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Underground miners recently celebrated a milestone in construction – the last blast of the deepest mine shaft in America at 6,943 feet. To put that into perspective, one mile equals 5,280 feet.
Arizona Senator John McCain visited the Resolution Copper Project earlier this year. He was instrumental in the passage of the Land Exchange.
Copper Area News
The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation act was approved in the Senate on Friday, Dec. 12, through the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill was proposed by Resolution Copper in order to extend the life of the mine. The bill is expected to be signed by the President in the coming days, should the President not sign the bill it will take effect in 15 days.
Project Director Andrew Taplin explained, “There is much more work to be done before commercial mining can begin and Resolution Copper looks forward to working with all stakeholders as we continue to progress through the regulatory review process toward responsible development and operation of a world class copper mine that will safely produce over 25 percent of the current annual demand for copper in the United States.”
There were a few amendments to the land exchange bill which include additional environmental protections; those amendments were approved in both the house and senate versions of the bill. The amendments included that the federal land will not be transferred to the mining company until the environmental studies are completed; it will also allow Native American tribes to access the property until the area in longer safe to use. Another critical amendment designates 807 acres of the Apache Leap Cliffs as a special management area which places it under Forest Service Protection. The designation of the Apache Leap will allow the Forest Service and other stakeholders to monitor the area and ensure that mine operations are not destroying the cliffs.
This legislation has been introduced into Congress several times over the course of a decade. Senators McCain and Flake along with Representatives Gosar and Kirkpatrick were instrumental in gaining approval in this Congress despite the opposition of the bill from the Superior Town Council, San Carlos Apache Tribal leaders and environmental groups. Opposition groups have criticized the fact that the bill did not pass on its own but it is not uncommon for lands bills to be included in the annual Defense Authorization Act. “To maintain the strength of the most technologically-advanced military in the world, America’s armed forces need stable supplies of copper for their equipment, ammunition and electronics,” explained Senator McCain. “Most importantly Resolution Copper represents a game changer for an area of Arizona facing grave economic challenges.”
Recently the Superior Town Council held an open discussion on the status of negotiations with the company. The town Attorney Steven Cooper is now at the helm leading the discussions. Councilmember Gilbert Aguilar was quoted in the Arizona Daily Star: “We’re still going to keep negotiating our concerns. You can say there’s going to be jobs, but put it in writing that they’re going to be here.”
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick sent this written statement upon the passage of the bill in the Senate. “Arizona is just one momentous step from the finish line. I urge the president to sign this legislation and open the door for thousands of good jobs in District One. My vision for this district is to build a strong and diversified, stable economy-and the Superior mine is an important part of that vision. This project will lift the local economy and out working families in Superior and the Copper Corridor.”
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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