Supreme Court spurns Native American religious claim over copper mine on sacred land
NBCMAY 28
Supreme Court Rejects Apache Appeal on Sacred Land Mining
Above: A police officer is seen outside the Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C., U.S. Image copyright: Matt McClain/Contributor/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
While it's heartbreaking to see historic lands like Oak Flat mined, copper is vital for jobs and the green energy shift. The Morenci Mine shows the scale needed for wiring, turbines, and transmission lines to support renewables. Despite environmental costs, copper's role in clean energy is undeniable, driving economic and sustainable progress.
Narrative B
This ruling is illogical from both a moral and economic perspective. This site, vital for Apache religious ceremonies, will now be destroyed for a copper mine that won't even deliver on its promises, particularly regarding jobs, which will either be automated or outsourced to China. Furthermore, existing copper in landfills would suffice, and this new mine's massive water use threatens Arizona's drought-hit reserves.