Resolution Copper Is the Future of Domestic Mining: Myths vs. Fact
Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) supports responsible energy policy and development on public lands that benefits the American people. If resources are extracted from taxpayer-owned lands, they should stay in the U.S. to support domestic energy security and local economies, not be exported for foreign profit.
We believe in balanced federal lands management that honors the multiple-use mandate, ensuring our public lands continue to serve a range of uses from energy and recreation to conservation and cultural heritage for current and future generations.
While we do not oppose mining, we do oppose the transfer of Oak Flat to foreign-owned mining company, and we do so for many reasons. The implications of Resolution Copper’s mine are staggering for Tribal sovereignty, water security, national security, and America’s self-reliance. You can read more in this blog and in this Resolution Copper’s Mine at Oak Flat: Myths vs. Facts.
For years, Resolution Copper has relied on a misinformation campaign to mislead Arizonans and the broader public about the true impact of its proposed mine at Oak Flat.
As Americans, we have the right and responsibility to raise questions and concerns about projects on our public lands. An op-ed authored by HECHO Executive Director Camilla Simon, published in Real Clear Energy, does exactly that.
In response, Debra W. Struhsacker, one of the founders of the Women’s Mining Coalition, authored a rebuttal op-ed that fails to address the core concerns we raised in ours. Instead, it continues to spread misleading information while attempting to discredit and dismiss the legitimate opposition to Resolution Copper’s mine.
Struhsacker presents herself as a mining policy expert with over 30 years of experience. With that expertise, she undoubtedly understands the serious implications of the proposed Resolution Copper mine. It’s no surprise, though, that she praises the project. She is an advocate for Rio Tinto, one of the companies behind Resolution Copper. Rio Tinto is one of the sponsors of the organization she co-founded, the Women’s Mining Coalition. This key affiliation was not disclosed in her piece, despite its clear influence on her position.
While HECHO receives funding from a variety of sources, our work regarding Oak Flat has been conducted independently, without influence from any funder or client.
Below, we break down the misleading claims made by Debra W. Struhsacker and offer the facts, including data, studies, and expertise from various stakeholders. It’s time to set the record straight.
MYTH #1: The Resolution Copper Mine will supply 25% of the country’s need of copper. The mine is a step forward for establishing a secure supply of domestically sourced minerals
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “This is a significant step forward for domestic mining, the economy and establishing a secure supply of domestically sourced minerals…the copper to be mined here will reduce our reliance on foreign minerals by satisfying roughly 25% of the country’s urgent demand for domestic copper, which is a mineral crucial to our country’s energy future and national security.”
At first glance, this statement sounds promising. But here’s what it doesn’t tell you.
FACT: There are no guarantees the copper will stay in the U.S.
Resolution Copper has claimed its project could supply up to 25% of U.S. copper demand. Struhsacker states the proposed mine will establish a secure supply of domestically sourced minerals and reduce reliance on foreign minerals. However, Resolution Copper has never committed to keeping that copper in the country. In fact, it has actively opposed efforts in Congress that would require it.
“Section 3003 (of the land exchange bill) lacks any requirement for Resolution Copper to sell the copper it extracts from beneath Oak Flat in the U.S. or any requirement that this copper benefit American consumers. RCM has always fought legislative amendments that would have required it to keep Oak Flat copper in the U.S.”— Chairman Terry Rambler, San Carlos Apache Tribe. [Testimony, HNR EMR Hearing, Feb. 6, 2025]
During the 2013 House floor debate on the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange, Representative Raúl Grijalva highlighted a critical point:
“Rio Tinto has a long-established partnership to supply copper to China and at a hearing refused to say what percentage of the copper generated from federal lands would be retained and processed in the United States.”
FACT: The copper extracted at Oak Flat will likely be processed overseas
Copper must be smelted to become usable in manufacturing and the United States lacks the capacity (there are only two operating copper smelters) to process all of its copper concentrate.
Resolution Copper has no plans to build a new smelter, and its official mining plan (General Plan of Operations) does not reference using Rio Tinto’s Utah smelter, which is already dedicated to processing concentrate from Bingham Canyon Mine.
