The Supreme Court rejects Apache plea to block the copper mine in sacred lands

Washington (AP) – The Supreme Court rejected on Tuesday an appeal of the apaches fighting for a massive copper mining project in federal lands in Arizona that have sacred.

The judges left instead of decisions of the lower court that allow the transfer of the national forest land of fool, known as flat oak, for copper resolution, which plans to extract what he says is the second largest copper deposit in the world.

The Trump administration has said that it will press to complete the transfer.

Judge Neil Gorsuch wrote in dissent that it was a “serious mistake” not to make the appeal.

“Recognizing the meaning of Oak Flat, the government has long protected both the land and the access of the apaches,” Gorsuch wrote, along with Judge Clarence Thomas. “No more. Now, the government and a mining conglomerate want to convert flat oak into a massive hole in the ground.”

A group known as Apache Stronghold, which represents the interests of certain members of the tribe of San Carlos Apache, has argued that land transfer will result in the destruction of the site in violation of the religious rights of its members.

The Apache tribes in Arizona consider the flat oak, which is splashed from ancient oaks and traditional plants, essential for their spiritual well -being.

“We will never stop fighting, nothing will dissuade us from protecting Oak Flat from destruction,” said Wendsler Nosie Sr. by Apache Strononghold. He called the decision of the Superior Court as a “strong blow”, but urged the action in Congress while promising to continue the court’s fight.

According to the United States forest service, it is estimated that 40 billion pounds are estimated during the life of the mine.

The project has significant support in the traditional mining cities of Superior and other traditional cities in the area. The company estimates that the mine will generate $ 1 billion a year for Arizona’s economy and create thousands of local jobs.

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Victoria Pealy, general copper resolution manager, said the project could become one of the largest copper mines in the country. She said the company has made “important changes” in the Mining Plan to reduce the impact on tribes.

Resolution Copper is a subsidiary of international mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP.

Judge Samuel Alito did not participate in the case, presumably because he owns between $ 15,000 and $ 50,000 in BHP shares, according to his most recent financial dissemination.

The Congress approved an exchange of land in 2014 that would give the resolution of copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of forest lands in exchange for eight plots that it owns in Arizona.

In the waning days of the first Trump administration, the United States Department of Agriculture issued the required environmental review that would allow land exchange to continue.

Apache Stribhold sued in a federal court to block it. With the change in administrations to President Joe Biden, the Department of Agriculture, which includes forest service, withdrew the review to consult even more with American native tribes.

But the lawsuit continued and a year ago, the Federal Court of Appeals in San Francisco separated 6-5 to allow the transfer of the Earth to advance, rejecting the arguments of Apache Stronghold on religious freedom and its invocation of an 1852 treaty between the United States government and the apaches.

The five dissident judges described the result as a tragic error that would result in “the total destruction” of the sacred site.

The forest service has already provided the 60 -day notice that is intended to re -issue the environmental review, as required by a court order. A judge had agreed in May to stop the transfer, but only until the Supreme Court intervened.

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News writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed.