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Kyl, McCain, push bill to allow new copper mine near Superior

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MESA — U.S. Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain have introduced legislation for the third year in a row that would allow a new copper mine to be developed over a huge mineral deposit outside Superior.

The mine project proposed by Resolution Copper Mining, the Arizona joint subsidiary of Britain's Rio Tinto and Australia's BHP Billiton, needs the legislation to pass to acquire federal land over the underground mine site.

The bill introduced Tuesday by the two Arizona Republicans would give Resolution Copper about 3,025 acres three miles east of Superior in exchange for seven parcels totaling 4,583 acres of environmentally sensitive land throughout Arizona.

Similar bills were introduced in each of the past two years but failed.

The mine is opposed by some residents of Superior, about 60 miles east of Phoenix, and area Indians who believe the project in Pinal County would damage a scenic area that has strong connections with Apache history.

The project is being backed by the Superior Town Council, Gov. Janet Napolitano and environmental and recreation groups such as the Arizona Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Kyl said the land the government would get includes wetland habitats along the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona and 160 acres near Hayden that would be included in a state park for rock climbing. The company also would contribute $7.5 million to a trust account for the federal purchase of more conservation lands in Arizona.

The bill includes a 695-acre easement to protect the spectacular Apache Leap cliffs above Superior and provides stronger protection for the cliffs than in previous versions, Kyl said.

But members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe believe the project would desecrate the area, a sacred place in their history. According to Apache history, warriors in the 19th century leapt off the cliffs to their deaths rather than surrender to the U.S. Cavalry.