The U.S. Forest Service’s land appraisal even states that the “most likely” destination for Oak Flat’s copper concentrate is Southeast Asia.
China has a vast network of copper smelters, and it is the largest global producer of refined copper. That’s where Oak Flat’s copper is likely headed.
“With only a handful of copper refineries still operating in the United States, the copper mined from beneath Oak Flat will almost certainly be shipped overseas for processing. Today, most of Arizona’s copper ore shipments already pass through Nogales to Mexico’s Guaymas port to be sent to Asia. Resolution Copper plans to extract American copper, send it abroad, likely to China, for refining, and then sell the finished products back to us. That’s not just bad economics, it’s a direct hit to American workers and taxpayers.”— Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
FACT: Foreign ownership & national security risks
This is not a hypothetical risk. Resolution Copper is owned by Rio Tinto and BHP, two mining giants with deep financial ties to the People’s Republic of China.
“People’s Republic of China is Rio Tinto’s largest shareholder. Chinalco, a company wholly owned by the PRC, owns 14.57% of Rio Tinto - more than double any other shareholder. Rio Tinto generates nearly 60% of its revenue through the export of minerals to China, and BHP generates over 62% of its revenue through the export of minerals to China. Rio Tinto and BHP enable the PRC to dominate global copper supply chains. PRC is the biggest market for Rio Tinto and BHP.” — Chairman Terry Rambler, San Carlos Apache Tribe. [Testimony, HNR EMR Hearing. Feb. 6, 2025]
With the Resolution Copper project, America will be transferring 2,422 acres of federal public land with billions of dollars-worth of copper underneath it to a private, foreign-owned company.
Besides no having guarantees that the copper will remain in the United States, Americans will never receive royalties from the extraction of this copper.
“In fact, Americans may end up buying their own copper back at inflated prices from China. This is a bad deal for us. How can the interests of a foreign mining company be more important than the well-being and interests of the American people?” — Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
FACT: What Struhsacker’s op-ed purposely ignores
Foreign energy dependence, national security risks, and the export of taxpayer-owned resources are serious and critical issues that were not addressed in Debra W. Struhsacker’s op-ed. These concerns were central to Camilla Simon’s original piece in Real Clear Energy, yet Struhsacker chose to completely overlook them, opting instead to provide generalized statements about economic growth and vague promises regarding domestic mineral supply.
MYTH #2: Rio Tinto has responsibly operated major mines
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Rio Tinto is…a company that has responsibly operated major mines in the United States for decades. This includes the world-class Kennecott copper mine in Salt Lake City, which recently celebrated its 120th anniversary. Kennecott also operates one of only two copper smelters in the United States, a critical asset for reducing reliance on foreign refining and securing domestic supply chains.”
Struhsacker presents Rio Tinto as a responsible corporation with a model U.S. mining operation. But Rio Tinto’s track record, both in the U.S. and globally, shows something different.
FACT: Rio Tinto and BHP have a track record of environmental disasters
Rio Tinto and BHP, the joint owners of Resolution Copper, have been linked to major mining disasters and cultural destruction. From Brazil to Madagascar to Australia, their operations have repeatedly harmed communities, ecosystems, and Indigenous lands.
In Brazil, BHP faces a lawsuit over the 2015 Mariana dam collapse, which killed 19 people and polluted over 400 miles of rivers.
In Madagascar, villagers living near a Rio Tinto mine have reported toxic contamination of local waterways with elevated levels of uranium and lead, posing serious public health risks.
In Western Australia, Rio Tinto drew international outrage in 2020 when it blew up 46,000-year-old sacred rock shelters in Juukan Gorge, deeply sacred to Indigenous people.
“Kennecott has a history of environmental issues, including some recent. Rio Tinto and BHP, co-owners of Resolution Copper, have a record of tailings failures worldwide and mishandled mine cleanups. Oak Flat is a registered sacred site. After Juukan Gorge, Rio Tinto’s CEO claimed they would never destroy a sacred site again. Yet here we are.”— Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
FACT: The Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the largest toxic waste producers in the U.S.
The Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the largest toxic waste producers in the U.S.
