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By Mila Besich-Lira
Resolution Copper officials held out hope that the 2012 Congress would pass H.R.1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, in the lame duck session of Congress, but to no avail.
Company officials have said the land exchange is critical to the future development of the mine. Without the exchange, Resolution will not be able to open the mine.
It is expected the company will review their strategy for future legislation.
Rio Tinto, the British-based multinational company that owns Resolution, announced large layoffs earlier this month that were due in part to political uncertainty and the numerous failed attempts at passing the exchange.
Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyle both worked to get the bill approved. In the days before Christmas, attempts to attach the bill to other legislation or pass it on its own failed.
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