S. 409 would secure Federal ownership and management of significant natural, scenic, and recreational resources, to provide for the protection of cultural resources, to facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land.
Detailed Summary
Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) accept a conveyance of non-federal land in Gila, Yavapai, Maricopa, Pinal, and Coconino Counties, Arizona, from Resolution Copper Mining, LLC (Resolution Copper); (2) convey to Resolution Copper certain federal land located in Pinal County, Arizona; (3) convey specified land in Pinal County to the town of Superior, Arizona; and (4) appraise lands exchanged or conveyed under this Act.
Instructs Resolution Copper to surrender, without compensation, the rights held by it under mining and other U.S. laws to: (1) commercially extract minerals under Apache Leap or certain of the non-federal land in Pinal County (the Pond); and (2) disturb the surface of Apache Leap.
Permits Resolution Copper to carry out mineral exploration activities under the Oak Flat withdrawal area by any method that will not disturb the surface of the area.
Requires implementation of a management plan for Apache Leap.
Makes lands acquired by the Secretary under this Act part of the National Forest within which the land is located.
Requires Resolution Copper to make a specified payment to the Secretary to be used to promote and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities in the upper Pond area or the areas commonly known as "Inconceivables" and "Chill Hill."
Directs the Secretary to construct in the Global Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest, Arizona, one or more replacement campgrounds for the Oak Flat Campground.
Requires Resolution Copper to make value adjustment payments to the United States based upon locatable minerals produced from the federal land in Pinal County, Arizona.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/17/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-366. 2:30 p.m.
Points in Favor
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
Points Against
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
Visitor Comments
Emily Waters
May 30, 2009, 11:12pm (report abuse)I fear this bill once again gives the mining company the right to desecrate sacred, irreplaceable lands. When will people ever be more important than money?
Gary Ward
June 5, 2009, 2:49am (report abuse)If I read the bill correctly, a NEPA assessment would not be accomplished until after the property has passed to Resolution Copper. This appears to me to placing the cart before the horse. Is it possible for a senator to place the needs of the people in front of the cart and the horse for a change? Let's include a NEPA impact study BEFORE this bill is given further credence.
Ajax
November 12, 2009, 9:15pm (report abuse)Emily, do you have a car? Do you use electricity? A computer? Medical technology? Coins?
This isn't about people vs. money. It's about people's unquenchable demand for copper and other metals that must be mined.
852186VW
November 18, 2009, 1:35am (report abuse)WE ALL NEED JOBS THIS BILL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PASS. FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY EVEN RESOLUTION COPPER SAID THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH APACHE LEAP I DONT SEE WHATS THE PROBLEM NOW WE NEED THIS BILL TO PASS.YES ON SENATE BILL S.409
DAVE T
November 18, 2009, 1:40am (report abuse)RESOLUTION COPPER AND BHP SAID THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH APACHE LEAP AND WILL DUMP THE TAILINGS IN PINTO VALLEY WE ALL NEED JOBS AND WE ALL NEED THIS ECONOMY TO GET BETTER. YES ON SENATE BILL S.409