Oak Flat mine latest info

I got an email today with some information about the proposed mine at Oak Flat. The release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is imminent. It had a link to this update:

https://www.resolutionmineeis.us/ 

My email also said, "The Tonto National Forest plans to release (FEIS) on January 15, 2021. The release will trigger a 45-day objection period for interested parties who have previously submitted formal comments about the project".

Does anyone with a legal or policy background know what this all means? Is there a chance the objection period can push this into the next administration and allow them to stop the mine? What can opponents of the mine do at this point?

Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/NiBthaskaStandCollective/posts/896996677508824

OK, thanks. That seems like a positive development. 

More good news, Access Fund also joined in with a lawsuit of their own on 1/25/21: accessfund.org/news-and-eve…

update: I was camping at Oak Flat the night before the Apache were having a ceremony at the campground (2/18). That night as the Apache were setting up camp, there were lights put up on the Magma Mine in the shape of a massive Christian cross. It was clear as day, looking right over the campground. One of the people attending the festivities said they do this every time they have a ceremony. This just goes to show that the people running the mine do not care. They are offended by the Apache practicing their religion, and they pointedly erected this light up middle finger knowing that before long they won't be able to practice their religion here. These people don't give a shit about what is right, all they care about is power. They deserve no shed of empathy and must be stopped at all cost. Please share this if you are as pissed off as I am. 

A simple sentiment shared by so many.

Fred

It sounds like Oak Flat is good for now eh?

M Mwrote:

It sounds like Oak Flat is good for now eh?

This is a very positive development. The next step is to push for permanent protection.  

Access fund press release

Dexter Kopaswrote:

update: I was camping at Oak Flat the night before the Apache were having a ceremony at the campground (2/18). That night as the Apache were setting up camp, there were lights put up on the Magma Mine in the shape of a massive Christian cross. It was clear as day, looking right over the campground. One of the people attending the festivities said they do this every time they have a ceremony. This just goes to show that the people running the mine do not care. They are offended by the Apache practicing their religion, and they pointedly erected this light up middle finger knowing that before long they won't be able to practice their religion here. These people don't give a shit about what is right, all they care about is power. They deserve no shed of empathy and must be stopped at all cost. Please share this if you are as pissed off as I am. 

Wow, kinda makes me want to donate money to the nearest eco-terrorists. That's pretty messed up. 

I don't know if they're offended.  Maybe you could walk over there and ask them. 

Been 5 yrs.since I've been here I'VE BEEN GONE TO THE SIDE OF APACHES TRYING TO SAVE QUEEN CREEK!!! -OAK FLAT!! ACCESS FUND ABANDONED US LONG AGO BUT HEY- they're now back...it's been awhile we'll take Help where we can get it right! BUT REALITY WE ARE ON OUR OWN. e.f'nFILSINGER & PAUL f'nDief ARE THE F'N LOWEST SCUMBAGS THIS CLIMBERS EARTH. THEY STOLE F'RCKN FRIENDS OF QUEEN CREEK GROUP AND WELL ALL THE F'N GROUPS AND THE AF JUST STOOD BY AND LET THEM DO IT. ALL OF 'EM SCUMBGS CHECK OUT THIS FILE (aka Power Pt Presentation). TELL ME WHY SOMEBODY IS GETTING CLIMBING LESSONS IN XCHNANGE FOR Q.C.FALLING INTO A HOLE WTF PROMOTION FROM THE RESOLUTN COPPER PLUGs TO MAKE YOU FEEL COZY AS THEY TAKE YOUR CLIMBING AWAAY!!! ----GO to Documents--> QC ClimbersGasLight-ByRCM {{Look for Filename Climbing Resources and Mitigation_FloSolutions presentation_8-12-20 RUG mtg }} PUBLIC LANDS BELONG TO YOU AND TO ME - NOT TO THEM. The Forest Service wrote an FU letter and the EPA pulled the EIS so things are now on hold WE ALMOST LOST QUEEN CREEK!!!!  OMG ...it was so very close. QueenCreek Status - Forest Service  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE NOW WITH NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. We are heading to swear-in very 1st Native American at Dept. of Interior which oversees the Forest Service.     --I cannot believe how e.Filsinger & Dief have f'n ratted us out. They are taking $$ from the Mine and wtf offering classes at REI in exchange for WHAT????  Any minute this post may get pilled u know who owns this site now {wink} 
If I am wrong here I apologize if ya'll knew about this stuff and approved. I'm going back over to the other side now. Climb on ~phx

