Permitting

There is no doubt that mining changes the landscape. We're committed to protecting the land and surrounding area while we operate and after mining is complete. 

To date, we have initiated a variety of land management and restoration programs to protect and balance the delicate interaction between critical environmental factors. Examples include cleanup of the historic Magma Mine site, Arizona hedgehog cactus preservation, and monarch habitat conservation.

We will continue to work with the community and our partners to progressively rehabilitate land during the life of our operations.

Before we can construct or operate the proposed mine, we need approval from federal, state, and local agencies. This process includes getting our plans for the mine approved by the federal government in accordance with the NEPA requirements.

The Permitting Process

1. In 2013, Resolution Copper submitted a Mine Plan of Operations to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the federal agency in charge of the approval process. The document outlined our proposed plans to design, construct, operate, and close the mine. We also stated how we would reclaim and restore the area once mining is complete. The plan included baseline data about the water, air, and biology in and around the project and our plans to protect these valuable resources.
2. Next, the USFS formally announced its plan to develop a Draft Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, which provided the public opportunity to comment on the proposed plan. What followed was years of community engagement in the review process. 
3. In August 2019, the agency issued a Draft EIS. The Draft EIS included information about project impacts on the environment, how to mitigate or offset those impacts, and alternatives to the mine plan. After the public reviewed and commented on the draft EIS, the USFS and other agencies began conducting additional analysis of our plan. As a result, the agency may require us to change or refine our proposal.
4. In January 2021, the USFS published a Final EIS that addresses the public's comments and any changes made. The document is made available to the public for review. Along with the Final EIS, the USFS also released a Draft Record of Decision (ROD). A federal land exchange will take place not later than 60 days after the publication of the Final EIS.
5. Once the Draft ROD is released, the public has 45 days to object to the decision, and the USFS must respond and address any concerns within 90 days. Once this period is complete, and we receive a Final ROD and the USFS can issue a final approved plan of operations.

Only after we receive final approval, and dozens of additional permits, can the Resolution Copper project move forward and begin producing copper.

Learn More

• Permitting process on the US Forest Service website
• Land Exchange parcels fact sheet (16mb PDF)