REFERENCE TITLE: copper mining; support

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013

HCM 2003

Introduced by Representatives Shope, Coleman, Gowan, Gray, Kwasman, Lesko, Livingston, Montenegro, Orr, Petersen, Pratt, Smith, Stevens, Thorpe, Tobin, Townsend, Senators Crandell, Pierce, Shooter: Representatives Allen, Barton, Borrelli, Boyer, Brophy McGee, Cardenas, Carter, Contreras, Dial, Escamilla, Fann, Farnsworth, Forese, Goodale, Kavanagh, Lovas, Mesnard, Mitchell, Olson, Pierce, Robson, Ugenti

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

Urging the United States COngress to enact legislation authorizing a land exchange to allow the Resolution Copper project to proceed in southeastern arizona.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, copper mining plays a significant role in Arizona's economic history and has been the principal output of mining activity in Arizona for over a century; and

Whereas, Arizona is consistently a top producer of copper in the United States and the world.  Since 1973 Arizona has produced over one-half of the total copper production in the United States each year.  In 2011, Arizona copper mines produced 68% of the United States' copper, and Arizona was the sixth largest producer of mined copper in the world; and

Whereas, more than ten thousand Arizona residents are employed by the copper mining industry in Arizona; and

Whereas, the copper mining industry contributes to the state and local economies.  In 2011, copper mining companies in Arizona reported purchasing $2.73 billion worth of goods and services from Arizona businesses and generated, directly and indirectly, an estimated $436 million in state and local tax revenues; and

Whereas, in 2011, the direct and indirect total economic impact of the copper mining industry on the State of Arizona is estimated to be over 46,000 jobs, $3.04 billion of labor income and $4.31 billion of total income; and

Whereas, it is reported that the total economic impact of the proposed Resolution Copper Project in southeast Arizona is estimated to be more than $61.4 billion over the life of the project, with another $20 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue, while providing approximately 3,700 jobs; and

Whereas, for the Resolution Copper Project to proceed there must be a federal land exchange to provide Resolution Copper access to lands that are currently excluded from mining.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1.  That the United States Congress enact legislation to authorize an exchange of federal land and nonfederal land to facilitate the extraction of mineral resources in southeastern Arizona.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.