/ Current Status

Current Status

Current Status of Federal Permitting

The Resolution Copper project has reached a major federal milestone.
On March 16, 2026, the congressionally mandated land exchange was recorded, and the U.S. government issued the final Record of Decision (RoD). This action completes the federal land exchange process and authorizes future special use permits for pipelines, powerlines, and roads across National Forest System lands.

What this means

  • The land exchange directed by Congress in 2014 is now complete.
  • Federal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is finished.
  • The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), as the lead federal agency, has concluded its review and issued its final decision.
  • The project now moves from federal land exchange review into enabling work, additional studies, and state-level permitting.

What Comes Next

With the land exchange completed, the project moves into its next phase.

The next steps planned include:

  • Approximately $500 million in committed investment for enabling work for the next two years.
  • Surface drilling to collect additional resource information.
  • Upgrades to existing site infrastructure to prepare for potential underground development.
  • Continued collaboration with local communities and Native American Tribes.
  • Ongoing state-level permitting in advance of a future investment decision.

No decision has been made to begin mining. Future phases will be subject to additional review, permits, and community engagement.

Resolution Copper recognizes the significance of this project to local communities, Tribal Nations, and Arizona. We remain committed to transparency, regulatory compliance, and ongoing dialogue as the project progresses.

For official federal documents and updates, the U.S. Forest Service maintains the authoritative public record.

Resources

Our Work

New Water Recycling System Reduces Annual Use by One Million Gallons

A new Potable Water Recycling System is now operating on site, reducing water use by an estimated one million gallons per year. The system captures clean analyzer water and returns it to the plant for reuse, replacing water that was previously discharged onto the ground.

Reflecting on His Past, Bryan Mines a New Future

Bryan’s family is no stranger to mining. Born and raised in Globe, Bryan grew up watching his father and uncles work at the Magma Copper Mine. The industry was volatile at the time, and Bryan’s father was laid off three different times. Wanting a more stable path for his son, Bryan’s father encouraged him to do anything else for a living. Bryan followed that advice and decided to enroll at the University of Arizona, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economic development.

Apache Owned Business to Manage Oak Flat Campground

Resolution Copper reaffirms that public access to the Oak Flat Campground, as well as to recreational roads and climbing areas on private land in the Oak Flat area, will remain open for the foreseeable future following completion of a federal land exchange this month.

United States Forest Service and Resolution Copper Complete Land Exchange

The U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper, a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP that represents one of the world's most significant untapped copper deposits, have completed a Federal land exchange required to unlock the full potential of the project.

Eight Years of Emory Oak Restoration and Cultural Stewardship

Across Arizona’s National Forests, Emory oak trees and the restoration of their groves support far more than wildlife and shade. For Western Apache communities, these trees provide acorns that are central to food traditions, ceremonies, and cultural practices that stretch back generations.

Resolution Copper in the Community: 2025 Recap

If there’s one thing 2025 proved, it’s this: engaging with the community isn’t a side project for us. Across the Copper Triangle and surrounding communities, Resolution Copper showed up in hundreds of ways, big and small. Some days it looked like volunteers packing food bags. Other days it looked like robotics kits in classrooms, filling sandbags, or youth baseball teams taking the field.

$4.5M Invested in Local Communities in 2025

Together alongside local partners, we invested over 4.5 million dollars to support students, families, communities, small businesses, and the places we all care about in the Copper Triangle region. The year was full of real moments that changed lives in quiet, meaningful ways. A robotics team getting their first competition kit. Families picking up holiday meals with dignity and relief. Teachers gain new tools for hands-on learning

Inside Our Underground Concrete Work on 68L

At Resolution Copper, we recently completed a major upgrade on 68L, one of the key levels deep in our underground system. The work was a collaboration between our team, Redpath, and Oddonetto, and it is a good window into what it takes to build strong mining infrastructure before full operations begin.

Resolution Copper Donates $285,000 to United Food Bank

Resolution Copper has donated $285,000 to Mesa-based United Food Bank to support the nonprofit’s mission and work in the Copper Corridor, tribal communities, and in the East Valley. The multi-year agreement through December 2028 comes at a critical time when there is record demand for food among all populations, including seniors and working families.