Land Exchange
Resolution Copper is permitting one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits in Arizona’sCopper Triangle. Once in operation, the mine could supply up to one-quarter of the nation’s copper
demand. The project will create thousands of jobs and bring important economic benefits tothe region. And a central component is the Congressionally-approved land exchange between
Resolution Copper and the federal government, which has been more than a decade in the making.
PHOTO
Legislation to facilitate the land exchange between the Tonto National Forest and Resolution Copper passed with bipartisan
support in December 2014 and was signed into law by President Obama. Championed by members of the Arizona Congressionaldelegation, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act is one of more than 80 land bills that were part of theNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in 2014.

What is a land exchange?
A land exchange is a commonly used tool for managing federal lands. It involves transferring public land administered by a federal agency
to another owner in exchange for other lands, through an open and transparent process. When complete, the title to the formerly federallands is exchanged for the title to the private or state lands that are part of the exchange. Land exchanges may be administrated or legislated
through approval by Congress. They serve the public interest in a variety of ways, including economic development.

What lands are being exchanged?
The Resolution Copper land exchange is crucial to developing and operating the safest and most efficient mine possible. It transfers
2,422 acres from the Tonto National Forest into Resolution Copper’s ownership. In return, the company is transferring to the government
5,459 acres of conservation lands around Arizona. The land exchange also includes 545 acres of federal lands within the Tonto National
Forest for the Town of Superior, if requested. The National Forest lands near Superior are underlain and surrounded by current and historicmining operations and mining claims, while the lands offered for exchange by the company are located throughout Arizona, within existing
National Forests or would become part of National Conservation Areas providing long-term conservation, habitat and cultural heritage
protection as well as recreational opportunities.

What does the public get in return?
Input from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, Audubon and The Nature Conservancy,and others have identified the 5,459 acres of conservation
lands that will become public in the land exchange.
Resolution Copper will make a payment to the United States
for difference between the appraised value the federal lands
and the non-federal lands.

When will the land exchange take place?
The land exchange will be consummated within 60 days ofrepublication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

How does the legislative process work?
Based on nearly a decade of feedback from a wide range of stakeholders – including the San Carlos Apache Tribe, civil society
organizations and the Town of Superior – the bill included a number of important changes. Most notably:

Versions Pre-2013

Final approved in 2014••

Maintain public access to areas within Oak Flat, including thecampground, after completition of the land exchange;•Including 545 acres of federal lands within the Tonto National
Forest for the Town of Superior, if requested; and•Requiring that a full environmental impact statement (EIS) be
completed and published before the Resolution Copper landtransfer can take place.

••Reducing the total acres of land sought by
Resolution Copper from approximately 3,025
acres to 2,400 acres;
Increasing the nonfederal conservation
lands offered by Resolution Copper fromapproximately 4,800 acres to 5,400 acres; andIncreasing the acreage devoted to the protectionof Apache Leap from approximately 560 acres to800 acres.

Importantly, the bill carefully addressed the needs for conservation and cultural heritage
protection, as well as economic development and jobs. This land exchange is the only
congressionally mandated land exchange bill requiring a comprehensive environmentalreview under the National Environmental Policy Act.
What about culturally significant lands?
Resolution Copper is committed to responsibly and respectfully
managing lands we own or acquire – especially those with cultural,
historical and religious significance to Native Americans. Throughthe multi-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review
process and the consultation process described in the land exchange
legislation, the USFS has conducted comprehensive government-togovernment consultations with Native American tribes of Arizona

and New Mexico to find mutually acceptable measures toaddress their concerns and minimize adverse effects resulting
from mining- related activities on the Federal land conveyed toResolution Copper.
Resolution Copper has committed to fulfilling cultural heritage
management obligations detailed in the Draft EIS.

Resolution Copper private lands (7B Ranch) to be transferred to the U.S. Government in the land exchange. 7B ranch, which is located along the Lower San Pedro River, is tobe part of the Lower San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area.