“New environmental concerns about the Bingham Canyon Mine are surfacing. According to a July 2025 report by The Salt Lake Tribune, Kennecott’s tailings pond has sunk more than 20 feet and may be leaking waste into the Great Salt Lake, threatening one of the most important wetland ecosystems in North America. This isn’t world-class stewardship, it’s a red flag.”— Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
Resolution Copper proposed mine would generate 1.37 billion tons of toxic mining waste, becoming one of the largest tailings storage facilities in the world.
MYTH #3: Resolution Copper will support thousands of jobs and contribute $1 billion to Arizona’s economy
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Resolution Copper already employs more than 300 Arizonans. This number will expand significantly as Resolution Copper expects to support more than 3,700 direct and indirect jobs once operational. As one of the largest investments in rural Arizona’s history, the project is expected to contribute $1 billion annually to the state’s economy. Both employees and contractors will primarily be local.”
FACT: The job numbers are likely inflated, and the mine will be highly automated
Resolution Copper’s public relations material, including its economic impact flyer, claims the mine will generate 3,700 jobs and $1 billion per year in economic benefits for Arizona. But when you examine the details, these figures raise more questions than answers.
First, the mine would operate nearly 7,000 feet underground, where temperatures can reach 170°F. Mining professionals, including those with deep underground experience, say that such a mine would need to be highly automated, with much of the work performed remotely and with energy-intensive cooling systems.
“There is no block cave mine in the world that has operated at 7,000 feet. This automation leaves very few jobs and will require specialized knowledge in advanced technologies. The number of actual jobs that would be created by the proposed mine does not justify sacrificing Oak Flat and the rest of the area.”— Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner with experience in block cave mining and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
Automation is a central feature of Rio Tinto’s "Mine of the Future" initiative. As it has publicly stated:
“There is no other mining operation anywhere in the world attempting this on this scale. Our driverless trucks, remotely operated drill and blasting, automated train systems and remote train loading functions are just the start.”
Given this model, it is not surprising that industry experts are skeptical of Resolution’s job claims.
FACT: Economic benefit claims are vague and lack transparency
Resolution Copper claims a $1 billion annual economic contribution but provides no third-party validation or clear breakdown of how that number is calculated. The flyer highlights some spending, but these numbers fall far short of explaining a billion-dollar impact.
There are no independent economic studies to support Resolution’s inflated economic impact.
In addition, Americans will receive no royalties from the copper extracted, despite it being taken from federal public lands. That means no direct public revenue from the billions of dollars' worth of copper shipped out of Oak Flat.
What’s more, Resolution says that more than two-thirds of current workers live within 40 miles of the mine, but this is a baseline from early construction and prep phases, not long-term operational staffing. With automation expected, it's unclear how many full-time, local jobs will truly be sustained.
Arizona deserves honest answers, not marketing spin with inflated or vague numbers.
MYTH #4: Resolution Copper assures that humans can work safely at the depth of Resolution Copper’s mine
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Perhaps the most factually incorrect claim the author makes is about the working conditions of the working environment of the mine, stating that the “depth and extreme temperatures make it impossible for humans to work there.” Resolution Copper complies with the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA’s) stringent mine worker health and safety regulations. The mine is equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system, including industrial chillers and air conditioning, that pushes cold air in and removes hot air to ensure safe working conditions. Mining at this depth is challenging, but far from impossible.”
FACT: The real issue is automation, not safety compliance.
First, it’s important to clarify that Camilla Simon’s op-ed doesn’t state that Resolution Copper would endanger workers. The concern wasn’t safety, it was whether such a deep mine could realistically employ the number of people being promised.
Struhsacker’s focus on ventilation systems sidesteps the actual issue raised: Will this be a human-operated mine, or a remote-controlled, robotic operation?
According to underground mining experts and internal industry estimates, the extreme heat and ventilation demands at this depth will likely force extensive automation, meaning fewer jobs, and a workforce requiring specialized technical skills, not traditional mining labor.
FACT: The mine’s electricity demand could overwhelm Arizona’s grid
Resolution Copper will require massive amounts of electricity for ventilation, cooling, and dewatering due to the extreme depth and the nature of the copper deposit, which raises a major concern for Arizona’s power grid, water resources, and cost to the public.
