Sign a Comment Letter to acknowledge Oak Flat’s Cultural & Historic Importance

Sign a Comment Letter to acknowledge Oak Flat’s Cultural & Historic Importance

Jun 26, 2015 | Action Alert, Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

The National Park Service is accepting comments about placing Oak Flat on the list of National Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property because of its sacredness and significance to Native American Tribes. 

The nomination would list Oak Flat as a Traditional Cultural Property on the National Register of Historic Places.  (Note that the nomination uses the Apache name for Oak Flat, Chi’chil Bildagoteel.)

Please take action and sign a letter to the National Park Service (who is responsible for making the final decision on adding Oak Flat to the list) to help protect Oak Flat.

The deadline for you to sign the letter is noon (Arizona Time) on Monday, June 29, so act now. 

Oak Flat named to 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list

Oak Flat named to 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list

Jun 24, 2015 | Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

National Trust for Historic Preservation names sacred Arizona site threatened by copper mining to list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places

(Oak Flat, Arizona) — The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Oak Flat, near Superior, Arizona, to its 2015 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The annual list spotlights important examples of the nation’s architectural, cultural and natural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.

National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places takes place in Washington, DC

National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places takes place in Washington, DC

Jun 18, 2015 | Arizona Mining Oversight | 0 comments

Observances and ceremonies will be held across the land on June 19-24 to mark the 2015 National Days of Prayer to Protect Native American Sacred Places.

The prayer events include Oak Flat.

The observance in Washington, D.C. will be held on Friday, June 19, at 8:30 a.m., on the United States Capitol Grounds, West Front Grassy Area Nine (see details under Washington, D.C. in the alphabetical listing by state on the following pages).

Go here for the press release and schedule of events.

Come to Oak Flat May 30 – 31

Come to Oak Flat May 30 – 31

May 28, 2015 | Action Alert, Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

Come to Oak Flat May 30 – 31 to protect Oak Flat

The Apache Stronghold will be hosting a concert, and spiritual and educational events this weekend at Oak Flat. 

A concert featuring traditional Apache songs and Native American musicians will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday May 30 at Oak Flat.  Entertainment will continue all afternoon and culminate with Apache Mountain Spirit Dancers (around 5:00). 

Sunday’s events will begin at 8:00 am with a traditional Apache Holy Ground ceremony.  Holy Ground will be followed by concurrent educational and action events including an art project, an eco tour, a spiritual tour, and an Apache community meeting. 

All events are free and open to the public.  Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Meals will be provided, but bring warm clothes (for the evening), sun protection (during the day), and a chair.  Bring camping equipment if you plan to camp overnight. 

Oak Flat Campground is located south of US Highway 60 4 miles east of Superior, AZ.  You will see a Highway sign for the campground coming from either direction on Highway 60.  Follow signs into the campground.  

Background
In December, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law. It included the Oak Flat land exchange, which allows for multi-national mining company, Rio Tinto, to move forward on a proposal for an enormous copper mine. The mine would decimate a piece of the Tonto National Forest of Arizona, including the popular recreation area, Oak Flat. While the environmental impacts of this project would reach generations into the future, the absolute disregard for indigenous rights to the area has made the call to action on Oak Flat a moral imperative.   

The land near the Oak Flat Campground is a sacred site to the indigenous tribes in the area, including the Apache. The new law allows Rio Tinto a run-around to avoid complying with indigenous rights to the land. Activists have been working for many years on the issue and actions are being planned this winter throughout the region to raise awareness and stop the destruction of this wild and sacred space. 

For more information
Comment on Rio Tinto’s Proposed Toxic Tailings Site Drilling Plan

Comment on Rio Tinto’s Proposed Toxic Tailings Site Drilling Plan

Apr 8, 2015 | Action Alert, Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

The US Forest Service is accepting comments on a preliminary Environmental Assessment of a plan of operations to conduct baseline hydrological and geophysical testing on their proposed toxic tailings location for Rio Tinto’s proposed mine at Oak Flat.  

The deadline for comments in April 12, 2015.

Rio Tinto wishes to dump toxic tailings on public land managed by the US Forest Service north of Highway 60 between Superior and Queen Valley (roughly across the street for Boyce Thompson Arboretum).  Rio Tinto wants to drill 16 groundwater testing and monitoring wells, 41 geotechnical drill holes, and 32 deep geotechnical test trenches.  They want to “improve” more than 12 miles of Forest Service roads, use either illegal or user constructed roads, and go off road to disturb another 11 acres.

Apaches Meet Forest Service at Oak Flat

Apaches Meet Forest Service at Oak Flat

Feb 18, 2015 | Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

Press Release

February 17, 2015

For Immediate Release 

Contact:

Wendsler Nosie, Sr.,                                                   Vernelda Grant

(928) 475-2930                                                           (928) 961-3380 

Stills and video are available from the event.

An historic meeting took place today between Apache spiritual organization and the US Forest Service at Chich’il Bildagoteel (Oak Flat). 

Gather at Oak Flat, Saturday, February 7

Gather at Oak Flat, Saturday, February 7

Feb 5, 2015 | Action Alert, Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 1 comment

Saturday, February 7 will be a day of speakers, music, inspiration, and sharing to protect Oak Flat.

Please attend the gathering and to bring your friends, family, and colleagues.  

Saturday will be a beautiful day in a beautiful place.  It will be a great way to learn more about Oak Flat, why we are protecting it, and what you can do to help.

Oak Flat Campground is located south of US Highway 60, 4 miles east of Superior, AZ.  You will see a Highway sign for the campground coming from either direction on Highway 60.  Follow signs into the campground. 

Background
In December, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law. It included the Oak Flat land exchange, which allows for multi-national mining company, Rio Tinto, to move forward on a proposal for an enormous copper mine. The mine would decimate a piece of the Tonto National Forest of Arizona, including the popular recreation area, Oak Flat. While the environmental impacts of this project would reach generations into the future, the absolute disregard for indigenous rights to the area has made the call to action on Oak Flat a moral imperative.  

The land near the Oak Flat Campground is a sacred site to the indigenous tribes in the area, including the Apache bands. The new law allows Rio Tinto a run-around to avoid complying with indigenous rights to the land. Activists have been working for many years on the issue and actions are being planned this winter throughout the region to raise awareness and stop the destruction of this wild and sacred space. 

President Obama signs land exchange into law signaling new phase in the protection of Oak Flat

President Obama signs land exchange into law signaling new phase in the protection of Oak Flat

Jan 1, 2015 | Arizona Mining Oversight, Oak Flat Mining | 0 comments

On December 19, 2014, President Obama signed the National defense Authorization Act into law.  The bill contained the Oak Flat land exchange.  This particular version of the land exchange was the 13th since the bill was first introduced in Congress by convicted former Congressman, Rick Renzi in 2005.  Senator Flake, who previously worked for Rio Tinto at their uranium mine (co-owned by the Iranian government) in Namibia, acknowledged what we all knew, the bill could not pass the US Congress on its own merits.