Rio Tinto, BHP’s copper mine project on Apache land faces fresh blow

Australian mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP’s plan to build an enormous new copper mine in Arizona has faced a setback after the United States government reversed a decision to allow a necessary land swap.

On Tuesday morning, the US Forest Service rescinded its publication of an environmental impact study that cleared the way for the transfer of a 980-hectare parcel of land at Oak Flat, Arizona, to the miners’ Resolution Copper joint venture.

The development of the land has long being fought against by the San Carlos Apache tribe.
The development of the land has long being fought against by the San Carlos Apache tribe.Credit:AP

Resolution, which is 55 per cent owned by Rio Tinto and 45 per cent owned by rival BHP, said it was evaluating the Forest Service’s decision.

“In the meantime, we will continue to engage in the process determined by the US government and are committed to ongoing consultation with Native American Tribes and local communities,” it said in a statement.

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Resolution Copper says its proposed underground copper mine has the potential to supply nearly 25 per cent of US copper demand for 40 years.

But the project is being fought by the San Carlos Apache tribe, which fears the mine will impact sacred and actively utilised religious land at Oak Flat, known as Chi’chil Bildagoteel.

The objections from the Native American groups come as Rio Tinto and the wider Australian mining sector are facing heightened scrutiny over their treatment of First Nations people following Rio’s destruction of two 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock shelters in Western Australia’s Pilbara last year.

The saga led to the departure of former Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques, with its new CEO Jakob Stausholm vowing that restoring trust and rebuilding relationships with traditional owners would be one of his top priorities.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe, which has 17,000 members, is one of 11 Native American tribes with land within or near the land exchange, including the Oak Flat camp ground, Apache Leap,

After receiving “significant input” from stakeholders and the wider public, the US Department of Agriculture said it had directed the Forest Service to withdraw the earlier decision and conduct a “thorough review”.

A joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP is proposing one of the largest copper projects in the US.
A joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP is proposing one of the largest copper projects in the US.Credit:AP

“The [department] has concluded that additional time is necessary to fully understand concerns raised by Tribes and the public and the project’s impacts to these important resources and ensure the agency’s compliance with federal law,” it said.

Under the US National Environmental Protection Act, consultations with Native American groups to date concerning the area’s historical, cultural and religious significance have been the responsibility of the US Forest Service, not Resolution Copper.

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Source: Thanks smh.com