The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Resolution Copper mine project in Arizona to move forward by declining to hear an appeal from Apache Stronghold, a group representing San Carlos Apache tribe members.
The group argued the mine would destroy Oak Flat, a sacred worship site. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling in favor of the mine now stands.
The project, first approved in 2014 and backed by Presidents Obama and Trump, could produce 40 billion pounds of copper over 40 years.
Conservative Justices Gorsuch and Thomas dissented, with Gorsuch criticizing the court for ignoring religious freedom concerns.
Apache Stronghold continues to call on Congress to intervene.
