New Federal Act Halts Arizona Copper Mine to Protect Sacred Oak Flat and Regional Water Supplies

The Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act is a direct intervention to stop a massive industrial project in its tracks. The bill explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from transferring any National Forest System land within the 2,422-acre Oak Flat area to Resolution Copper, a joint venture owned by foreign mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP. Beyond just stopping a land swap, the bill places a total ban on mineral exploration, development, and extraction within the historic district. It effectively locks the gates on mining activities to ensure the land remains in its natural state, citing the area’s status as a sacred site for the Western Apache and other Tribes who have used the land for ceremonies and gathering medicine for generations.

Protecting the Tap and the Terrain

For residents in the East Salt River Valley and surrounding areas, this bill is as much about water as it is about history. The legislation points to a grim forecast if the mine were to proceed: the consumption of 250 billion gallons of groundwater over 40 years and the creation of a toxic waste dump at Skunk Camp nearly 500 feet high. By invoking Section 4 and 5 of the act, the government would be required to prohibit any infrastructure that supports these activities, including the 19.6-mile toxic waste pipeline and high-voltage power lines. For a local homeowner or a small farmer, this means the bill acts as a shield against land subsidence—where the ground literally sinks—which the bill predicts could reach over four feet in some areas due to massive water extraction.

Tribal Sovereignty and Sacred Spaces

This isn't just about stopping a hole in the ground; it’s about who gets a seat at the table. The bill mandates "government-to-government" consultations between the Secretary of Agriculture and Indian Tribes with ties to the district. Under Section 5, the Secretary must enter into cooperative agreements if a Tribe requests one, ensuring that members have guaranteed access to the land for traditional activities. This shifts the management of the Tonto National Forest from a focus on resource extraction to a focus on cultural integrity. It defines Oak Flat as a "traditional cultural place"—a technical term that means the land itself is essential to the living community’s identity and history.

The Corporate Cost of Conservation

The clear losers in this legislative shift are Resolution Copper and its parent companies, Rio Tinto and BHP. The bill specifically names these entities and highlights that their largest shareholder is Chinalco, owned by the People’s Republic of China. By blocking the mine, the bill prevents the extraction of copper that the text notes was primarily intended for export. While this is a win for conservationists and Indigenous groups, it represents a total shutdown of a multi-billion dollar industrial investment. For the average worker, this means the trade-off is clear: the bill prioritizes long-term environmental stability and religious freedom over the temporary construction and mining jobs the project would have created.