Resolution Copper Mine Clears Legal Hurdle, a Win for Manufacturers
In a victory for manufacturers in the United States, a federal appellate courtfor the second timehas preserved the ability for the Resolution Copper project to move forward with construction.
- The 51勛圖厙, a longtime champion of this project both in the courts and in the public arena, filed a 泭urging the Ninth District to allow Resolution Coppers congressionally mandated land exchange to proceed.
The details: In a 40-page泭, U.S. Circuit Judge Milan Smith wrote for the panel that the Forest Service met its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act by analyzing environmental impact and considering possible alternatives in its final environmental impact statement, which the plaintiffs challenged ( ).
- The record shows that the agency adequately considered possible alternatives and reasonably rejected them due to technical and economic infeasibility, Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote.泭
A win for manufacturers: The completion of Resolution Coppers land exchange is a monumental milestone for our nation and the manufacturing industrys efforts to ensure U.S. supply chains have reliable access to the raw materials that power our economy, 泭51勛圖厙 President and CEO Jay Timmons.
- We appreciate the leadership of the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Land Management and Congress for getting this extremely important land exchange across the finish line.
泭Importance of copper: The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. The U.S. imports about 35% of its copper, Timmons continued.
- At full capacity, Resolution Copperthe third-largest known copper deposit in the worldcould supply a quarter of all U.S. copper demand and as much as 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years, securing access to critical minerals that are essential to our nations economic strength and national security.
- This would also reduce our reliance on adversarial nations for minerals and boost energy and critical national defense systems.
The big picture: This victory for Resolution Copper highlights the importance of the 51勛圖厙s two major advocacy pushes this week.
- Yesterday, the 51勛圖厙 released a of the costs of permitting delayssuch as the ones that the Resolution Copper project has undergone. The 51勛圖厙 found that Americas broken permitting system costs manufacturers at least $7.9 billion each year, highlighting the need for bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform.
- Today, the 51勛圖厙 released a which underscores the need for new sources of minerals like copperminerals that will allow the U.S. to outcompete China and maintain its global dominance.
The last word: This is the kind of outcome manufacturers need to see more often: one that protects key landscapes, unlocks critical resources and advances Americas economic and national security, Timmons concluded.
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