Dexter Kopaswrote:

update: I was camping at Oak Flat the night before the Apache were having a ceremony at the campground (2/18). That night as the Apache were setting up camp, there were lights put up on the Magma Mine in the shape of a massive Christian cross. It was clear as day, looking right over the campground. One of the people attending the festivities said they do this every time they have a ceremony. This just goes to show that the people running the mine do not care. They are offended by the Apache practicing their religion, and they pointedly erected this light up middle finger knowing that before long they won't be able to practice their religion here. These people don't give a shit about what is right, all they care about is power. They deserve no shed of empathy and must be stopped at all cost. Please share this if you are as pissed off as I am. 

  

I'm offended that you're offended that the Apaches are offended by the miners getting offended.

Many Apache I know are also Christian. Assuming they are offended is the viewer's position. RCM does plenty to piss off the San Carlos Tribe anyway.

The temporary reprieve is just that. Let's keep the pressure on our Legislators, visit and climb at Oak Flat, stop by Superior's restaurants and bars. There's a couple of new places that need climber support. Thank you all for caring!

Hopefully the last step to save Oak Flat:

Chair Grijalva Introduces “Save Oak Flat Act” to Permanently Protect Tribal Sacred Site in Central Arizona From Destructive Mining
https://naturalresources.house.gov/media/press-releases/chair-grijalva-introduces-save-oak-flat-act-to-permanently-protect-tribal-sacred-site-in-central-arizona-from-destructive-mining?fbclid=IwAR1dVtLR1UpizQTk-mo-jPZB_UsY2Yw75gucTJXiakFkHoinKXguMFAqlY4

I never forgave Verm for his support of the mine. Hope this legislative action works this time!

If oak flat is saved will climbing be allowed?

The text of the bill is not online yet, but I would believe based on the title 'To repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes' ( congress.gov/bill/117th-con…) this just undoes the land swap, so would remain national forest/open to the public, though may depend on what is included in 'other purposes' (hopefully just law to prevent future land swaps/land destruction).

Though, I would rather see it remain as-is for the Apache, wildlife, beautiful landscape, etc. and not be able to climb there, than have the mine destroy the entire area/use all the ground water/leave huge tailings and not be able to climb there.

Climber 4QualityCommunitywrote:

If oak flat is saved will climbing be allowed?

The legislation introduced by Az Representative Grijalva a day or so ago simply returns the land's status to protection from entry for mining, etc., as it has been since the 1950's.

So, the simple answer based on the long standing previous status appears to be yes.

I got this from the Access Fund email list. It's a tool for contacting your representatives about this.

https://www.accessfund.org/take-action/campaigns/tell-congress-to-save-oak-flat?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ACTION+ALERT%3A+Tell+Congress+to+Save+Oak+Flat&utm_campaign=Action+Alert%3A+Oak+Flat+Congressional

JoshWwrote:

The text of the bill is not online yet, but I would believe based on the title 'To repeal section 3003 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, and for other purposes' ( congress.gov/bill/117th-con…) this just undoes the land swap, so would remain national forest/open to the public, though may depend on what is included in 'other purposes' (hopefully just law to prevent future land swaps/land destruction).

Though, I would rather see it remain as-is for the Apache, wildlife, beautiful landscape, etc. and not be able to climb there, than have the mine destroy the entire area/use all the ground water/leave huge tailings and not be able to climb there.

Me too. If the climbing community lost this recreational resource to the mine, that's nothing compared to what the Apache people face losing as a part of their heritage, spiritual significance, and history. If mining were stopped for good in exchange for climbing being prohibited, I'd throw my weight behind it.

Call from Center for Biological Diversity to support Senate Bill 915 "Save Oak Flat Act": https://act.biologicaldiversity.org/a/cosponsoring-senate-bill-915-save-oak-flat-act?sourceid=1007206 

That bill isn't listed yet at congress.gov, but looks like there'll be a Senate equivalent to Rep. Grijalva's House bill.