The package oflands includes:
7B Ranch (Pinal County):
3,120 acres of riparian ecosystem along the Lower
San Pedro River (7B Ranch), designated by theNature Conservancy as one of the “Last Great Placeson Earth” and home to threatened and endangered
bird species. 7B Ranch is also home to Native
American cultural sites.

Appleton Whittell (Santa Cruz County):

How is the land valued?
The lands to be exchanged must be of equal value. For thisreason, before completion of the land trade, all exchange parcels
will go through an independent appraisal process directed,
managed and approved by the US Secretary of Agriculture.
The federal government will determine the properties’ market
price according to well-documented United States Forest
Service (USFS) standards. If the federal lands’ appraised value
is determined to be higher than the Resolution Copper lands,
the company will make up the difference. Notably, the Act also
creates a mechanism by which the federal land appraisal links toResolution Copper’s future production. In the future, if the mine’scumulative production of commercial quantities of minerals
exceeds the amount estimated for the appraisal, Resolution
Copper must make pay a federal payment upon production.

A 956-acre tract adjacent to a congressionallyestablished conservation area home to 200 birdspecies and 60 species of mammals.

Cave Creek (Maricopa County):
A 149-acre property that houses numerous
archaeological and Native American sites,
including petroglyphs, structure ruins, andgrinding sites.

East Clear Creek (Coconino County):
640 acres encompassing a notable fishery withsustained populations of both rainbow and brown trout;also home to big game such as Rocky Mountain elk,mule deer, turkey, and black bear.

Dripping Springs (Gila County):
160 acres identified by national rock climbers
as a significant rock-climbing resource.

Turkey Creek (Gila County):
147 acres of abundant and diverse wildlife, including
three native fish species.

Tangle Creek (Yavapai County):
148 acres long known for rugged, scenic terrain andabundant hiking, camping and hunting opportunities.

Apache Leap (Pinal County):
Over 140 acres protecting cultural, recreational andscenic resources that are important to Superior,
Native American tribes and the general public.
Resolution Copper private lands to be transferred to the U.S. Government in the land
exchange. East Clear Creek is located within the Coconino National Forest.

SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR APACHE LEAP
PHOTO
Resolution Copper is already implementing
the mutually agreed upon measures requiredin the land exchange bill with Native Americantribes. We’ve designed our mine plan to protect
Apache Leap, setting aside more than 800 acresof land and mineral title to permanently protect
this unique area as a Special Management Area
(SMA) overseen by the USFS.

Specific measures were taken within the Apache Leap SMA NEPA process
to accommodate tribal concerns regarding public access, grazing and otherprotections for culturally important locations. Monitoring of the area willcontinue throughout construction, operation, closure and reclamation ofthe proposed mine. Detailed monitoring reports will be publicly available
through the USFS.

MAINTAINING ACCESS TOOAK FLAT CAMPGROUNDPHOTO
Mining operations and active mining claims have co-existed with outdoor
recreation, ranching and cultural activities in the Oak Flat area for decades.
The land exchange legislation specifically requires Resolution Copper to provide
access to the surface of Oak Flat Campground to the public, including local
communities and Native American tribes, to the maximum extent practicable,consistent with health and safety requirements. As a condition of the landexchange, Resolution Copper has worked with local communities to identify anddesign an alternate campground for recreational use. Resolution Copper has
committed to providing ongoing access to Oak Flat Campground, for as long as it
is safe, for at least the next few decades.

RESOLUTION COPPER
IS COMMITTED TO
BEING RESPONSIBLE
STEWARDS OF THE
LAND, IN ORDERTO PROTECT AND
PRESERVE ARIZONA'SUNIQUE ENVIRONMENT,CULTURE AND HISTORY.

Resolution Copper private lands to be transferred to the U.S. government in the land exchange. The Appleton Whitell Research Ranch will be part of the Las Cienegas National
Conservation Area.

Learn more at

www.resolutioncopper.com