How Apache Stronghold's fight to protect Oak Flat in central Arizona has played out over the years

abcnews.go.com:

Native American groups have struggled with mining interests over a decade over Oak Flat, a piece of national forest land in central Arizona

PHOENIX — Oak Flat, a piece of national forest land in central Arizona, is at the heart of a yearslong struggle between Native American groups and mining interests that both consider it important for their future.

Resolution Copper, a subsidiary of international mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, wants to develop the large deposit of copper ore deep under Oak Flat into a massive mine. The nonprofit Apache Stronghold considers the land sacred and says it should be preserved for religious ceremonies.

In a significant blow to Apache Stronghold, a divided federal court panel voted 6-5 on Friday to uphold a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction to halt transfer of land for the project.

Apache Stronghold says it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here is how the fight has played out over the years:

November 2013: Resolution Copper introduces its initial general plan of operations for a proposed mine at Oak Flat.

Dec. 12, 2014: The U.S. Senate approves a must-pass military spending bill that included the Oak Flat land swap, giving the national forest property to mining companies for development of America’s largest copper mine. A rider tucked into the legislation called for Resolution Copper to get 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of forest land in return for eight parcels it owns in Arizona.

March 4, 2016: The Forest Service adds Oak Flat to the National Register of Historic Places. Arizona Republican Congressman Paul Gosar and Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick oppose the historic place designation, with Gosar saying it is “sabotaging an important mining effort.”

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