Even though Native-American Apache people say they feel the U.S. Government has a long history of disregarding Apache spiritual beliefs as well as traditional, sacred lands both on and off reservations, Arizona's District 1 Congressional Representative Ann Kirkpatrick tells The Independent she is in favor of a recent quest by Resolution Copper to gain access to U.S. forest service-owned but sacred native-American lands.
     Those lands are located in Gaan Canyon, Oak Flat and Apache Leap near Superior. The proposal is a land swap of Oak Flat (about 2,400 acres) in exchange for 5,556 acres of environmentally sensitive land in different locations throughout Arizona.
     Press Secretary Joe Katz says while the Congresswoman recognizes the importance of identifying, protecting and preserving sacred sites, she believes the improved Copper Basin Jobs Act will do that. Katz says the reason the Congresswoman is confident the act will fill that role is because it requires direct tribal consultation in the project.
     He notes that one of things topping the to-do list for the Congresswoman is to get as many people in the state gainfully employed as possible in the still down-turned economy. Kirkpatrick believes the mining proposal would help in that regard by creating at least 2,500 jobs in Greater Arizona.
     "The Congresswoman's top priority is creating jobs, and she is committed to finding the right balance between creating jobs, helping communities and respecting tribal and environmental interests," Katz tells The Independent.
     Another backer of the swap is Arizona Senator John McCain. He says moving ahead soon on the Legislation would be would be in the best interests of the state as a whole because it would bring in sorely needed jobs and dollars.
     McCain says the people of Arizona cannot afford to wait any longer for Congress to act on the proposal.
     "Arizonans are facing historic unemployment rates, and the promise of job opportunities and economic growth connected to this project will help ease the economic suffering of many hard-hit families," says McCain.
     Estimates are that the swap could bring into the state $46.4 billion over the expected 66-year life of the mine.
     John Kyl is another Arizona Senator inn favor of the deal.
     "It is in the public interest to bring these conservation lands into federal ownership for the enjoyment of future generations," says Kyl.
     Founding member and the Executive Director of the Superstition Area Land Trust Rosemary Shearer says the whole thing is a complicated issue, but she is in favor of the swap nonetheless.
     "A rich body of copper ore, perhaps one of the largest in the world, lays deep beneath the very ground so many have treasured for decades. The sobering truth is that someone will go after it," she told the U.S. Senate Committee on Forests and Public Lands on June 17, 2009.
     Shearer says members of her organization toured many of the proposed exchange properties in question noting that among the 5,556 acres is the 7B Ranch. She says acquiring the 7B Ranch would add nearly seven miles of protection to the San Pedro River watershed. Also included would be The Pond, Dripping Springs, and the JI Ranch. Shearer says this ranch would provide a future scenic camping area near Oak Creek campground, which Resolution says it will keep open until a new one is built. "And so, in conclusion, and after careful consideration of all the factors, we consider the passage of S. 409 beneficial to the region," Shearer told the committee.

 

 

*Reach the reporter at mleiby@wmicentral.com