Sponsors (17)
Introduced March 17, 2026 by Adelita S. Grijalva · Last progress March 17, 2026
The bill protects a sacred tribal landscape and reduces environmental and public‑health risks by prohibiting mining and related development, but does so at the cost of foregone mineral development, local jobs and revenues, potential impacts on domestic copper supply, and increased legal and administrative disputes.
Indigenous and tribal communities: The bill federally recognizes Chí’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat) as a historic and sacred district and strengthens its eligibility and procedural protections under the National Register and NHPA, supporting preservation of cultural and religious practices.
Local and downstream communities: Prohibiting mining, waste pipelines, and certain utility development in the district reduces risk of groundwater loss, subsidence, toxic contamination, and other environmental harms that threaten water supplies, land, and public health.
Tribal access and federal management clarity: The bill requires government-to-government consultation and cooperative agreements for traditional activities and clarifies which federal official and statutory definitions apply on Forest Service land, reducing management ambiguity and affirming tribal roles in stewardship.
Workers, local governments, and nearby communities: By prohibiting mining and related development on the designated lands, the bill could eliminate job opportunities and regional economic activity tied to the Resolution Copper project and other mineral development.
Manufacturers, utilities, and taxpayers: Restricting access to mineral resources may reduce potential domestic copper supply and related industrial activity, possibly increasing reliance on imports, raising costs, and limiting future lease/sale revenue for governments.
Indigenous communities and local governments: Explicit references to land already conveyed to a private mining company risk legitimizing or locking in that prior 2,422-acre transfer and could limit future federal or tribal efforts to reverse the conveyance.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Protects National Forest System land within the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat) Historic District by prohibiting mining and related development and requiring tribal consultations and cooperative agreements.
Protects the National Forest System land inside the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel (Oak Flat) Historic District by barring new mining and related development, preserving natural and cultural resources, and requiring government-to-government consultation and cooperative agreements with affected Indian Tribes to ensure access for traditional activities. The measure defines the historic district, states findings about its cultural and natural significance, and withdraws the district’s National Forest System land from public land, mining, and mineral-leasing laws to prevent future mineral development on those federal lands.