Statement

Please find an update below on the Resolution Copper project.

The US Forest Service published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Resolution Copper on January 15, 2021. The publication comes after more than seven years of public and 11 years of tribal consultation. This reflects a delay from the July 2020 target date set under the Obama Administration.

Resolution Copper has not applied or taken advantage of programs to expedite or “fast-track” the permitting process. We and the Forest Service have stayed with the schedule established by the Obama Administration in 2015.

We have implemented significant mitigation measures that respond to concerns raised, both by the public and tribal governments. Over the course of the mine’s life, we expect to invest in a range of important initiatives including cultural heritage, education, youth programs, economic development, environmental mitigation and recreation.

The publication of the FEIS is one step in an ongoing permitting and development process.

Connections to the land

We recognize the historical connection that each of the 11 Native American Tribes has with the land involved in or near to the land exchange. These include the Hopi, San Carlos Apache, Yavapai Apache, and Gila River Indian Community to name a few. We acknowledge that these connections to the land have endured over centuries.

We will consult with Tribes to seek to protect sites identified through the Tribal Monitor program that have traditional meaning to tribal members. 

Engaging with Native American Tribes

We will strive to build constructive relationships with each of the 11 Native American Tribes based on mutual respect, meaningful engagement, trust, mutual understanding and mutual benefit. We will continue to seek consent from Tribes consistent with the International Council on Mining & Metals’ Statement on Indigenous Peoples and Mining. We will continue to listen to the perspectives and concerns of each Tribe.

We have conducted a multi-year ethnographic and ethnohistoric study in partnership with Tribes and the US Forest Service to identify places, areas, artifacts and natural features of importance. We have also conducted more than 150 cultural baseline reports over the past 15 years, incorporating all elements of the landscape, and conducted with tribal members, trained under the Tribal Monitoring partnership formed with the US Forest Service.

We will also complete a detailed feasibility study and welcome the opportunity to continue engaging with tribal officials, tribal members, and other stakeholders before any final decision is taken to develop the project.

Significant changes to the project design along with measures to address concerns are a result of meaningful consultation, collaboration and coordination with Tribes, including:

• Forming the Emory Oak Restoration & Conservation Program, which recognizes the importance of this species to the Western Apache. This Western Apache led partnership with the US Forest Service, Northern Arizona University, and Resolution Copper will lead to the reinvigoration of Emory Oak health for years to come.
• A Tribal Monitor program ensures tribes' traditional knowledge and perspectives inform the Forest Service in their decision-making process. To date, there are 30 trained monitors from seven Native American Tribes working alongside archaeologists. This program was recognized earlier this year by the Arizona Preservation Foundation and State Historic Preservation Office at the Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards.
• The protection of Apache Leap through the Apache Leap Special Management Area (SMA). This includes specific measures to address tribal views regarding public access, grazing and other protections for locations of cultural importance.

We are also committed to careful and respectful treatment of any Native American artifacts or ancestral remains that may be found on the property. Working with US Forest Service, a detailed management plan was developed for data recovery and handling of any artifacts for each of the 11 Native American Tribes. We will support the full implementation of these management plans and will not retain or store any Native American artifacts.

We reiterate our continued commitment to work collaboratively with Arizona and New Mexico Tribes as the project moves to a new phase of the permitting process next year.