekers to employment opportunities and helping build the skilled workforce needed for the project's long-term success.

We are proud to support the South32 Hermosa Project and its positive impact on our communities, workforce, and regional economy.

St. Ann's Parish is grateful for South32 's continued support of our local community. Their investment in organizations like ours, together with their commitment to community engagement and workforce development, reflects a desire to build lasting partnerships that benefit the people of Santa Cruz County. We appreciate their efforts to listen to community concerns while supporting opportunities for economic growth and a stronger future for our region.

Manufacturers celebrate today South32 Hermosa securing this federal permit in just two years under FAST-41. Manganese and zinc are two important critical minerals for manufacturers and key to strengthening domestic supply chains, boosting American production and reducing reliance on foreign sources. This is how permitting should work: timely, predictable and focused on moving projects of national importance from review to reality. As the NAM’s latest critical minerals policy agenda makes clear, securing reliable access to critical minerals is essential to manufacturing competitiveness, supply chain resilience and national security. With our broken permitting system costing America’s manufacturers nearly $8 billion per year, policymakers should expand FAST-41 and pass meaningful permitting reforms so more critical projects can move forward, create jobs and strengthen America’ s economic and national security

The Arizona Mining Association (AMA) applauds the U.S. Forest Service's issuance of the Record of Decision for South32's Hermosa Project, marking an important milestone for one of the nation's most significant critical minerals projects. Hermosa's planned $3.3 billion investment will strengthen Arizona's economy, create hundreds of high-quality jobs, expand workforce development opportunities, and enhance America's domestic supply of critical minerals essential to our national security and energy future. Equally important, this project demonstrates how responsible mining and meaningful community engagement can work together through investments in renewable energy infrastructure, improved regional transportation access, innovative water management, and project modifications that directly reflect the input and concerns of local residents and stakeholders. The Hermosa Project represents a shared investment in Santa Cruz County's future, delivering lasting economic opportunity. The AMA applauds this critical milestone

This record of decision shows how transparent permitting processes can be the keys that unlock American mineral potential. When we think of modern mining we should think of this project and this process—government and industry working together to ensure fair, orderly, clear reviews that result in responsible projects that create jobs, give back to the communities that surround them, and eventually play a part in securing our supply chains for all Americans.

As the first mining project to successfully advance through the FAST-41 program, South32’s Hermosa Project demonstrates that a coordinated, transparent, and predictable permitting process can deliver timely decisions while maintaining rigorous environmental review. This decision provides much-needed certainty for investment, strengthens America’s domestic supply chain, and reinforces the importance of modernizing permitting processes to support projects that are vital to our nation’s economic and national security.