[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SOUTHEAST ARIZONA LAND EXCHANGE AND CONSERVATION ACT OF 2009

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, yesterday I was pleased to join with Senator 
McCain to introduce the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and 
Conservation Act, which has been introduced in previous Congresses and 
has been modified only slightly from the version introduced last year. 
This bill is a culmination of several years of negotiation with local 
and State stakeholders and other interested parties.
  Let me briefly explain the new provisions in this bill. First, a 
previous version of this bill would have placed 822 acres of Federal 
land, including the Apache Leap, in a conservation easement to ensure 
that these sensitive lands were protected. This modified bill goes a 
step further by keeping the Apache Leap under the control of the Forest 
Service, thereby providing Federal protection in perpetuity. In 
addition, I am pleased to announce that representatives from Resolution 
Copper have agreed to add an additional 110 acres of privately owned 
land adjacent to the federally owned portion of the Leap in this 
version of the land exchange.
  Besides addressing concerns with Apache Leap, this modified bill also 
would provide for continued acorn gathering by the Apache tribes at the 
Oak Flat campground, and transfer additional private lands that will 
also serve this purpose.
  In summary, this land exchange would preserve highly sought after 
land that is important for wildlife habitat, cultural resources, 
watershed and land-management objectives; promote outdoor recreation 
and tourism; and generate economic opportunities for state and local 
residents in the copper triangle region in Arizona. It is good for our 
environment and our economy. At a time when our economy is in desperate 
need of new jobs, this land exchange could create more than a thousand 
jobs at its peak, and generate more than $10 billion in total Federal, 
State, county and local tax revenues. The mine could also meet as much 
as a quarter of the U.S. demand for copper in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to approve the legislation at the earliest 
possible date.

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