Supreme Court Lets Oak Flat Mine Proceed

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge from Apache Stronghold and members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe seeking to block the transfer of Oak Flat, a sacred site in Arizona, to Resolution Copper for a major mining project. This decision allows the mining project, backed by Rio Tinto and BHP, to proceed, potentially generating billions for Arizona’s economy and supplying critical minerals for U.S. infrastructure and defense. The transfer, approved by Congress in 2014, has faced opposition due to the site's central role in Apache religious practices. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented, citing religious freedom concerns, while Justice Samuel Alito recused himself. Apache leaders have pledged to continue their fight in court and are urging Congress to intervene. The case underscores tensions between Indigenous religious rights and national economic priorities.