This article highlights the close relationship between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto‘s Resolution joint venture in Arizona, and some US environmentalists.
The Arizona Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy seem to have agreed not to publicly criticize the proposed mine, or oppose a controversial so-called “land swap” by which the two groups will have access to other desirable land. However, the Maricopa County Audubon chapter has already been quite vocal in its criticism of the state chapter’s stance.
In reality this deal is a “land for mine exchange”, threatening an absolute loss of some irreplacable resources – at least during the period of the mining operation.
The companies’ proposition sits firmly alongside those which Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have been propagating in other areas.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10628.