Rio Tinto attempts to bribe Arizona State Parks with land gift
An article in the November 1, 2018, Phoenix New Times, uncovers yet another in a long series of dirty tricks played by Rio Tinto in their quest to strongarm government officials and other decisionmakers into supporting their plans to destroy Oak Flat and another 7,000...
Showing the Cracks: New Report Shows Design Flaws in Proposed Resolution Copper Project
A new report prepared for the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition by Dr. Steven Emerman shows serious flaws and deficiencies in the technical design of Rio Tinto’s proposed Resolution Copper mine. The proposed mine, which would destroy Oak Flat and more than 5,000...
Selected 2017 News Articles about Oak Flat
Check out these news articles about our struggle to protect Oak Flat
Mother of a Metal, Phoenix Magaizine, June 2017, by Keridwen Cornelius
Massive copper mine tests Trump’s push to slash regulation, Reuters, July 12, 2017, by Emily Flitter
What’s at Stake in Oak Flat, Edible Baja Arizona, November/December 2017, by John Washington
Photos of our trip to London to adress the Board of Directors of BHP, Billiton (the minority owner of the proposed mine at Oak Flat)
Appeal hearing of a Rio Tinto permit to pollute Queen Creek begins February 5
Please attend a hearing this week to support the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition’s appeal of permits granted to Rio Tinto to dump polluted water into Queen Creek. The Coalition has appealed the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) improper granting of a permit to Rio Tinto. Queen Creek is already polluted due to mining activity and, if the permit is upheld, Rio Tinto would make the pollution worse.
The hearing will be taking place from Monday, February 5, 2018 to at least Friday, February 9. The hearing will go all day from 9:00 to 5:00.
The hearing will take place at 1400 W. Washington, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ.
Please drop in at any time (except over the lunch recess) to support our appeal.
Ask your Congresspeople to Co-sponsor the Save Oak Flat Act
On June 15, 2017, the Save Oak Flat Act was introduced in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. The Bills would repeal Section 3003 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 and keep Oak Flat in public ownership.
Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the US House version, HR 2915, with 30 cosponsors from both parties.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced S 1375, the Senate version of the Save Oak Flat Act with four cosponsors, Senators Merkley (D-OR), Wyden (D-OR), Heinrich (D-NM), and Booker (D-NJ).
The success of the Save Oak Fat Act is very important for the protection of Oak Flat.
Please contact your Representative asking him/her to cosponsor HR 2915 and your Senators to cosponsor S 1375. (If your Congressional delegation members are already cosponsors, please thank him/her for helping to protect Oak Flat).
Attend Forest Service Workshops March 21 & 22
Attend public workshops in Superior and Gilbert to tell the Forest Service to protect Oak Flat
The Tonto National Forest is holding public workshops in Superior, AZ, on March 21 and Gilbert, AZ, on March 22. Each workshop runs from 5:00 to 8:00.
Please attend these workshops to show the Forest Service that Rio Tinto’s plans to destroy 7,000 acres of public land, including Oak Flat, to build a toxic mine are unacceptable.
The Forest Service is hosting workshops to:
- update the public on the status of the EIS process
- describe the alternatives development process, and
- solicit input on the criteria being used to evaluate alternative tailings storage facility locations.
Comment on Rio Tinto’s ADEQ water permit renewal
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has proposed to renew Rio Tinto’s current water quality permits to discharge polluted mine water being drained from mining shafts on the company’s private property near Oak Flat.
You are invited to comment now on the permit renewal. The comment deadline is September 7, 2016.
Attend San Tan Valley scoping meeting June 9
Please attend a public scoping meeting on Rio Tinto’s proposed plan to destroy Oak Flat.
The Tonto National Forest will be holding a public scoping meeting on June 9, 2016, in San Tan.
This additional public scoping meeting will be held at the Central Arizona College San Tan Campus, located at 3736 E. Bella Vista Rd, San Tan Valley, Arizona 85143. The meeting will run from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m.