UPDATE: 11/12/2013: Bill was scheduled for vote in the US House of Representatives but was pulled instead. Read: “House vote on Resolution Copper mine put off indefinitely” Republic Washington Bureau 11/13/2013
9/26/2013: The US House of Representatives finished their business for the day without having the final vote on the bill, HR 687: “Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act”. They also only voted on two out of the three amendments offered, both of which failed. We expect votes on both the amendment and the final bill tomorrow.
We oppose the Oak Flat land swap. Tell your Representative that you oppose HR687 and S339 below.
Arizona Sentors John McCain and Jeff Flake helped re-introduce the “Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013” (S 339)(HR 687) in Congress. A bipartisan companion bill was introduced by Representatives Paul Gosar (R, AZ District 4) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ District 1.)
The bill’s entire purpose is to facilitate a proposed copper mine in federally protected lands east of Superior, Arizona known as Oak Flat. Versions of this bill have been introduced and re-introduced to Congress 12 times. The proposed copper mine would destroy areas sacred to the Apache Tribe and enjoyed by campers, climbers and other recreationalists. This land was previously set aside in 1955 by President Eisenhower for its religious, cultural, traditional, recreational and archaeological significance.
The bill would allow mining company Rio Tinto to bypass the normal process of permitting mines on public lands and avoids the NEPA process with its public input and transparency requirements. The proposed mine would destroy wildlife habitat and clean water resources. It is opposed by the town of Superior, opposed by every Indian Tribe in the United States and opposed by the Access Fund and other organizations that care about maintaining recreational opportunities on public land.
The land exchange would hugely benefit international mining company Rio Tinto. China is a partial owner of Rio Tinto, and if a mine were opened at Oak Flat, China would receive most of the minerals. Rio Tinto and the government of Iran are co-operators of a uranium mine in Namibia.
Rio Tinto is now openly saying that a mine at Oak Flat is far from a done deal. Until Rio Tinto makes up its mind and receives the permits it would need to mine, there is no good reason for the land exchange to be approved by Congress.
Read more:
Massive mine proposed at Oak Flat, sacred tribal land Arizona Daily Star
Coalition Opposes New “Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013” San Carlos Apache Tribe, Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition, Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter and Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Unite to Oppose Land Swap. PR Newswire
AZ Legislators Seek to Give Sacred Apache Land to International Mining Companies Earthworks, EarthBLOG by Aaron Mintzes
Town of Superior Ends Agreements with Rio Tinto On February 21, 2013, the town of Superior officially terminated its Mutual Benefits Agreement with Rio Tinto and withdrew it’s letter of support for the Oak Flat land exchange. Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Blog
