A Message from the President

The most important issue facing Resolution Copper today is the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, currently making its way through Congress. Here’s an update on progress of the legislation.
On November 1 the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, chaired by Congressman Raul Grijalva, held a hearing on the bill. The panel included members of the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and Sierra Club. I also testified on behalf of Resolution Copper. There remains a diversity of viewpoints on some issues, and our company will continue to work with stakeholders to address the concerns the best way we know how––through substantial two-way dialogue and mutual respect.

Resolution Copper is committed to the long-term viability and economic diversification of the Copper Triangle communities. We are proud of our work to date in support of important social, environmental and economic causes. The legislative process has, however, taken longer than we’d hoped for a number of reasons, and we cannot begin the next phase of our mining operations until the legislation makes significant progress. A delay by Congress will impact our rate of growth and could affect short-term economic development, such as future employment and company spending in Superior and the region. For instance, in my testimony before the subcommittee I stated that although we expect to create 1,400 full-time, high-quality positions and generate an additional 6,000 jobs in the community through mine activity, the impact and speed at which these positions will become available are directly linked to the successful passage of this legislation.

We are grateful to Congressman Ed Pastor for his leadership on this bill and to Congressman Grijalva for holding the hearing, and we look forward to the hearing in the Senate on the bill introduced by Senator Jon Kyl. These developments are important steps toward passage of the legislation, and we very much appreciate your continued support, friendship and partnership.

Many of you have contacted us and asked how you can help. You can help by sending a personal correspondence or making a direct call to Congressmen Pastor and Grijalva, thanking them for their efforts and asking them to move the bill as expeditiously as possible in the House. A similar contact with Sen. Jon Kyl regarding the Senate bill will also be helpful. Let each of them know why bill passage is important to you and your organization. I have included their contact information below. We are eager to move forward with mine development and job creation, and continue to invest both financial and human resources in our communities. The sooner this bill is passed, the greater the opportunity for us to do so.

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit with us at our Mine Information Office, located at 402 W. Main Street, or call our Project Information Hotline at 520.689.3409.

Thank you for your continued support, and please accept our very best wishes to your family for a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

John Rickus
President

The Honorable Ed Pastor
411 North Central Avenue, Ste 150
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602.256.0551

The Honorable Raul Grijalva
810 E. 22nd St, Ste 102
Tucson, AZ 85713
520.622.6788

The Honorable Jon Kyl
2200 E. Camelback Rd, Ste 120
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602.840.1891

Return to the Issues Brief Winter 2007

View the pdf version here.