Rep. Adelita Grijalva Introduces Bill to Repeal Oak Flat Land Swap, Citing Religious and Environmental Concerns
Rep. Adelita Grijalva has introduced a bill aimed at repealing a 2014 law that authorized a land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper, a British-Australian mining company. This exchange involves Oak Flat, a site sacred to the Apache peoples, which has been a point of contention due to its religious and environmental significance. The original legislation was passed as a rider to a defense bill, a move criticized for lacking transparency. Grijalva's bill seeks to overturn Section 3003 of Public Law 113-291, which facilitated the exchange of approximately 2,400 acres of federal land for other environmentally sensitive lands. The proposed mine at Oak Flat has faced opposition from Native American tribes and environmentalists, who argue it threatens religious freedom and could create significant environmental damage. Resolution Copper, however, argues that the mine would generate substantial economic benefits, including thousands of jobs and a $1 billion annual boost to Arizona's econ... 
