By Erin Kelly | Republic Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — A proposal to build North America’s largest copper mine on a site near Superior got a hearing before a key Senate committee Wednesday, a week after suffering a major setback in the House.
The hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is the first step in a process that could bring the massive underground mining project to a vote before the full Senate.
It also showed that mine supporters — including Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake — will continue to press forward despite the fact House sponsors have been unable to secure enough votes to pass it in that chamber.
At the same time, it showed just how controversial the project remains as tribal leaders and the Obama administration testified about their continued objections to the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act. The legislation provides for a land swap needed for the mine project to proceed.
Do you support plans for the mine? See comment box at end of story.
Related: San Carlos Apache official says copper mine threatens sacred sites
