The Trump administration has moved forward with a proposed land swap for the Resolution Copper project in Arizona. The U.S. Forest Service said it has issued a legally required 60-day notice of the agency’s intent to republish an environmental report needed for the swap to occur.
“We are encouraged to hear the U.S. Forest Service intends to republish the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which is a positive step forward for the Resolution Copper project after more than a decade of rigorous, independent review and consultation with local communities and Native American Tribes,” said Vicky Peacey, general manager at Resolution Copper.
“This world-class mining project has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in America, adding up to $1 billion a year to Arizona’s economy and creating thousands of local jobs in a region of rural Arizona where mining has played an important role for more than a century.”
In 2014, Congress approved the land exchange of 2,422 acres above a copper deposit for 5,459 acres of Arizona land owned by Resolution Copper, and required an environmental report to be published. However, President Joe Biden unpublished that report in March 2021 to give his administration time to review concerns by the Apache, who said the mine project would destroy a site of religious importance.
“A decade of feedback from local communities and Native American Tribes has shaped this project every step of the way, and we remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue to ensure the Resolution Copper project moves forward responsibly and sustainably as we transition into the next phase of the permitting process,” said Peacey.
“Working together, we have created a plan that preserves the area’s cultural heritage and natural resources and enhances recreational opportunities while creating new economic opportunities that will put Arizona resources and workers at the center of the nation’s energy security and infrastructure needs, with a domestic supply of copper and other critical minerals.”
The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground mine 60 miles east of Phoenix, Ariz., near the town of Superior. Once all final permits are obtained, the project would create economic opportunities for Superior and the entire Copper Triangle region as one of the largest investments in rural Arizona. Additionally, Superior will be granted land from the federal government to use for economic expansion and diversification opportunities.
Resolution Copper is a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto (55%) and BHP (45%).
Source: Resolution Copper