Rep. Grijalva Opposes HR 4090: Concerns Over Resource Extraction and Environmental Impact

Opposition to HR 4090

• ❌ Representative Adelita Grijalva strongly opposes HR 4090, a bill that would allow the mining industry to gut its own regulations.
• 🎯 The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to expedite and approve priority mines without public input or tribal consultation.

Historical and Environmental Harms of Mining

• ⚠️ Arizona's history with mining has resulted in polluted waters, poisoned land, and long-term health impacts on families.
• 💔 Tribal nations have experienced land theft and desecration of sacred sites due to mining operations.
• 🌎 Examples of past mining disasters include BHP's collapse of a Brazilian tailings dam and Rio Tinto's destruction of a sacred Aboriginal site in Australia.

Resolution Copper Mine Concerns

• 🏗️ The proposed Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, co-owned by BHP and Rio Tinto, threatens to destroy Oak Flat, a sacred site for Apache tribes.
• ☣️ This mine would create one of the world's largest toxic tailings dams and ponds.
• 🚫 Grijalva argues that the mining industry is not ready to responsibly regulate itself, citing these past incidents.

Protecting Public Lands and Resources

• ✊ The "Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act" seeks to reverse the giveaway of public lands and resources to foreign mining companies.
• ⚖️ Decisions about mining on public lands must respect tribal nations, local communities, and public health.
• 🗣️ Tribes and local communities most impacted by mining deserve a greater say in the future of their lands and waters.
• 💰 HR 4090 is seen as a bill that makes it easier for foreign entities to extract and take away America's resources, leaving lasting pollution.