The only reason Resolution Copper is in position to benefit from Arizona’s weak groundwater law is because of a rider attached to a defense spending bill passed in December 2014 that was ushered through Congress without debate by the late Sen. Their legal battle is now a major religious liberty test. But it will take time to overcome entrenched political opposition to any regulation or taxation of Arizona’s groundwater.Ĭlimate & Environment Battle for Oak Flat: How Apache opposition to a copper mine became a religious liberty testĪpache tribe members say Arizona land slated to be destroyed for a copper mine is sacred. Katie Hobbs has the opportunity, indeed the obligation, to lead the way to a more secure water future by demanding fundamental reforms of Arizona groundwater laws beginning with closing the mining loophole and establishing a price for groundwater. Oak Flat, known as Chí’chil Biłdagoteel to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, is a sacred site to many tribal nations in the region for the last 1,500 years and has been included on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property.Īside from the culturally destructive impact, Resolution Copper, a joint venture between the multinational companies BHP and Rio Tinto, will consume about 250 billion gallons of groundwater during the life of the mine.Īrizona Gov. Opinion Op-Ed: Will the Biden administration stop the cultural and environmental atrocity at Oak Flat?Ī site in Arizona sacred to tribal nations for 1,500 years is about to be destroyed by a copper mine that will form a 1,000-foot deep crater.īased on current water prices, Arizona would be giving $404 million worth of groundwater to the two largest mining companies in the world, which plan to construct the Resolution Copper Mine 70 miles east of Phoenix on Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest.
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