Supreme Court Declines to Take Up Challenge to Big Arizona Copper Project

Wall Street Journal

28-05-2025

The Supreme Court cleared a major obstacle for a giant copper project in Arizona being developed by the world's two most valuable mining companies, declining to review a case from a coalition of Native American people, religious groups and others who say the planned mine will destroy a sacred site.
The project, called Resolution Copper, has been under development by mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Group BHP -0.21%decrease; red down pointing triangle for roughly two decades. The companies say the mine could supply as much as a quarter of current U.S. demand for copper, a metal viewed as essential to everything from electric vehicles to the data centers powering the AI boom.
But it has faced repeated challenges by a group of local Apaches who argue the mine will turn a sacred area into a crater nearly 2 miles across, and deep enough to hold the Eiffel Tower.
Supported by other Native American people, Christian groups, environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts, the Apache group sought an appeal from the Supreme Court to block a federal land transfer needed for the project to advance. The court rejected a plea to review the case.
As a result, the U.S. Forest Service will be able to go ahead with republishing a final environmental impact statement that opens the door to the land exchange, including a piece of land called Oak Flat, where opponents of the mine say they gather for religious ceremonies.
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