THE FRIENDS OF QUEEN CREEK NEED YOUR HELP TO CONVINCE CONGRESS TO OPPOSE A LEGISLATED LAND EXCHANGE AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION COPPER TO ACQUIRE OAK FLAT, AZ

Access to portions of Arizona’s Queen Creek/Oak Flat area – home to the Phoenix BoulderBlast (formerly, the Phoenix Bouldering Contest) – may be lost forever if a mining proposal to extract billions of dollars worth of high-grade copper is approved. Resolution Copper’s proposed mine – believed to be the largest copper ore body in North America, and located thousands of feet beneath the US Forest Service-managed Oak Flat area – could cause substantial ground subsidence requiring the area to be closed to public entry (see http://friendsofqueencreek.com). The mine could affect hundreds of bouldering problems and roped routes, resulting in the largest ever loss of climbing resources in the US. 

THE LOSS OF OAK FLAT ACCESS COULD ALSO RESULT FROM A PROPOSED LEGISLATED LAND EXCHANGE, WHICH COULD EFFECTIVELY TAKE THE PUBLIC’S VOICE OUT OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS UNLESS CONGRESS IS CONVINCED OTHERWISE.

Land exchanges that are not done through the agencies are implemented through Congress. Since Congress can make any law it chooses (within the confines of the Constitution), there are no rules for how congressional land trades are conducted (see http://www.westlx.org/html/essential_links.html for more information). You can find land trades, sales, conveyances, and all other bills currently in Congress by searching the Library of Congress website, http://thomas.loc.gov. Use keywords such as “exchange” and “conveyance.”

THE ACCESS FUND AND FRIENDS OF QUEEN CREEK NEED TO YOU TO WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN/WOMEN AND OPPOSE A LEGISLATED LAND EXCHANGE FOR OAK FLAT.

To find out who your Congressman/woman is, log onto www.congress.org

****If you live in Arizona, please write both Senators McCain and Kyl, as well as your US Representative. Use the following letter as a template (change the address line).

Date

The Honorable Rick Renzi

United States House of Representatives

2707 S. White Mountain Road, Suite E

Show Low, AZ 85901

Dear Representative Renzi,

My name is _________ and I live in ___________, AZ. I write today to express my concern that a legislative bill may be introduced in the U.S. Congress that will authorize a land swap affecting lands in the Tonto National Forest in the area of the Oak Flat Campground. This proposed swap would move easily accessible and highly popular public lands into the private hands of the copper industry. Resolution Copper desires this land swap to enable the mining of copper ore 7000 feet below the surface. Their proposal would forever prohibit public access to Oak Flats and the surrounding public lands because of dramatic subsidence that would result from the mining operation.

I am not opposed to responsible mining that provides many public benefits, while at the same time protects the land. Resolution Copper (http://www.resolutioncopper.com) plans to use the “block caving*” mining method which will cause major subsidence and collapse of this popular public use area. Portions of the famous Apache Leap could also be irreparably damaged (see http://friendsofqueencreek.com/Subside.htm ).

The Oak Flat area hosts the annual Phoenix Boulder Blast (www.boulderblast.com )

which sees 2000 enthusiasts ever year, many who contribute to the growing tourist economy in central Arizona. This is the largest event of its kind in the world. Also, birders, climbers, campers, canyoneers, bikers, and hikers enjoy the area throughout the year, all of whom would be greatly harmed if these lands were forever taken from public access.

I strongly urge you to protect these public lands for the public’s future use and preserve the unique opportunities for Arizonans that the Oak Flats area provides.

Sincerely,

****If you live outside of Arizona use the above letter and write to the following Arizona offices: Senators McCain and Kyl, US Representatives Renzi and Kolbe (again, check out www.congress.org for specific mailing/contact information to insert into the letter). Make sure to note that while you live outside of Arizona, you travel there often to recreate in the Queen Creek area, and that your tourist dollars will go elsewhere if the place is closed.

Also, feel free to write your own US Senators and Congressmen, especially if they serve on the Senate Public Lands Subcommittee, or US House Resources Committee (Again, look to www.congress.org for the committee assignments of your elected officials and their contact info). Use the following letter as a template:

Date

The Honorable [your federal elected official]

United States [Senate or House of Representatives]

2707 S. White Mountain Road, Suite E

Washington, DC XXXXXX

Dear Representative __________,

My name is _________ and I live in ___________, [your state here]. I write today to express my concern that a legislative bill may be introduced in the U.S. Congress that will authorize a land swap affecting lands in the Tonto National Forest in the area of the Oak Flat Campground in central Arizona. While I live in [your state here] this particular area of federal public land in Arizona is very important to me because [your reasons here].

This proposed legislated land exchange would move easily accessible and highly popular public lands into the private hands of the copper industry. Resolution Copper desires this land swap to enable the mining of copper ore 7000 feet below the surface. Their proposal would forever prohibit public access to Oak Flats and the surrounding public lands because of dramatic subsidence that would result from the mining operation.

I am not opposed to responsible mining that provides many public benefits, while at the same time protects the land. Resolution Copper (http://www.resolutioncopper.com) plans to use the “block caving*” mining method which will cause major subsidence and collapse of this popular public use area. Portions of the famous Apache Leap could also be irreparably damaged (see http://friendsofqueencreek.com/Subside.htm).

The Oak Flat area hosts the annual Phoenix Boulder Blast (www.boulderblast.com )

which sees 2000 enthusiasts ever year, many who contribute to the growing tourist economy in central Arizona. This is the largest event of its kind in the world. Also, birders, climbers, campers, canyoneers, bikers, and hikers enjoy the area throughout the year, all of whom would be greatly harmed if these lands were forever taken from public access.

I strongly urge you to protect these public lands for the public’s future use and preserve the unique opportunities for the American public that the Oak Flats area provides.

Sincerely,

For more information about the Queen Creek/Oak Flats issue, check out www.friendsofqueencreek.com or email info@friendsofqueencreek.com.