Apache Stronghold Files Restraining Order To Block Oak Flat Land Swap

By Ron Dungan
Published: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 6:05pm
Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 6:06pm
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Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation

An Apache grassroots group has filed a temporary restraining order to block a land transfer involving the Oak Flat section of the Tonto National Forest, which would pave the way for a massive copper mine.

Resolution Copper is planning to build one of the largest copper mines in the country on the U.S. Forest Service parcel.

But the grassroots group Apache Stronghold filed suit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. And in a restraining order filed Wednesday, they are asking the judge in the case to forbid the Forest Service from preceding until that lawsuit is resolved. Opponents of the mine say the land exchange has been rushed by the Trump administration.

“And right now, because all of this is being laid in the hands of the courts, you know all I can do is pray, and hope that the justice, the federal courts will do the right thing,” said Wendsler Nosie of Apache Stronghold.

The copper mine would be located about 60 miles east of Phoenix near Superior.

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