Over the past few weeks, many national news outlets have shared stories about the actions and protests by environmental groups and Apache Stronghold, which have long protested against the Resolution Copper project. Much of the news comes in what the court is calling a “grand court” hearing this week when the Ninth Circuit is scheduled to review the Apache Stronghold v. U.S. case. This means that a full panel of 11 judges will hear the case.
The lawsuit was originally filed in federal court in February 2021. Initially, the court dismissed the case after three of his judges heard the argument and ruled against Apache Stronghold. In November 2022, in an unprecedented announcement, the Ninth Circuit announced that it would review the case in the “Grand Chamber.”
The Apache Stronghold case is a religious freedom case. Apache Stronghold claims the Oak Flats are sacred sites and that mining operations forbid the right to worship under the Religious Freedom Amendment.Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Mormon and Mennonite leaders join the battle for Apache Fortress to save Oak Flat. These religious groups have enlisted in support of Apache Stronghold, fearing that other religious liberties could be hampered if the case is lost.
Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy visited the Resolution Copper Project.
Many will remember that the Federal Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIS), which is part of the mine permit, was withdrawn by the Biden administration on March 1, 2021. A Kamimachi official said he was informed by the Forest Service that tribal consultations had been completed and that the agency was in the final stages of reviewing his FEIS. A local leader is optimistic that FEIS will be open to the public in his 2023. Once the FEIS is republished, there will be a 45-day objection period, after which Tonto National’s chief his forester can sign the final decision record. wood. Once the FEIS is republished, the Ninth Circuit is expected to hear the lawsuit filed by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Mining Reform Group.
Resolution Copper continues to drive community engagement and community projects throughout the Superior, Copper Triangle, and local Native American communities. Resolution Copper recently renewed its multi-year contract with Rebuild Superior Inc. to continue community and economic development work at Superior.
Many community leaders and elected officials have visited the project over the past year. Most recently, Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Sardy and the Pinal County Economic Development Team. Mayor Mira Vesic and Alderman Olga Lopez also visited the mine this summer on a 7,000-foot tour.
Senior Mayor Mira Besic at the bottom of the Resolution Copper Mine.
“This project is good for Superior, Pinal County, and the state of Arizona at large,” said Jeff Sardy, Pinal County Supervisor.
To date, the Resolution Copper project is one of the largest single private economic investments in Arizona. An investment of $7 billion is expected to put the mine into operation, and once it is operational, it will be one of the richest and deepest copper deposits in North America, adding $1 billion to the state’s economy each year once production begins. increase.
In a recent meeting with Senator Cinema on Globe, Mayor Vesic thanked Cinema for its support of the resolution copper project and asked for her help for the White House to urgently consider the project. rice field. During the visit, Cinema expressed a goal to work with the Arizona Manufacturing and Defense Council to advance the development of rare earth minerals and to mine this copper in an environmentally responsible manner here in Arizona. She has also worked to get copper on the list as an important mineral for national defense.
