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Rio Tinto and the Resolution Copper Mini...

Werhane, Patricia ...

Case

Rio Tinto and the Resolution Copper Mining Joint Venture (A): The Land Exchange

Werhane, Patricia H.; Mead, Jenny; Gorman, Michael E.; Starr, Justin

E-0373 | Published August 13, 2012 | 6 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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From its inception, the Resolution Copper Mining (RCM) joint venture faced a number of significant technical, political, and environmental challenges as it attempted to develop a strategy for mining a copper ore body located under the Tonto National Forest in Superior, Arizona. As president and CEO of RCM, David Salisbury faced a number of key decisions in 2008-10 to keep the project on track. The success of the mine hinged on a politically complicated land exchange?and an act of Congress?in which the federal government would give RCM land containing the copper ore in exchange for parcels of ecological significance. Accomplishing this goal required Salisbury to engage with multiple stakeholders and navigate a complicated congressional landscape.

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