COUGAR VIGIL

VOTE NO ON H.R. 687, SE ARIZONA LAND EXCHANGE
DON’T GIVEAWAY U.S. TAXPAYER RESOURCES TO FOREIGN CORPORATIONS

H.R. 687 constitutes an historic giveaway of U.S. taxpayer assets, destruction of a Native American Holy Site, and the removal of public input on the largest block cave mine in North America that will cost the drought-ridden Southeast Arizona region billions of gallons of water.

Destruction of a Place of Worship. H.R. 687 will transfer 2,400 acres of the Tonto National Forest (TNF) to a foreign mining joint venture Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Resolution Copper Mining (RCM) to mine copper in SE Arizona. The land encompasses Oak Flat, Apache Leap and surrounding National jewels, currently protected by President Eisenhower’s Public Lands Order 1229 (1955).

The area is a place of worship for the Apache and Yavapai people. It is also a place of ancient settlements and burial sites. For centuries, Native Americans have gone to the Site for prayer, to conduct ceremonies, and for peace and personal cleansing.

In short order, injecting a mine on these lands will destroy the plants and medicines that Native people rely upon for ceremonies. In the long term, the ground will cave in and destroy the area, along with the Apache and Yavapai religion – a life that their children and grandchildren will never know.

Earmark / Giveaway to Foreign Mining Interests. As Congress works to reduce a $16 trillion federal deficit, asking American families to make sacrifices, H.R. 687 transfers federal lands and $billions in U.S. assets for pennies on the dollar. The Bill earmarks Rio Tinto Mining for this giveaway. Section 4(d) diverges from the normal appraisal process and highly favors Rio Tinto.

The bill provides no guarantees that the copper will be used in the U.S. Rio Tinto is partnered with Chinalco, owned by the Chinese government. China is the world’s fastest consumer of copper.

H.R. 687 rewards Rio Tinto, which has refused to cut its existing ties to the Iran Foreign Investment Company. Rio Tinto and Iran are partners in a uranium mining operation in Namibia, Africa. (“What should we make of Iran’s Nuclear Program?” http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3664472.html)

No Transparency or Consultation. H.R 687 mandates the federal land swap within one-year of enactment. Rio Tinto / RCM will not have to inform the public about their plans for water, waste disposal, or impacts on the land prior to the mandatory transfer.

No NEPA. Once in private ownership, H.R. 687 Section 4(j) limits environmental reviews to “applicable Federal laws”, which rarely apply to private non-federal lands. Impacted tribes, the local community and the U.S. will have no say in what is done on the foreign-owned / privately held lands.

The primary purpose of establishing the TNF in 1905 was to protect the region’s precious watersheds. The Resolution Copper Project will strike at the heart of these watersheds, requiring at least 40,000 acre-feet of water each year for decades = 13 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER/YEAR.

The bill also circumvents the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and other laws designed to require consultation with impacted Tribes BEFORE a land transfer takes place.

The project will destroy a place of worship, all for the purpose of transferring $billion$ in U.S. Taxpayer assets to a specially selected foreign-owned mining conglomerate.
$H.R. 687 is a deal that the American Taxpayer cannot afford to make.
VOTE “NO” ON H.R. 687

Tribes and Tribal Orgs with Resolutions/Letters Opposing H.R. 687/S. 339, SE AZ Land Exchange

National Congress of American Indians – the oldest and largest organization representing tribes across the country
Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona – represents 20 tribes in Arizona
Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada – represents 27 tribes in Nevada
United South and Eastern Tribes- represents 26 tribes in Maine, New York, Connecticut,Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Florida, and Texas and based in Tennessee
California Association of Tribal Governments – represents tribal governments in California
Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes – represents 35 tribes in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, andIowa
Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians – represents 57 tribes located in Washington, Oregon,Idaho, Southeast Alaska, Northern California, and Western Montana
All Indian Pueblo Council – represents 20 pueblos located in New Mexico and Texas
San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona
Hopi Tribe, Arizona
Ak-Chin Indian Community, Arizona
Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona
White Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona
Colorado River Indian Tribes, Arizona
Cocopah Indian Tribe, Arizona
Hualapai Tribe, Arizona
Tohono O’odham Nation, Arizona
Quechan Indian Tribe, Arizona
Tonto Apache Tribe, Arizona
Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe, Arizona, California, and Nevada
Susanville Indian Rancheria, California
Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, California
Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, California
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, Louisiana
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, Michigan
Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico
Mescalero Apache Tribe, New Mexico
Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Idaho
Cherokee Nation, OklahomaTribes and Tribal Orgs with Resolutions/Letters Opposing H.R. 1904 in the 112th Congress – Same bill as H.R. 687
National Congress of American Indians
Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona
Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
United South and Eastern Tribes
Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes
Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association – represents 16 tribes in North Dakota, South Dakota, andNebraska