Gaan Canyon PoolsPlease take action now. Click here for action alert.

On May 15th, the US House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee will be voting on the Oak Flat land Exchange, HR 687. This new version, HR 687, is virtually identical to last year’s version of the land exchange (HR 1904). This is the 12th version of the land exchange that Rio Tinto has convinced Arizona members of Congress to introduce on their behalf, and is every bit as bad as HR 1904, which was the worst of the lot.

There are many reasons that this bill is a bad idea and should be voted down in Committee. Please contact your Representative and tell him or her to vote no on HR 687, the Oak Flat land exchange.

The Oak Flat land exchange would:

• The Oak Flat land exchange (HR 687) would be the only bill that would turn over a Native American sacred site on public land to foreign mining companies and is opposed by every Indian Tribe in the United States.
• The Oak Flat land exchange (HR 687) would be the largest loss of public lands recreational climbing opportunities in history and is opposed by the Access Fund and other organizations that care about maintaining recreational opportunities on public land.
• The Oak Flat land exchange (HR 687) bypasses the normal process of permitting mines on public lands, avoids the NEPA process, and would destroy wildlife habitat and clean water resources.

On February 21, 2013, the town of Superior officially terminated its Mutual Benefits Agreement with Rio Tinto and withdrew it's letter of support for the Oak Flat land exchange.  

The town's letter begins, "Due to the financial condition of the Town of Superior, I have been instructed to inform you that we regret that we can no longer express our unqualified support of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act (HR 687 or SB 339, as drafted.)"

The letter cites 6 reasons for the termination with its relationship with Rio Tinto:Main Street, Superior

We are at the tail end of the 112th Congress and have been able to keep the Oak Flat land exchange from moving in the US Senate. However, Senators Kyl and McCain are intent on pushing through the Oak Flat land exchange (HR 1904) this year to give more government handouts to two of the world’s largest mining companies.

Congress is back after the elections in a lame duck session that should wrap up by the end of the year. Kyl and McCain will most likely attempt to attach HR 1904 to important legislation instead of letting the Senate decide on the merits of the bill. Because of the controversial nature of the Oak Flat land exchange, this would amount to adding a poison pill to any necessary legislation.

Do not let Senators McCain and Kyl divert the Congress from important business by inserting their destructive special interest bill.