Resolution Copper Mining, a joint subsidiary of British and Australian mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, The world’s largest underground copper mine at a site in suburban Superior, about 70 miles (113 km) east of Phoenix. Managing partner Rio Tinto said the mine could meet a quarter of the U.S.’s growing demand for copper used in electric vehicles and smartphones.

Resolution began the permitting process nearly a decade ago, but legal disputes between U.S. government agencies and the nonprofit Apache Stronghold contesting land-swap plans to make the project possible have been complicated. Amid political controversy, the project has been delayed. The U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals is considering Apache Stronghold’s request for a permanent suspension of the project, but the only thing blocking the project at the moment is the lack of a new environmental impact statement. Thing.

Two other lawsuits challenging the initial environmental review, one by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and one by environmental groups, have been filed by the U.S. government with an impact statement seeking further consultation. He has been missing since withdrawing.

Oak Flats is located on the grounds of Tonto National Forest and will be turned over to Congress pursuant to a land exchange approved in a special treaty to the Defense Bill, which must be passed in 2014.

A congressional vote sparked outrage among some Apaches over the site, which features the ancient Emory oak and its acorns, as well as other plants they consider important to their culture and religion. Called Chi’chil Bildagoteel, the site, about an hour’s drive from the San Carlos Apache Reservation, has been used for girls’ coming-of-age celebrations.

Rio Tinto has announced that the campground will remain open for the first decades of the mine’s operation. But Oak Flat could eventually collapse into a 1.8-mile (2.8-kilometer) crater when a large amount of rock is removed from below.

Former San Carlos Apache Tribal President and longtime activist Wenzler Nozzie is the face of the Save Oak Flats campaign. He had previously fought, unsuccessfully, to prevent a large-scale telescope project at Mount Graham or Zil Ncher Shian, a site sacred to the Apaches in southeastern Arizona.

Nosy said he believes many townspeople quietly support his fight, but “they can’t openly show their support for me.”

When he recently confronted a mining company employee at a local restaurant, accusing him of endangering jobs, development and good schools, he said: “I stand up and stand up for the land, water, earth, religion, Then he talked about how he was fighting for us, ‘children,’ as he said a group of diners applauded and urged them to pay for their dinner.

San Carlos Apache leaders oppose the mining, but some tribes support it because of the jobs it creates, given the high unemployment rate on the reservation.

“Oak Flat is not sacred,” said Karen Kicheyan Jones, 64, a member who lives on the reservation. “There are many places on the settlement where you can pick acorns and perform ceremonies.”

Brenda Astor, Resolution’s chief counsel for native issues and a San Carlos Apache member, noted that dozens of other registered members also work for the mining company.

Two years ago, the Forest Service withdrew Resolution’s original environmental impact statement for Oak Flats, amid strong opposition to the project by some tribes and others. No timeframe has been announced. But once the new review is published, the formal transfer process can begin, unless a federal court stops it.

U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva (Arizona) Reintroduced Law In March, he called for a moratorium on land transfers, but received no support in parliament.

Rio Tinto says the mine will create 3,700 jobs over the life of the project and add $88 million to $113 million in annual state and local tax revenues.

That’s a lot of money for a town that is recovering economically after the Magma Copper Mine first closed in 1982, opened for several years, and then permanently closed in 1996. The closure destroyed so small a community that it can be crossed in just over three minutes by car, without traffic lights.

Superior was originally founded as the town of Hastings in 1882, when a large silver-producing mine was the Silver King. The former mining cities of Grove and Miami are nearby, and Saguaro is buried among his cactus-dotted mountains.

According to Vesic, a Democrat himself, Superior is still a Democratic island in Pinal County, where Republican-majority roots to its workers’ roots lie.

More than a quarter of the town’s residents live below the poverty line. Nearly 70% of the population is Hispanic, most of whom immigrated from Mexico or descended from miners who already worked in the area when it was still part of Mexico until the mid-1800s.

“We didn’t cross borders, we crossed borders,” said Manny Guzman, whose family in the area goes back seven generations. His ancestor Manuelita Guzman (1844-1916) is buried in the historic Pinal Cemetery, which is also the burial place of Wyatt Earp’s common-law wife Matty Earp.

Guzman, chairman of the non-profit economic development firm Rebuild Superior, said he continues to hope the mine will survive but is frustrated by the delay after spending so much time discussing the environmental review. Told.

“So many studies were done, so many roundtables,” he said.

The deal secured important benefits for Superior, including securing the protection of the town’s water supply and a minimum of $120 million in revenue to pay police and fire services if the project went ahead.

“We’ve seen some pretty dramatic changes to the plan,” said Vicky Peacey, Resolution’s president and general manager. “It is important to hear many voices,” she said.

Rio Tinto also agreed to permanently protect the town’s backdrop, Apache Leap. Local legend has it that in the early 1870s, about 75 Apaches died after jumping 400 feet (122 meters) to U.S. cavalry instead of surrendering.

Mayor Todd Pryor has said Resolution will provide $2.25 million to help purchase an old brick high school that is being renovated to house City Hall, a library and senior activity facilities. It said it had provided it and built it at an additional $1.29 million. enterprise center It aims to develop future entrepreneurs and teach people to do professions such as welding.

Accustomed to boom-bust cycles, town officials say they know they need to diversify their economy and cannot rely solely on Resolution and its mines for the future.

They develop local tourism and host the popular Apache Leap Mining Festival each March. The festival includes parades, Chihuahua races, and mining competitions including hand sawing and jackleg digging contests. Hundreds of people visit the town each August for the Prickly Pear Festival, where you can enjoy cactus fruit ice cream and margaritas.

But in a state that produces 70% of the nation’s copper, and where nearly all parents and grandparents worked in mines, the biggest bet for the future is mining ore.

“It’s in our DNA,” said Chamber of Commerce President Rick Cartier.

Associated Press reporter Deepa Baras of Oak Flat, Arizona contributed to the report.