The
Inter Tribal Council of Arizona testified against
H.R.1904,
the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, at a
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing last week.
The bill authorizes a land swap between the federal government and
Resolution Copper. The
company plans to use the land for a copper mine in the
Tonto National Forest.
Nearly every tribe in Arizona opposes the swap. The mine would be located
near Apache Leap, a sacred site to the
San Carlos Apache
Tribe, and other culturally important sites.
“Many tribes go to these places for prayer ceremonies, to gather their ceremonial items, or for peace and personal cleansing,” ITCA President Shan Lewis told the committee, KPBS reported. “These places are holy.”
The project has significant political support in Arizona. The
House passed the bill last October.
Get the Story:
Arizona Tribal Group Denounces Land Exchange Bill
(KPBS 2/13)
Committee Notice:
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: to receive testimony on H.R. 1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 (February 9, 2012)
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Rep. Grijalva: Mining
company doesn't care about tribal rights (11/21)
House rejects bid to protect
Apache sacred sites from swap (11/3)
House passes bill for land swap opposed by Arizona
tribes (10/27)
House vote expected on
land swap opposed by Arizona tribes (9/8)
House committee backs land swap opposed by Arizona
tribes (7/14)
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