Mining has gotten a lot more sophisticated and sustainable

As a proud Copper Triangle resident and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union member, I’m concerned with Henry Munoz’s stance that we don’t need mining here anymore (“Take it from a longtime miner: Oak Flat must be saved. We don’t need mining here anymore,” Oct. 26).

The reality is we don’t have to choose between having a vibrant tourism industry and the skilled jobs and economic opportunity that a mine like Resolution Copper will bring to our community. We can have both.

In fact, in addition to transferring almost 5,500 acres of private land to the government for conservation, the land exchange for the mine also gives the Town of Superior the opportunity to acquire land for its future development. And the deal includes important mitigation measures and investments to expand recreation in the area and diversify the local economy to include other industries, like tourism.

The truth is our country needs more copper to build a clean energy future, and working families like mine need the more than 3,700 good-paying jobs that Resolution Copper would support — not to mention the millions of tax dollars it would deliver to support better infrastructure and education in Arizona.

This isn’t 1982, and Resolution Copper isn’t Magma Mine. This is a sustainable project that will bring long-term

benefits to the residents of our area. Mining is a key part of our community’s history — and it will be our future.

Local elected officials know it, and most of the unions do too. That’s why we support the project.

M. Domenic Marcanti, Globe

The writer is the business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 518.