We circulated a sign on letter to accompany new information about opposition to the Oak Flat land exchange from the towns of Superior and Queen Valley. The letter was circulated in Washington, DC before a hearing on the new version of the Oak Flat land exchange, HR 687 on March 21. (HR 687 is virtually identical to HR 1904 from the last congress.
To see a copy of the letter, go here.
Thanks,
Roger
On March 13, 2013, the town council of Superior, Arizona passed a unanimous resolution opposing HR 687, the latest version of the Oak Flat land exchange. The resolution passed following a town council meeting a week ago in which the town council took comments on their decision to oppose the land exchange and end a Mutual Benefits Agreement with Rio Tinto. At that meeting, the majority of comments supported the town decision.
During the council meeting Rio Tinto threatened to lay off it’s workers if the town passed the resolution. This is similar to a threat Rio Tinto made last November to lay off most of their workers is the previous version of the land exchange, HR 1904, was not approved by Congress. There is no word yet whether Rio Tinto will follow through with their threat now that the resolution has been passed.
On February 21, 2013, the town of Superior officially terminated its Mutual Benefits Agreement with Rio Tinto and withdrew it’s letter of support for the Oak Flat land exchange.
The town’s letter begins, “Due to the financial condition of the Town of Superior, I have been instructed to inform you that we regret that we can no longer express our unqualified support of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act (HR 687 or SB 339, as drafted.)”
The letter cites 6 reasons for the termination with its relationship with Rio Tinto:
On December 3, 2012, the Queen Valley Golf Association passed a resolution opposing Rio Tinto’s diversion of 900,000 gallons 
of water a day from its normal course down Queen Creek to a pipeline carrying the water directly to the Phoenix area where it is diluted and dumped on agriculture fields in return for water credits going to Rio Tinto that could be used should Rio Tinto develop a proposed mine at Oak Flat. This diversion has left Queen Valley, a small retirement community centered around it’s golf course, with water shortages.See the Queen Valley Golf Association’s letter here.
On January 11, 2013, the Queen Valley Homeowners Association passed a similar resolution opposing the water diversion and also opposing RIo Tinto’s plans to place a mountain of tailings at Florence Junction. A tailings pile at Florence Junction would seriously impact the community, only 4 miles away. See the Queen Valley Homeowners Association letter here.
We’ve just heard that Senator Kyl is playing hardball by putting holds on all kinds of bill to try to force through the Oak Flat land exchange. We’ve also heard that Senator McCain was rebuffed by Senator Levin when he attempted to add the Oak Flat land exchange to the Defense Authorization bill.
Call your Senators now and tell them that the Oak Flat land exchange is a poison pill that will sink any bill it is attached to.
December 5, 2012
On November 30, Rio Tinto announced that unless the US Congress passes the Oak Flat land exchange immediately, they will lay off 80% of their workforce at Oak Flat between now and March. In an orchestrated fashion, Senator McCain and Congressman Gosar both urged the Congress to pass the land exchange this year and an AZ Republic Op-ed decried Senate inaction.
Since Rio Tinto has made similar statement during every Congressional season since the land exchange has been introduced, organizations opposing the land exchange have blasted the announcement.
We are at the tail end of the 112th Congress and have been able to keep the Oak Flat land exchange from moving in the US Senate. However, Senators Kyl and McCain are intent on pushing through the Oak Flat land exchange (HR 1904) this year to give more government handouts to two of the world’s largest mining companies.
Congress is back after the elections in a lame duck session that should wrap up by the end of the year. Kyl and McCain will most likely attempt to attach HR 1904 to important legislation instead of letting the Senate decide on the merits of the bill. Because of the controversial nature of the Oak Flat land exchange, this would amount to adding a poison pill to any necessary legislation.
Do not let Senators McCain and Kyl divert the Congress from important business by inserting their destructive special interest bill.
The Concerned Citizens and Retired Miner Coalition is hosting a Picnic and rally at Oak Flat Campground this weekend as part of World Earth Day.
Please join us at Oak Flat.
The celebration starts Friday afternoon, April 20 and goes through the Day on Saturday April 21.
The picnic will be held at the Oak Flat campgrounds at the first campsite under the big oaks.
Several organizations have sent letters to the House Natural Resources Committee opposing the Oak Flat land exchange.
Of note are:
The Access Fund — A national climbers advocacy group dedicated to climbing access and conservation.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation — an organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America’s communities.
Concerned Climbers of Arizona — an organization advocating continued recreational access to climbing areas that are threatened by development or other forms of encroachment.