A bill to clear the way for the Resolution Copper mine near Superior was approved yesterday (Wednesday) by the House Natural Resources Committee.
The Arizona Republic reports that the 26 to 19 vote was along party lines. The full House may vote on the measure before the August recess.
The bill would authorize a federal land exchange giving Resolution Copper about 2400 acres in the Oak Flats area of the Tonto National Forest in return for more than 5,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land around the state.
The bill’s sponsor is 1st District Representative Paul Gosar who is on the Natural Resources Committee. But another Arizona Repreesentative Raul Grijalva opposes the bill. He is also on the Natural Resources Committee. Grijalva says the bill threatens sacred Apache lands and could endanger the area’s water supply. Gosar says the mine would bring jobs and revenue to Arizona.
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