Tonto National Forest to Begin Resolution Copper Project and Land Exchange Environmental Impact Statement

Notice Published in Federal Register on March 18, 2016

PHOENIX, March 18, 2016 — For Immediate Release.
The Tonto National Forest has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register, announcing the beginning of the EIS process for the proposed Resolution Copper mine and an associated land exchange.

The proposed mine is located on Tonto National Forest, private and state lands near Superior, Arizona. The Tonto National Forest is initiating the EIS to comply with Section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA) and Forest Service regulations.

This EIS will analyze environmental effects of approval of the proposed General Plan of Operations submitted by Resolution Copper, which would authorize surface disturbance on National Forest lands from the proposed mining operations; and the transfer of 2,422 acres of public land, commonly known as Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper in exchange for eight parcels of land located throughout Arizona, totaling 5,344 acres. The EIS will develop and analyze alternatives, and disclose environmental effects associated with approval of the General Plan of Operations and administration of the land exchange.

The Notice of Intent published in today’s Federal Register initiates the public involvement process, which guides the development of the EIS. Public open house meetings will be held to ask questions and learn more about public concerns with this project. The following meetings are scheduled:

  • March 31, 2016, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    Queen Valley Recreation Hall, 1478 East Queen Valley Drive, Queen Valley, Arizona.
  • April 4, 2016, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    Superior High School, Multi-purpose room, 100 Mary Drive, Superior, Arizona.
  • April 5, 2016, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    Elks Lodge, 1775 East Maple Street, Globe, Arizona
  • April 6, 2016, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    Southwest Regional Library, 775 North Greenfield Road, Gilbert, Arizona.

The public is invited to submit public comments during the initial 60-day scoping period. Comments may be submitted in a variety of ways including via email, through the project website, by mail, facsimile, and verbally by leaving a phone message. Written comments may be sent to: Resolution EIS Comments, P.O. Box 34468, Phoenix, AZ 85067-4468, via email to: comments@resolutionmineeis.us, submitted via the project website, sent via facsimile to 1-866-546-5718, or submitted by leaving a verbal message at 1-866-546-5718.

Further details about the project can be found at the project website.

Source: 

Media Point of Contact

Susan Blake
susan.blake@usda.gov

Apache Leap Special Management Area
Apache Leap SMA website