Center for Biological Diversity Conservation Advocate Randy Serraglio discussed two key Arizona environmental campaigns and sacred indigenous lands that are under even more pressure as the Trump administration comes to an end. At stake are Oak Flat and construction on the border wall. He says that government agencies are bowing to political pressure to expedite controversial actions in favor of mining interests. According to the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, on January 4th, the US Forest Service announced that they would be publishing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on January 15, 2021, which would trigger a land swap that would trade Oak Flat away to international mining company Rio Tinto for its proposed Resolution Copper to build a large underground copper mine.Randy Serraglio discussed steps that the Biden administration can take with newly appointed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Haaland is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo and a 35th-generation New Mexican. When confirmed, she will become the first Native American to run the Department of the Interior and the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.He also discussed policies that are rooted in racism and white supremacy and how we must dismantle racism and white supremacy in the dominant culture, in our own organizations, and in ourselves.Randy Serraglio, Southwest Conservation Advocate, works on a variety of public-lands and other conservation issues in Arizona and the Southwest. He joined the Center in 2007 and currently leads the Center’s effort to stop proposed copper mines at Rosemont and Oak Flat, advocates for the jaguar and other protected southwestern species, and works to stop the border wall and destructive militarization of the border region. A veteran of many environmental and human rights campaigns, he holds a bachelor’s in Latin American studies from the University of Arizona. This map shows resources that would be lost if the Resolution Copper Mine isbuilt in Arizona. The mine proposal involves the privatization of 2,400 acres(red boundary) from the Tonto National Forest to Resolution Copper. It wouldalso nullify an Executive Order that has protected the Oak Flat Campgroundfrom mining for over 50 years (black boundary). The type of mining beingproposed would occur deep underground and create empty voids so largethat the land above caves in on itself. The so-called block caving methodwould result in a crater one mile wide and 1,000 feet deep, noted on the mapas circular subsidence zones. The minethreatens to dewater Ga’an Canyon, which provides permanent water and lushriparian habitat for the area’s wildlife and is considered by Apaches to be aplace where spiritual beings that represent healing live. Image credit: Earthworks.Read more about Apache-Stronghold and their efforts to save Oak Flat.Apache Stronghold, San Carlos, Arizona, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community organization of individuals who come together in unity to battle continued colonization, defend Holy sites and freedom of religion, and are dedicated to building a better community through neighborhood p...