The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by Apache Stronghold seeking to block the development of the Resolution Copper Mine in Arizona.
The mine is a joint venture between Rio Tinto $RIO (-1,03 %) and BHP $BHP (-1,13 %).
The advocacy group, made up of members of the San Carlos Apache tribe in southeastern Arizona and conservationists, has challenged a 2024 lower court decision that allowed a federal land swap that allowed mining companies to acquire land considered sacred by the Apache people for the mine project.
A federal judge in Arizona temporarily halted the land swap on May 9 pending the outcome of the appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Resolution Copper project is 55% owned by Rio Tinto and 45% owned by BHP, with Rio acting as operator.