Overview

• The Supreme Court let stand lower-court decisions approving the transfer of Oak Flat in Tonto National Forest to Resolution Copper by rejecting the appeal from Apache Stronghold.
• Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented from the denial, warning that the court’s refusal to hear the case undermines protections for Native American religious exercise.
• Western Apache view Oak Flat, known as Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, as essential for sacred ceremonies and fear the mine’s planned panel-caving technique will create a 1,000-foot-deep, two-mile-wide crater.
• The Trump administration has announced plans to publish a final environmental impact statement, satisfying the requirement for the 2014 land exchange and moving the mine toward development.
• Resolution Copper, a joint venture of Rio Tinto and BHP, projects the mine will supply about 25 percent of U.S. copper needs, create 3,500 jobs and generate roughly $1.2 billion annually for Arizona’s economy.