Justice Department Cuts Ties to Copper Blockade

The Justice Department took a major hit to its enemies when its Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) secured a decision from the Ninth Circuit affirming the district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction seeking to block the Resolution Copper project in Arizona.

The decision, which came down on March 13, effectively clears the path for the Resolution Copper project to proceed, despite efforts from environmental groups to halt its development. The project, which is one of the largest known copper deposits in the world, has been a point of contention for years, with environmental groups claiming that it poses a significant threat to local ecosystems.

However, the Justice Department argued that the project is crucial to advancing mineral development and national security. And it appears that their argument has won out, at least for now.

The Resolution Copper project, which is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP, has been in the works for years and is expected to create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity. However, environmental groups have long argued that the project poses a significant threat to local ecosystems and that the land exchange required for the project to move forward is unfair to Native American tribes.

The decision by the Ninth Circuit is a major win for the Justice Department and for the Resolution Copper project. It’s a clear indication that the government is committed to advancing mineral development and national security, even in the face of opposition from environmental groups.

But the fight is far from over. Environmental groups have vowed to continue their opposition to the project, and it’s likely that they will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The Justice Department, meanwhile, will likely continue to push forward with the project, arguing that it is in the best interests of the country.

In a statement, the Justice Department said that the decision was a major victory for the country’s mineral development and national security. “The Resolution Copper project is a critical component of our nation’s mineral development and national security strategy,” said a spokesperson for the department. “We are committed to seeing this project through to completion, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure its success.”