Controversial mine legislation slipped into defense bill

A controversial Arizona mining bill that appeared dead for this Congress has gotten new life, as supporters have tucked it deep into a defense bill that lawmakers must pass before the end of the year.

The legislation would authorize a federal land swap to allow an international mining company to drill into one of North America's richest copper deposits near Superior, about 60 miles east of Phoenix.

House lawmakers slipped the land-exchange bill late Tuesday night into the 1,600-page National Defense Authorization Act, a key bill that continues funding for the Defense Department.

The must-pass defense legislation may give the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act its best chance of passage yet. A House committee will vote on the defense bill Wednesday and likely advance it to a full House vote on Thursday. From there it would go to the Senate, where no amendments would be allowed.

Lawmakers are trying to plow through a list of lame-duck priorities before leaving for Christmas.

Most of Arizona's delegation supports the land exchange, though they are staying mum for now.

The delegation's main opponent, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., is researching the legislation and will have comment Thursday, a spokesman said.

The project has been fought over in Washington, D.C., for years. U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., gave the proposal a bipartisan boost in 2013 and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., vowed to push for it in the Senate if it succeeded in the House.

It stalled last year in an embarrassing episode in which a vote was scheduled at the same time the White House was hosting Native American leaders in Washington. A number of tribes in Arizona and the country oppose the project, saying it endangers sacred lands and water. The tribes pressured lawmakers, torpedoing support.

Environmental activists and outdoor enthusiasts also oppose the project.

The new legislation includes changes that could quiet some critics.

The bill requires a final environmental-impact study to be completed before the land-exchange. It also provides expanded protections for Apache Leap, a nearby mountain that is important to the San Carlos Apache, and public access to the Oak Flat campground for as long as it is safe during mining operations.

Some conservatives who support the project are complaining about a land bill being grafted onto unrelated legislation.

Heritage Action, a conservative policy organization, warned lawmakers on Wednesday not to water down the defense bill. A spokesman told The Arizona Republic the group supports the Resolution Copper mine but opposes the current method of passing it.