“Based on the depth, grade, and production rate, the projected electricity consumption would be 236 MW. However, the discovery of geothermal water while drilling the primary access shaft could result in additional electricity consumption… under the worst-case scenario, corresponding to total electricity consumption of 260 MW and 1900 MW, or 3-22% of the peak power capacity of the Salt River Project." — Dr. Steven Emerman, Geophysicist and expert witness. [Testimony, U.S. House Hearing on Resolution Copper, March 12, 2020]
The FEIS published in the Federal Register on June 20, 2025, now estimates Resolution Copper Mine’s use of electricity at 352MW.
What does 352 MW mean in everyday terms?
Equivalent to multiple large data centers: A typical large-scale data center uses between 20–50 MW. That means Resolution Copper could use as much electricity as 7–18 massive data centers combined. Put another way, that is enough to power nearly 300,000 average homes, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
“As someone who worked underground from levels 3,000 to 4,000 feet, I can say from experience: it was already hot. I don’t see how they’ll keep this mine cool enough to operate at 7,000 feet without overwhelming the grid.” — Sylvia Delgado Barrett, retired miner and Vice Chairwoman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
MYTH #5: Resolution Copper is committed to water quality
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Resolution Copper’s water use and management have been approved by federal and state regulatory experts, as well as representatives from the San Carlos Apache Tribe. All have recognized that the project will not pose a threat to Arizona’s groundwater supply. Resolution Copper cannot and will not withdraw groundwater from the Cutter Basin or the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Furthermore, since 2009, Resolution has delivered more than 7 billion gallons of treated water to local farmers, contributing to a better distribution of water resources across Arizona. Resolution Copper is an industry leader in water management and sustainability that should be an example for future mining in the Southwest.”
FACT: The mine would deplete and permanently damage Arizona’s groundwater
Resolution Copper’s mine would not only exhaust the water of a region already suffering from mega-drought and severe water shortages, but it will also cause irreparable damage to vital water resources.
According to the now-rescinded Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), the mine would require at least 775,000 acre-feet of water over its lifetime, that’s over 256 billion gallons, or enough to supply a city of 140,000 people for 40 years.
“Two major aquifers, deep and shallow groundwater, will be destroyed by the block cave method, as noted in the FEIS. They will never recover. These aquifers feed the East Valley and the town of Superior. 87,000 acre-feet of water will be pumped out of the area.” — Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner with experience in block cave mining and Chairman of Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
FACT: Independent studies warn of severe and irreversible water damage
Scientific and agency reviews contradict Resolution Copper’s claims of sustainability.
A 2022 Bureau of Land Management technical report identified severe flaws in the original FEIS and confirmed that the mine could cause irreparable harm to water resources, including groundwater depletion and contamination risks.
A detailed hydrological study by Dr. James Wells, commissioned by the San Carlos Apache Tribe, found that the mine’s groundwater pumping would lower water tables, permanently deplete groundwater, and threaten key infrastructure, including the Central Arizona Project (CAP), due to ground water subsidence.
“Resolution Copper Mine would use at least 250 billion gallons of water over the life of the mine. Much of this water will be pumped from the East Salt River Valley which is part of the Phoenix AMA, about 15 miles west of the mine. If the water Resolution plans to use was stored in a tank the dimensions of a football field, such a tank would need to be 147 miles high to accommodate all the water...Resolution’s mine could potentially use double to triple the amount of groundwater that it claims if the promised, but unproven water-saving measures are not realized.” — “The Proposed Resolution Copper Mine and Arizona’s Water Future” report by James Wells, PhD, PG, L. Everett & Associates, Environmental Consultants. (September 2021)
“The Resolution mine will consume at least 775,000 acre-feet of ground water from the East Salt River Valley that is already facing a water shortage. The Arizona State Land Department stated in 2019 the groundwater pumping will reduce the value of nearby state Trust Land by more than $530 million.” — Statement from the San Carlos Apache Tribe. [ Press release, July 16, 2025]
FACT: The Tribe has not approved Resolution’s water management plans
Struhsacker claims that representatives of the San Carlos Apache Tribe approved Resolution’s water practices. This is categorically false.
