Judge Denies Request to Halt Arizona Copper Mine Project Amid Sacred Land Dispute

Strategic Insights -

A federal judge in Arizona denied a request to block the transfer of land for a massive copper mining project, sparking an immediate appeal from plaintiffs, including the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmentalists. The project's proponents argue that it will bring economic benefits and create jobs, while the plaintiffs claim that it will result in the destruction of a sacred Native American site. The dispute has been ongoing for about 20 years, with the project's approval tied to a 2014 national defense spending bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US district judge, Dominic Lanza, denied the request to stop the land transfer for the copper mining project, despite the plaintiffs' concerns about the environmental impact and destruction of a sacred site.
  • The judge acknowledged the "stark trade-offs" at the heart of the dispute, but ultimately decided that the project advances the public interest and that the federal government is responsible for weighing competing objectives.
  • The San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmentalists, including the group Apache Stronghold, have been fighting to save Oak Flat, a site considered sacred by the Apaches, from the planned mining project.
  • The project's proponents, including Resolution Copper, estimate that the mine will generate $1 billion a year for Arizona's economy and create thousands of jobs.
  • The plaintiffs have taken issue with the required environmental review, arguing that it did not consider the potential for a dam breach, pipeline failure, or emergency plans for the tailings storage area.
  • The fight over Oak Flat has been ongoing for about 20 years, with the project's approval tied to a 2014 national defense spending bill.

Statistics:

  • The copper mining project is expected to generate $1 billion a year for Arizona's economy.
  • The project will create thousands of jobs, although the exact number is not specified.
  • The Oak Flat site is dotted with 1,000-year-old oak trees and traditional Apache plants that are considered essential to the tribe's religion.
  • The project has been delayed multiple times, with the federal government required to prepare a comprehensive review of the mine's environmental impact.
  • The San Carlos Apache Tribe and other plaintiffs have been fighting in court for years to save Oak Flat from the planned mining project.

Sources:

  • By Susan Montoya Bryan, A U.S. district judge on Friday denied the latest request by a Native American tribe, environmentalists and other plaintiffs to stop the federal government from transferring land in Arizona for a massive copper mining project.
  • https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-denies-appeal-halt-az-ore-mining-project-2022-09-09/