Federal Court Halts Controversial Land Swap at Oak Flat
In a recent legal development, a federal court in Phoenix has put a temporary stop to a disputed land exchange involving a site sacred to Indigenous communities. The decision comes as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the matter.
This week, the Apache Stronghold group made an urgent appeal to prevent the transfer of Oak Flat, a culturally significant area located outside Superior, to the mining corporation Rio Tinto. Judge Steven P. Logan ruled that the land transaction, initiated under the Trump administration, must be paused while the Supreme Court considers the ongoing legal challenge aimed at blocking the Resolution Copper Mine project.
Judge Logan’s decision emphasized the compelling nature of the case, stating, “There is no close question in this matter. It is abundantly clear that the balance of equities ‘tips sharply’ in Plaintiff’s favor, and … they have presented serious questions on the merits that warrant the Supreme Court’s careful scrutiny.” His remarks were part of an 18-page ruling issued on Friday.
Oak Flat holds significant religious importance for Indigenous groups and is officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. However, beneath this land lies one of the largest copper deposits in the United States, which Rio Tinto seeks to mine.
Back in 2014, Congress approved the land swap with Rio Tinto as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, setting the stage for this legal battle. As the case unfolds, the temporary halt underscores the complex intersection of cultural preservation and resource extraction.
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