“The San Carlos Apache Tribe has always strongly opposed the project and has sounded the alarm for many years about the severe water depletion and contamination that will occur from the proposed Resolution Copper Mine. The Tribe sued the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for the issuance of a waste discharge permit to Resolution Copper.” — Statement from the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
The Tribe continues to legally challenge Resolution’s permits and water-related impacts, underscoring their clear and sustained opposition to the project.
FACT: The region is actually facing a significant water supply deficit
Struhsacker references the U.S. Forest Service’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and asserts that there is “adequate water available to meet all cumulative regional needs for the next 100 years.” However, this claim overlooks the groundwater model projections published for both the Phoenix and Pinal Active Management Areas (AMAs). The 2023 model from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) predicts a deficit of 4.86 million acre-feet in the Phoenix AMA alone over the next century and prohibits new subdivisions that rely on groundwater in peripheral growth areas. At the same time, projections for the Pinal AMA indicate a staggering shortfall of over 8 million acre-feet, with the ADWR stating that “the days of utilizing native groundwater for development in Pinal are over.” Rather than being “adequate,” the region is actually facing a significant water supply deficit.
Although Resolution Copper has secured some water storage credits, according to the FEIS, 70% of the water needed for the mine must be pumped from a large network of new extraction wells in the East Salt River Valley just east of Phoenix. The FEIS estimates that the water to be pumped represents nearly 7% of all groundwater in the East Salt River Valley. This basin is relied upon by agricultural users as well as Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Apache Junction and Superior.
Resolution Copper is not an industry leader in water management and sustainability; it is exploiting Arizona's archaic groundwater law that allows mining companies to pump groundwater without any limitation.
MYTH #6: Resolution Copper’s land exchange was accomplished through proper process
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Enacted into law by Congress in 2014, this will allow for the exchange of 2,422 acres of land above the copper deposit for 4,459 acres of Arizona land with desirable environmental attributes owned by Resolution Copper that will become public.”
This sounds like a fair and straightforward land swap, one that’s gone through Congress and follows normal public process. However, the truth is troubling.
The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange wasn’t a collaborative or transparent agreement. It was a legislative loophole, executed at the eleventh hour, with no accountability and no Tribal consent.
FACT: The land exchange was pushed through Congress using a midnight rider without debate or transparency
For years, Resolution Copper sought to access the rich copper deposit beneath Oak Flat. But mining was banned on these public lands. So, the company turned to Congress. After years of failed attempts to pass a bill, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act was inserted into the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, a must-pass bill, as a midnight rider.
This legislative maneuver allowed the land swap to proceed without:
A floor debate.
Public input or committee scrutiny.
An opportunity to amend or challenge the provision on the House or Senate floors.
“In 2014, congressional allies of RCM inserted the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act (Section 3003) as a closed-door, last-minute rider in the FY15 NDAA.”— Chairman Terry Rambler, San Carlos Apache Tribe. [Testimony, HNR EMR Hearing, Feb. 6, 2025]
“The 2014 Land Exchange had failed at least 10 times in Congress. No chance to challenge. It was a midnight rider attachment.”— Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
This is not how public land transfers are supposed to happen, especially when they involve lands sacred to Tribal Nations and owned by the American people.
FACT: Oak Flat was protected by federal order and removed without consent
Oak Flat (Chí’chil Biłdagoteel) is not just any land. It has been protected from mining since 1955, when an executive order (PLO 1229) issued under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, placed it under a special withdrawal. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) due to its profound spiritual and ceremonial importance to the Apache and other Indigenous peoples.
This meant the area was off-limits to mining until the land exchange rider quietly revoked that protection, without even a single hearing focused on Oak Flat’s sacred and cultural value.
MYTH: Resolution Copper’s mining operations won’t impact recreation or cultural practices
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “What the author completely fails to mention is that mining operations have co-existed with outdoor recreation, ranching and cultural activities in the Oak Flat area and throughout Arizona for decades… As part of this land exchange, there will be no physical impact to Devil’s Canyon, Queen Creek, or U.S. 60. Outdoor recreation, ranching, and cultural activities in the Oak Flat area will be maintained, including access to public roads, climbing areas, and the Oak Flat campground. Apache Leap has also been put under permanent protection.”
