Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick

Representing the 1st District of Arizona

FACTS about Southeast Arizona Land Exchange & Conservation Act

The legislation: The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act was signed into law by President Obama in December 2014 as part of the NDAA. 

The region: The town of Superior, where Resolution Copper is located, is part of Arizona’s Copper Corridor region, which has more than a century’s legacy of copper mining. Copper is one of Arizona’s “5 Cs” of industry as reflected in in our state seal.  The region is also home to the San Carlos Apache Nation and the Tonto National Forest (which includes the land addressed in this legislation).

Jobs and economic impact: The copper mine in Superior is projected to bring nearly 4,000 much-needed jobs to Superior and the small towns of the Copper Corridor. It is projected to generate about $60 billion for Arizona’s economy over the life of the mine. By developing North America’s largest copper deposit, Resolution Copper would produce enough copper to meet about 25 percent of U.S. demand.

The land exchange: The bill authorizes the exchange of land between Resolution Copper, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The land exchange protects over 5,300 acres of privately held, environmentally sensitive land by placing it into federal protection from mining or development. This is in exchange for just over 2,400 acres of national forest land containing North America’s largest copper deposit. 

Tribal and environmental concerns: The land exchange in this legislation has been modified from earlier versions of the bill so that the transfer of the federal Oak Flat property will not occur until after an environmental study is performed on the mine and other activities related to the land exchange — which meets a key concern of environmental advocates. Concerns voiced by the San Carlos Apache were addressed with modifications to the bill that ensure tribal members can continue to access the Oak Flat campground for years to come unless the area is deemed unsafe. And the legislation designates 807 acres of the Apache Leap Cliffs as a “special management area,” which places it under U.S. Forest Service protection and ensures the cliffs cannot be damaged by the mine.