Home Business Legal Supreme Court Allows Major Ari...

Supreme Court Allows Major Arizona Copper Mine Project to Proceed

Legal

Business Honor
28 May, 2025

Supreme Court allows Arizona copper mine to proceed despite opposition from Native American groups.

A case filed by Native American organizations and others against a massive copper mining project in Arizona has been denied by the Supreme Court. This clears a major hurdle for the Resolution Copper project, jointly developed by mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Group.

The Resolution Copper mine has been in development for nearly 20 years. According to the firms, it may meet up to 25% of the copper demand in the US. This metal is important for electric vehicles, renewable energy and data centers supporting artificial intelligence.

Opponents, including the Apache Stronghold association of Native Americans, religious groups and environmentalists, argue the project will destroy Oak Flat which is a sacred site used for religious ceremonies. The proposed mine would create a crater nearly two miles wide and deep enough to hold the Eiffel Tower.

The Supreme Court denied the association's request to halt a federal land transfer that was necessary for the project to proceed. This means the U.S. Forest Service can now republish the final environmental impact statement for the land exchange. The mine site is near Superior, Arizona, in the Copper Triangle region. The copper deposit lies several thousand feet beneath Oak Flat.

Rio Tinto and BHP say they have revised their plans to reduce impacts on tribal and cultural interests after consulting with Native American tribes and local communities. Resolution Copper’s general manager, Vicky Peacey, noted that ongoing discussions will continue to influence the direction of the project.

The project has support from many state and local officials and has been backed by multiple U.S. administrations. It supports national objectives to lessen dependency on foreign resources and boost domestic mineral output. The companies have invested over $2 billion so far without beginning copper production. Apache Stronghold's founder, Wendsler Nosie Sr., stated that the organization will continue to fight in court and urged Congress to take action to safeguard Oak Flat.