FACT: The Resolution Copper mine will permanently destroy Oak Flat
If built, the Resolution Copper mine will obliterate Oak Flat, creating a massive 1.8-mile-wide, 1,000-foot-deep crater, a physical collapse that will make the area unusable for recreation, camping, or religious practices. This was confirmed by the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Upon execution of the land exchange, access to at least 11,600 acres of public land will be lost (FEIS at ES-26). The mine would only provide access to a scant 50-acre portion of the Oak Flat Campground, which is unilaterally revocable by Resolution Copper at any time. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has called this supposed guarantee of limited access a “hollow promise.” (Apache Stronghold v. United States, Case No. 21-15295).
“The loss of rock climbing resources alone will be considerable. The majority of Oak Flat itself, once the site of the world’s largest climbing competition (from 1989 to 2004), will collapse into the resulting crater, taking with it hundreds of established rock climbs and thousands of boulder problems.” — Curt Shannon, rock climber and Interim Director of the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition.
The 23-square mile footprint of the mine will also destroy dozens of sacred springs and hundreds of other traditional cultural properties, including burial sites, petroglyphs, cultural landscapes, and medicinal plants.
“The historic significance of Oak Flat cannot be overstated and neither can the enormity of the adverse effects that would result to this property from the undertaking. Oak Flat would be directly and permanently damaged with a substantial portion of the property being destroyed through subsidence. In addition, hundreds of other historic properties would be destroyed or otherwise adversely affected by the undertaking.” —The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
“For hundreds of years, the Oak Flat area, known in Western Apache as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, meaning ‘a broad flat of Emory oak trees,’ has been a place of cultural and religious significance to our people… Our connection and ability to access these federal lands for religious and cultural purposes is guaranteed through treaties, federal court decisions, and federal laws.”— Chairman Terry Rambler, San Carlos Apache Tribe
[Testimony, HNR EMR Hearing, Feb. 6, 2025]
Just as a church is sacred to Christians or the Vatican to Catholics, Oak Flat is sacred to the Apache and other Tribal Nations. Replacing it with a copper crater would be a direct assault on Indigenous religious freedom.
FACT: This mine will devastate recreation, not protect it
Struhsacker claims that recreation and mining can coexist. But that was true of traditional cut and fill mining method, not the block cave mining planned by Resolution Copper.
“Mining operations co-existing with outdoor recreation in Superior because the former mine (Magma Copper Co.) was not the type of mine that would leave a crater more than 1,000 ft. deep and two miles wide.” — Sylvia Delgado Barrett, Vice Chairwoman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
Block cave mining causes extreme ground collapse. That’s what makes it so incompatible with public land use.
“Superior has a history of mining but not block cave mining. This mining method will destroy the town’s chances to focus on recreation, tourism, hiking, and camping. Outdoor recreation generates more money for Arizona’s economy than mining. The 1,000 ft., 2-mile-wide crater will remain forever. The tailings site will become the 4th largest in the world.” —Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
MYTH #7: Resolution Copper is one of the most collaborative mining projects in the United States
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “Resolution Copper is one of the most collaborative mining projects in the United States as it has been shaped by more than a decade of extensive consultation with the local community in Superior, Arizona and the Native American Tribes in the surrounding area.”
This statement implies broad support and agreement. But the reality tells a very different story.
FACT: Consultation is not consent, and opposition is widespread
For decades, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, whose sacred lands at Oak Flat (Chí’chil Biłdagoteel) are directly threatened by the mine, has stood in strong opposition to the Resolution Copper project. And they are far from alone.
Nineteen other federally recognized tribes in Arizona have joined San Carlos Apache in rejecting the mine. The Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona, which represents 21 of the 22 tribes in the state, has passed numerous resolutions, written letters to Congress, and provided testimony across two decades opposing the land exchange and the mine’s development.
