Resolution Copper is making one of the most significant private investments in Arizona history, developing one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits in Arizona’s Copper Triangle. Once in operation, the mine could supply up to one-quarter of the nation’s copper demand.
The lead agency charged with overseeing the Federal approval process, the United States Forest Service (USFS), has spent nearly a decade gathering insights from local leaders, Native American Tribes, NGOs, community organizations and businesses. The agency also communicates with officials at all levels of government to ensure they understand the project. Simultaneously, Resolution Copper has participated in hundreds of separate parallel engagements, including community working groups, to collect input to help shape the project.
Before mining begins, Resolution Copper must obtain all permits and approvals from county, state, and federal governments. Since 2013, the USFS has overseen an extensive independent Federal review of the project, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The agency’s study involves multiple rounds of feedback from local communities, advocacy groups, and other government agencies. Also, consultation, coordination and collaboration with Native American Tribes who have historical ties to the area. The USFS must issue a final environmental impact statement (EIS) in order for any land exchange to be completed.
As a result of years of consultations, significant changes went into the project design, including:
We respect the sovereignty of Native American Tribes, and the hundreds of government-to-government consultations with tribal and cultural heritage leaders that have played an essential role in shaping this project. For more than a decade, interested Native American Tribes have been working side-by-side with government officials and the project to understand and document the historical and cultural importance of the area. We work together with tribes to provide long term employment, job training, education, and commercial opportunities for Native American-owned businesses.
In 2018, Resolution Copper funded a new Tribal Monitor program hosted by the USFS. The program ensures tribal members are a part of the process to identify areas, resources, and sites of importance and support informed decision-making. The first-of-its-kind program for the USFS trains and employs more than 30 members from seven Native American Tribes to work alongside archaeologists.
Resolution Copper is committed to making the local community area a cleaner and safer place to live and work. That’s why we invested roughly $75 million and spent 15 years restoring 475 acres of the old Magma Copper West Plant. As a result of our reclamation efforts, an area that formerly stored mine tailings is now home to thriving native vegetation and wildlife. And by hiring local workers for the project, we’ve created jobs for our neighbors.
We have been committed to mitigating the impact of this project from day one and will continue to be through the end of operations. We’re working collaboratively with the community to ensure the legacy we create is one of positive, lasting benefits. We’re continually seeking ways to make our operations more sustainable, improve product life cycles, increase biodiversity, and reduce our carbon footprint.
Our Community Working Group (CWG) includes businesses, area leaders and local organizations interested in the project and committed to the community. CWG meets monthly to discuss the latest project development, helping us stay connected with local citizens, understand their concerns, and make fully informed decisions. Also, CWG performs community water quality sampling alongside Resolution Copper.
In 2019, Resolution Copper committed to a four-year $1.2 million agreement with the Superior Unified School District, including providing support for STEM and robotics programs at local schools. We’ve also established a robust training and apprenticeship program to prepare more local workers for employment at our state-of-the-art mine.
We’re providing $1.2 million to help communities with COVID-19 response and recovery at a local level. We’ve worked hard to keep our people safe and also provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to communities and emergency responders. We joined with United Food and other partners to distribute more than 100,000 canned drinking water and donate more than 280,000 meals to communities hard-hit by COVID-19. Also, funds will secure access to technology for students learning remotely, support domestic violence shelters, provide small business grants to local entrepreneurs, and so much more.
“Resolution Copper has already spent tens of millions of dollars to store enough surface water in the ground to sustain our operations for decades, which will result in a net zero impact to the groundwater when the stored water is recovered.”
Tag: WATER
Emory oak acorns (Quercus emoryi) are a critical component of Western Apache cultural heritage. Not only are the acorns a traditional source of food, but they also have cultural and ceremonial uses. In recent decades, however, Apache elders have noticed the health of these special…
Superior is known for its rich mining history, and at Resolution Copper we want to continue this legacy cleanly and safely. In 2005, Resolution Copper began the lengthy task of reclaiming the site of the old Magma Mine, a fixture in the Copper Triangle area since 1910. Since the…
Tag: COMMUNITY
