Supreme Court spurns Native American religious claim over copper mine on sacred land

The Supreme Court agreed to consider whether Native Americans can challenge a massive copper mining project in Arizona that would destroy a sacred site used for tribal ceremonies.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a last-minute plea from Native Americans seeking to challenge a massive copper mining project in Arizona that would destroy a sacred site used for tribal ceremonies, a weighty dispute that pitted religious rights against business interests.

The court turned away an appeal brought by the nonprofit group Apache Stronghold asserting that its members' religious rights will be violated if the Resolution Copper mine goes forward because it would obliterate Oak Flat, the site in question.

The Trump administration recently announced its backing of the project.

The court order noted that conservative Justice Samuel Alito did not participate. It did not say why.

Conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas said they would have taken up the case.