San Carlos Apache Tribe in Federal Court Today in Desperate Battle to Save Oak Flat
The White House has now fast tracked permitting for 30 mines -- Copper mining at Oak Flat, lithium mines in Nevada, Oregon and Arkansas, uranium mining near Grants, New Mexico, uranium mining in Wyoming, coal mining in Alabama, and silver, gold, lead and zinc mining in Alaska, two gold mines in Idaho, and more.
PHOENIX -- The San Carlos Apache Tribe is in federal court today, making a desperate attempt to halt the plan of the U.S.government and Resolution Copper to destroy Sacred Oak Flat for a giant copper mine. Apaches' Ceremonial Place would be gutted into a massive crater.
Wendsler Nosie of Apache Stronghold said on Tuesday evening, "Good evening. As I make my way this evening to Phoenix to attend tomorrow’s court hearing. The United States with Resolution Copper versus Environmental groups and the San Carlos Apache Tribe. I ask for us all to light our candles and pray for a blessed outcome to save Oak Flat. It’s not only a religious battle, but an environmental catastrophe to happen."
"Since day one, resolution copper pushed Congress to obtain exemptions from all environmental laws. The federal judge will be in the position to make a decision for the best interest for Mother Earth and all humanity. Or one that will destroy our religion, our environment to be forever destroyed. There is only one Mother Earth that gives us life. Usen (god) hear our prayers."
The San Carlos Tribe released the following statement about today's court case.
San Carlos Apache Tribe Seeks Federal Court Order Blocking Imminent Transfer of Sacred Oak Flat to Chinese-backed Resolution Copper
Contact: Matt Smith matts@simginc.com
SAN CARLOS APACHE NATION, Arizona (July 16, 2025) —The San Carlos Apache Tribe has asked a Phoenix federal court to block the imminent transfer of sacred Chi’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat) to Chinese-backed Resolution Copper Mining that intends to construct one of the largest mines in the world.
The Resolution Copper Mine would collapse Oak Flat into a two-mile-wide, 1,100-foot-deep crater. Oak Flat is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property.
The Tribe filed its pleading slate Monday in response to the Trump Administration’s June 20 publication of a Final Environmental Impact Statement that set in motion a 60-day deadline for the U.S. Forest Service to trade Oak Flat’s 2,422 acres located on the Tonto National Forest for private lands owned by Resolution Copper.
A 2014 law requires the Forest Service to trade Oak Flat to Resolution Copper within 60 days of publication of a legal FEIS.
U.S. District Court Judge Dominic W. Lanza last month ruled that the land exchange could occur no sooner than August 19 to allow the Tribe an opportunity to file legal objections to the Resolution FEIS.
The Tribe filed a complaint alleging the FEIS violates federal laws and a motion for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to block the transfer of Oak Flat.“The Trump Administration’s environmental report violates several federal laws and must not be used as the basis to illegally transfer ownership of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper,”San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said. “We respectfully request the court to block the transfer of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper and give us an opportunity challenge the legality of the environmental study and the land exchange itself.”
Sacred Oak Flat is on the White House's List for 'Fast Tracked' Mining
The Impacts of Current Geopolitics and the New Mining Era on Indigenous Communities
By Galina Angarova, SIRGE Coalition
By Galina Angarova, SIRGE Coalition
Fast-Tracking Mineral Extraction and Deep-Sea Mining
In the United States, the Trump administration is fast-tracking mining projects across the country, as part of its plan to expand minerals production.
In the United States, the Trump administration is fast-tracking mining projects across the country, as part of its plan to expand minerals production.
"For Indigenous Peoples’ communities, this represents alarming new threats, creating dangers to land, water, wildlife, habitats, and cultural survival. If mining companies move forward with open-pit mines, ore-processing infrastructures, pipelines, and toxic waste dumps, it will destroy nature and drive species towards extinction."
Follow the Fast Tracked Mining by the White House:
The White House has fast-tracked permitting for 30 mines, the so-called "critical minerals" mining: Copper mine at Oak Flat; uranium mining near Grants, New Mexico, uranium mining in Wyoming, numerous lithium mines in Nevada, Oregon, and Arkansas, coal mining in Alabama, and two gold mines in Idaho.
The White House has fast-tracked permitting for 30 mines, the so-called "critical minerals" mining: Copper mine at Oak Flat; uranium mining near Grants, New Mexico, uranium mining in Wyoming, numerous lithium mines in Nevada, Oregon, and Arkansas, coal mining in Alabama, and two gold mines in Idaho.
The list of 30 fast tracked mining permits includes Greens Creek in Alaska: Surface exploration for silver, gold, lead, and zinc mining on Forest Service lands in Admiralty Island, Alaska. In Alaska, the fast tracked permits include the expansion of current zinc mining operations from the existing Aqqaluk pit at the Red Dog Mine, Alaska.
In Arizona, copper mines are also fast tracked in Kingman and Tonto National Forest.
At Kings Mountain in North Carolina, the lithium materials processing and concentrator plant located near Kings Mountain is fast tracked.
Resolution Copper Project: Oak Flat
Surface disturbance on Forest Service lands associated with development, mining, and processing of copper and molybdenum.
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| Date today: Aug. 6, 2025 |
White House: Permit status for fast tracked mines
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