(Previous Report): AZ mining project at center of legal battle
It’s a project that could generate a lot of money in Arizona and, according to some, could bring new life to a town that was once in Arizona’s mining country. However, religious and environmental worries meant the project is now mired in a court battle. FOX 10’s Lauren Clark has more on the Oak Flat mine proposal.
PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from an Arizona tribe fighting to halt the construction of a copper mining project on federal land that they hold sacred.
What we know:
The justices left in place lower court decisions allowing the transfer of the Tonto National Forest land, known as Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper, which plans to mine what it says is the second-largest known copper deposit in the world, the Associated Press reported on May 27.
The Trump administration has said it will push to complete the transfer.
Dig deeper:
Apache Stronghold, a group representing the interests of certain members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, has argued that the land transfer will result in the destruction of the site in violation of its members’ religious rights.
(From 2016) Exploring a future record setting copper mine
Located 70-miles east of Phoenix is the town of Superior, and what one day will be the largest most productive copper mine in the United States. The only problem is the rich ore deposit is buried 7,000 feet underground. The owners of the mine haven’t even started mining yet because they have to get to it first. FOX 10’s John Hook reports.
Map of Oak Flat
Supreme CourtPinal CountyNews
