Rep. Gosar Slams "Save Oak Flat Act', Anti-Mining Misinformation Campaign Rally
Statement
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released a statement following a rally on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol building in opposition to a bipartisan land exchange which paves the way for the development of the largest copper mine in North America:
"It's unfortunate that environmental extremist groups and anti-mining opponents, including the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, Greenpeace and a DC lobbyist from the Clinton Administration, have waged a misinformation campaign to try and repeal a bipartisan jobs bill that will generate $60 billion for our economy and create nearly 4,000 new jobs in an economically depressed area. Shamelessly, Bill Snape at the Center for Biological Diversity is even listed as the contact for interviews on today's rally.
"While not short on hyperbole, the repeal effort suffers from a severe lack of facts and common sense. In reality, this land exchange does not take any reservation lands, ensures greater protection for actual sacred tribal lands, will result in environmental protections for 5,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land, requires full environmental compliance before the exchange can be completed and even maintains tribal access to Oak Flat (a small, poorly-maintained campground previously on forest service land 20 miles from the nearest tribe's reservation).
"Anti-mining opponents have sunk to a new low by using members of the Apache Tribe to further their misguided effort, in total disregard to the high levels of poverty and unemployment on the reservation. Despite today's rally, a majority of members of the nearby San Carlos Apache Tribe actually supported the bipartisan land exchange. Former San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Harrison Talgo said it best when testifying in strong support of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act stating, "The issue today is not about our reservation land, our sovereignty, our heritage, our self-respect -- these are not for sale. This is about putting our people--a lot of people--to work.'"
Source