Sponsors (34)
The bill permanently protects Oak Flat and strengthens recognition of tribal historic and environmental concerns, but it does so by withdrawing the land from mineral development—trading local economic and royalty opportunities (and possible national supply effects) for cultural, environmental, and legal protections.
Indigenous tribes and nearby rural communities retain Oak Flat as protected public land, preventing large-scale mining and preserving the site’s cultural, recreational, and ecological values.
Local and state land managers and governments face less legal and permitting uncertainty because the bill statutorily withdraws the area from mineral and geothermal leasing laws.
Indigenous and tribal communities gain stronger grounds for protection and remedial action because the bill formally recognizes local and tribal historic resources as at-risk.
Local workers, small businesses, and local governments lose potential jobs, investment, and economic activity that mining development would have created.
U.S. manufacturers, utilities, and consumers could face higher copper prices or increased supply-chain costs if the bill’s findings prompt tighter regulatory or export controls.
Federal and local governments (and thus taxpayers) may forgo royalties, lease revenue, or other payments that would have come from mineral development on the withdrawn lands.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Repeals the Resolution Copper land-exchange authority and withdraws ~2,422 acres of Oak Flat from federal mining and mineral disposition, preserving valid existing rights.
Official title: To repeal section 3003 of Public Law 113-291, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 3, 2025 by Adelita S. Grijalva · Last progress December 3, 2025
Blocks the planned land exchange that would convey about 2,422 acres of Forest Service land at Oak Flat to Resolution Copper and withdraws that area from federal mining and mineral disposition authorities, while preserving any valid preexisting rights. The law repeals the specific statutory authority that enabled the land conveyance and prevents future location, entry, patent, leasing, or disposition of minerals on the withdrawn acreage.