This bill protects the Chí'chil Biłdagoteel Historic District (Oak Flat), a sacred site in Arizona's Tonto National Forest that holds deep religious and cultural significance for Western Apache and other Native American tribes. The legislation withdraws the historic district from mining activities and prohibits the Resolution Copper Mine project—a joint venture between foreign mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP—from extracting copper beneath the site and constructing related infrastructure like toxic waste pipelines and power lines. The bill prevents any activity that would damage the landscape, water resources, or cultural integrity of the district and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consult with Native American tribes and support their traditional activities on the land. No specific funding is allocated in the legislation, which essentially reverses a 2014 land exchange that had transferred approximately 2,422 acres to Resolution Copper.
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