Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
- Committees
- Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 17, 2026
Bottom line
The bill seeks to permanently protect a sacred Native American site from a large-scale copper mining project, directly challenging a prior land exchange and prioritizing cultural and environmental preservation over resource extraction.
What it actually does
This bill designates the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District, including land previously transferred to Resolution Copper, as a protected Traditional Cultural Place. It withdraws this land from all forms of mineral extraction and prohibits all mining-related activities within the district, aiming to prevent the development of the Resolution Copper mine. The bill also mandates federal consultation with Indian Tribes for preservation and access.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that the bill is essential to preserve a sacred ancestral homeland for Native American tribes, protecting invaluable cultural resources, religious ceremonies, and traditional practices from irreversible destruction. They highlight the severe environmental impacts of the proposed mine, including water depletion and toxic waste, and raise concerns about foreign corporate control over American resources and the human rights record of the mining entities involved.
Opponents contend
Opponents would contend that the bill undermines economic development, job creation, and the domestic supply of critical minerals necessary for national security and the energy transition. They would argue that the prior land exchange was legally enacted and that reversing it creates regulatory uncertainty, discourages investment, and could lead to significant legal challenges and compensation claims against the federal government.
The bill is concise and clearly written, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its core provisions and implications within a short timeframe.
Section 2
Congressional Findings on Chi'chil Bimdagoteel and Resolution Copper
This section outlines Congress's detailed findings regarding the cultural significance of Chi'chil Bimdagoteel (Oak Flat) to Native American tribes, its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and the history of the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act. It also details concerns about Resolution Copper's foreign ownership, its alleged environmental and human rights record, and the projected destructive impacts of the proposed mine on the historic district and surrounding region.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue these findings are crucial for establishing the moral and legal imperative to protect Chi'chil Bimdagoteel, demonstrating the profound cultural value of the site and the severe, irreversible harm posed by the mining project. They emphasize the foreign ownership and track record of the mining companies as further justification for federal intervention.
Critics contend
Opponents would argue that these findings present a one-sided narrative, downplaying the economic benefits and strategic importance of the copper mine. They might contend that the characterization of Resolution Copper is unfair and that the land exchange was a legitimate, legally completed transaction.
Tradeoffs
This section highlights the tension between the recognized cultural and environmental value of a specific site and the economic and strategic value of its underlying mineral resources, particularly when foreign entities are involved in extraction.
Section 3
Definitions of Key Terms
This section defines critical terms used throughout the Act, including 'Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District' (explicitly including land transferred to Resolution Copper), 'Indian Tribe,' 'National Forest System,' 'Resolution Copper' (identifying its foreign ownership), 'Secretary' (of Agriculture), and 'traditional cultural place.' These definitions clarify the scope and intent of the bill.
Section 4
Withdrawal of National Forest System Land
This section withdraws all National Forest System land within the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District from various forms of public land use, including entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws; location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials laws. This effectively prevents any new claims or development related to resource extraction on these lands.
Section 5(a)
Preservation Mandate for the Historic Place
This subsection mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to preserve the natural condition and physical or cultural integrity of the National Forest System land within the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District. It explicitly prohibits any activities that would adversely affect the landscape, natural structures, water resources, wildlife, flora, or ecosystems of the district.
Section 5(b)
Prohibition of Mining-Related Activities
This subsection explicitly prohibits all activities related to mining and mining-related infrastructure within the National Forest System land of the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District. This includes rights-of-way, toxic waste pipelines, utility development, waste disposal, and road development or expansion, effectively halting any current or future mining operations and associated infrastructure.
Section 5(c)
Consultations and Cooperative Agreements with Indian Tribes
This subsection requires the Secretary of Agriculture to engage in government-to-government consultations with Indian Tribes connected to the Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District. It also mandates entering into cooperative agreements, if requested by these tribes, to ensure their access to the National Forest System land for traditional activities and to facilitate the preservation of sacred and cultural areas.
The definition of the 'Chi'chil Bimdagoteel Historic District' explicitly includes land that was previously transferred to Resolution Copper on or about March 13, 2026, under the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act.
Section 3(1)(B)
Why it matters:While definitions are standard legislative practice, this specific inclusion is highly consequential. It directly asserts federal jurisdiction and protective measures over land that has already been transferred to a private entity, which is a significant legal and political maneuver rather than a mere clarification.
Case for: Proponents argue this inclusion is absolutely necessary to fully protect the sacred site, as the transferred land is integral to the historic district and the proposed mining operation would destroy it. It ensures the bill's intent to preserve the entire district is legally clear and comprehensive.
Case against: Opponents would argue that this attempts to retroactively invalidate a completed land exchange, creating legal uncertainty and potentially violating property rights. They would contend it sets a dangerous precedent for future land transfers and could lead to substantial claims for compensation from Resolution Copper.
Estimated impact: This provision is foundational to the bill's ability to halt the Resolution Copper mine, as it extends the bill's prohibitions to the land already acquired by the company. Without it, the bill's impact on the mine would be severely limited, potentially rendering the core purpose of the bill ineffective.