María León
Tucson (USA), Jun 10 (EFE) .- Tribes and environmental groups fight a battle in the US. To stop an extensive exploitation of open-pit copper in Oak Flat, a sacred territory in Arizona that, according to they warn- could become one of the worst “ecological disasters” of the new millennium.
In a struggle of years, the Apache indigenous tribe of San Carlos, along with Defensores del Environment, has managed to protect Oak Flat, a territory about 97 kilometers east of Phoenix, considered sacred by the Apache tribe.
However, the Minera Resolution Copper, an alliance between companies in the United Kingdom and Australia, intends to build and operate in this territory the largest underground copper mine in North America.
“The ecological disaster would be very large, contaminating the air, the land and the water supply; affecting the communities near decades,” Henry Muñoz, a retired miner and a member in fact, tells a de facto member, a Latin organization defender of the environment.
“These companies have a immense political power In the United States, for the millionaire contributions to political campaigns, “says Muñoz.
“In 2014 they managed to give the federal government to them this territory for exploitation, which is part of the Apache tribe territory,” he explains.
Since then a legal battle began in the Cortes to avoid its operations, which also threaten with air and water pollution due to the release of arsenic and sulfate during copper extraction.
Environmental and religious fight
Last week, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the case on the religious law of the indigenous tribe over this territory, which is used for religious ceremonies that can only be carried out in that place.
Although it was a hard blow to the tribe, Muñoz explains that there are still other demands that seek to stop the project, including one that focuses on the ecological impact.
The mining company plans to extract the open -pit copper by excavation of a crater of about 2.9 kilometers long and 305 meters deep, a huge opening that, as opposed to the project warns, will never be filled.
“Resolution Copper paid four million to carry out an ecological study of this region. However, we know that we cannot trust its veracity,” says Muñoz, with 24 -year experience in mining.
The retired miner also warns of the strong impact on the aqueducts, since the mine requires extracting at least 250,000 million gallons of water from the subsoil to operate.
“And that is just half of the water that requires. It is estimated that a similar amount will be extracted from an aqueduct near the population of Apache Junction, where about 1.2 million people live, “he details. It will also affect Superior, a town with a high percentage of Latinos and Native Americans.
The activist ensures that environmental studies have not taken into account global warming or population growth.
Last Friday, environmentalists requested in the Federal Court in Phoenix to stop the initiative until a independent study of the environmental impact. However, the judge said it is a “premature” request.
Meanwhile, the Minera Resolution Copper, which this June will disseminate the results of its environmental study, tells Efe that The project is crucial for the country. “It is vital to ensure the energy future of the United States, its infrastructure needs and national defense through the National Copper Supply and other critical minerals,” he says in statements sent to EFE.
It emphasizes that the project has the support of the communities and that it will contribute one billion dollars annually to the Arizona economy, in addition to creating thousands of local jobs.
The company ensures that it has a detailed plan that includes the constant surveillance of water and air pollution levels, to ensure that they are within the margins established by law.
Meanwhile, Oak Flat defenders also seek the support of congressmen to prevent the land from being exploited.
Oak Flat is a world -class recreational area and a place of great biological diversity, tells Efe Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club in Arizona.
“Promote the exploitation of these lands feels the foundations for the destruction of Oak Flat,” complains.
Remember that Oak Flat is a sacred place for indigenous peoples, including the Apaches, and that it is registered in the National Registry of Historical places as a traditional cultural asset, under the name of the historical district of Chi’chil Bildagoteel.
“We will not cease in the fight to protect this area of great importance,” he says.
ml/IMS/ICN