“Numerous tribes and tribal organizations, including an overwhelming majority of tribal governments in Arizona, the Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona, and the National Congress of American Indians, local and national environmental and conservation groups, outdoor recreation groups, and religious/faith organizations have strongly opposed RCM for many years.” — Chairman Terry Rambler, San Carlos Apache Tribe. [Testimony, HNR EMR Hearing. Feb. 6, 2025]
This is not isolated concern from one Tribe, it is broad, united, and sustained Tribal opposition rooted in the protection of Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, sacred sites.
FACT: The community of Superior is divided and misinformed
Resolution Copper points to the support of the town of Superior, where the company has invested heavily in public relations and community sponsorships. But that support is often based on misleading narratives about economic benefit, and a lack of transparency about the impacts of the proposed mine.
“While there are people in Superior who support Resolution Copper, the reality is that most of them know the cut-and-fill mining method. They have no idea about the destruction that is about to happen at Oak Flat and the risk to Superior with the block cave mining that Resolution Copper plans to use. Many are looking at the short-term benefits instead of the long-term irreparable damage that this mine will cause.” — Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
MYTH #8: Resolution Copper was shaped by Superior, and Superior will receive many of the benefits
Debra W. Struhsacker says: “After four decades of working in the U.S. mining sector, I know firsthand what an environmentally and socially responsible mining project looks like – and Resolution Copper checks all of the right boxes, including the commitment to continue to work with local stakeholders to learn, adapt, and respond to future needs. Resolution Copper was shaped by Superior and Superior will receive many of the benefits – but its impact will go far beyond.”
This claim suggests the project is community-driven and mutually beneficial. The facts say otherwise.
FACT: The harm to Superior and Arizona will far outweigh any benefit
The 23-square mile footprint of the proposed mine would permanently alter the region, devastating water resources, cultural sites, recreational land, and ecological health. These impacts aren’t short-term. They will affect local economies and quality of life for generations.
“The Town of Superior will not reap any real economic benefits from the mine only the state, county and school district will. Resolution Copper (Rio Tinto-BHP) will reap the biggest benefits. The FEIS listed 250,000 to 900,000 a year in collectable taxes by the town. Resolution gives the town money to offset costs. The mine is not within the city limits and doesn’t collect direct taxes. Resolution signed an agreement with the Town in 2019 stating that the town would not annex mine property in exchange for a 2-million-dollar loan to purchase the old high school.” —Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of the Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
Resolution Copper isn’t a local project, it’s a foreign-owned operation designed to extract Arizona’s resources while giving little back to the communities most affected.
FACT: Foreign mining companies do not prioritize local communities
This wouldn’t be the first time BHP left a town behind. In 1999, BHP, co-owner of Resolution Copper, abruptly closed the San Manuel Mine, just three years after purchasing it. Overnight, 2,500 workers were laid off, including Henry Muñoz. To this day, the town has not recovered. And it could happen again.
“In 2022, CEO Jakob Stausholm told me personally that they didn’t even know if they would open the Resolution Mine. He said they would need to conduct a two-year feasibility study to determine whether mining at 7,000 feet was even viable. If they decide not to move forward, I asked if they would return Oak Flat to the U.S. He told me no—they would not give it back.” —Henry Muñoz, fifth-generation miner and Chairman of Arizona Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Coalition.
The truth is clear: Resolution Copper is 100% owned by two foreign corporations. Its profits will flow offshore, while Arizona bears the cost. The copper concentrate is likely to be shipped overseas—potentially to China—for smelting, using an estimated 250 billion gallons of Arizona’s dwindling groundwater in the process. In return, Arizona will be left with a 1,000-foot-deep, 1.8-mile-wide crater where people once camped, prayed, and gathered. The state will inherit nearly 1.4 billion tons of toxic mine waste—hazards that will remain long after the companies are gone.
This is not a project focused on progress or community benefit. It is a blueprint for destruction. From water depletion and cultural erasure to false economic promises and foreign control over our public lands, this mine embodies everything we, Americans, must oppose. The American people deserve honesty, accountability, and stewardship, not the sacrifice of our sacred places and natural resources for the gain of foreign conglomerates.