Rancho Rio Creek Rio Tinto and BHP - Billiton have created a subsidiary that is proposing to mine a rich copper vein more than 7,000 feet below sea level east of Superior, Arizona. As a first step, Rio Tinto is currently shopping around a land exchange bill HR 1904 that would end an executive order banning mining from Oak Flat Campground and privatize more than 2,400 acres of public land.
Concerned citizens are worried about the loss of Oak Flat Campground, a very popular recreation area. Birders, climbers, campers, canyoneers, bikers, and hikers enjoy the area throughout the year, all of whom would be greatly harmed if these lands were forever taken from public access. Native Americans have traditionally used the area for cultural, spiritual purposes, and for sustenance. The land exchange would include Apache Leap, a cliff where more than 80 Apache warriors chose to leap to their deaths rather than surrender to the US calvary.
All Arizona Indian tribes oppose the Land Exchange. The National Congress of American Indians passed a unanimous resolution in June of 2009 opposing all legislation that would allow mining at Oak Flat. In addition, the Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition in Superior, AZ is opposed to the land exchange and testified in Washington, DC against S. 409 in 2009.
A number of resources are available to help you learn more about this issue:
Testimony and Letters opposing HR 1904
Conservation and Recreation Organizations
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition
Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition
Concerned Climbers of Arizona
Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas
Tribal Governments
Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona
San Carlos Apache Tribe
National Congress of American Indians
NCAI Letter to Senator Bingaman
Yavapai Apache Nation
Zuni Tribe
Jicarillo Apache Nation
Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Pueblo of Tesuque
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.
Susanville Indian Ranceria
Mescalero Apache Tribe
All Indian Peueblo Council
Navajo Nation
Shoshone-Bannock Tribe
Hopi Tribe
Tohono O-Odham Tribe
Dine` Medicine Men's Association
Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
Testimony opposing S 409 from the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing held on June 17, 2009:
Conservation Organizations
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Testimony (Exhibit A)
Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition Testimony (Submitted by former Mayor Roy Chavez)
Sierra Club Testimony (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C)
Maricopa Audubon Society
Defenders of Wildlife
Western Lands Project
Arizona Zoological Society
Arizona Audubon
Tribal Governments
San Carlos Apache Tribe
Fort McDowell Yavapai Tribe
InterTribal Council of Arizona (Submitted by Governor Norman Cooeyate of the Zuni Tribe)
Jicarilla Apache Tribe
National Congress of American Indians
State of Arizona
Arizona Game & Fish Department
Other Documents
Comparison between S. 409 and HR 1904
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Fact Sheet on HR 1904
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Fact sheet on S. 409
Arizona Mining Reform Coalition Fact Sheet on HR 2509
Sign on letter opposing the Oak Flat land exchange
Fort McDowell Yavapai Tribe letter to President Obama
Impacts of Block Cave Mining
Biological Surveys of Gaan Canyon (Devil's Canyon)
Obama Administration's position on S. 409
July 13, 2009 letter to Senator Wyden from USDA Secretary Vilsack
Administration's Response to Questions from the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Hojas Informativas en Español
Impactos de la Minería de la Cueva de Bloque
HR 2509 Hoja
S 409 Hoja
