Hello all,

Please join our group letter urging Chairman McGovern and the Members of Rules Committee to save Oak Flat by making Amendment #472 offered by Representative Raul Grijalva in order for consideration of the NDAA on the House floor. Sign HERE by Friday, September 17th at 12pm ET.

This amendment would correct a grave environmental and social injustice against the San Carlos Apache Tribe from the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act that authorized the exchange to a foreign mining company of more than 2,400 acres from the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona—including a Native American sacred area at Oak Flat—to develop a large copper mine.

The mine would destroy Oak Flat, depriving Western Apache, other tribes and future generations of tribal members from using the area for ceremony, healing and sustenance as they have for centuries and continue to do so to this day, violating the federal government’s trust responsibilities to Tribes. The mine would also cause significant environmental harm by depleting and contaminating precious desert water resources and harming wildlife in the area.

Thanks,

Paulo Lopes

Senior Public Lands Policy Specialist // Staff Attorney

Center for Biological Diversity

plopes@biologicaldiversity.org

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Re: Support for Grijalva Amendment #472 to be made in order on the National Defense Authorization Act

Dear Chairman McGovern,

On behalf of our organizations representing millions of members and supporters, we are writing to request that you make Amendment #472 offered by Representative Raul Grijalva in order for consideration on the House floor.

This amendment would correct a grave environmental and social injustice against the San Carlos Apache Tribe from the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act that authorized the exchange to a foreign mining company of more than 2,400 acres from the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona—including a Native American sacred area at Oak Flat—to develop a large copper mine. The mine would destroy Oak Flat, depriving Western Apache, other tribes and future generations of tribal members from using the area for ceremony, healing and sustenance as they have for centuries and continue to do so to this day, violating the federal government’s trust responsibilities to Tribes. The mine would also cause significant environmental harm by depleting and contaminating precious desert water resources and harming wildlife in the area.

The irreplaceable values of Oak Flat have been recognized since 1955, when President Eisenhower protected this culturally significant area from mineral development to preserve it in perpetuity. Unfortunately, in the dead of night at the last minute, Resolution Copper prevailed in securing a rider to overturn the protected status of this land, forcing a land trade with the U.S. government to obtain private control of Oak Flat. The rider circumvented federal laws that protect tribal sacred places from destruction and harm.

Amendment #472 would permanently protect Oak Flat and its environmental, historical, archeological and religious significance by permanently withdrawing the area from mining. The bill upon which this amendment is based has bipartisan support.

Over 50 tribes and tribal organizations including the National Congress of American Tribes, Inter Tribal Association of Arizona, Teamsters Union local 104 in Arizona and over 150 environmental, religious, recreational and civil liberty groups have worked for nearly two decades to protect the Oak Flat area from foreign mining conglomerates.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,