US Forest Service to approve land swap for Resolution Copper project

April 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Forest Service said on Thursday it would approve a controversial land swap needed for Rio Tinto RIO.L and BHP BHP.AX to build an Arizona copper mine that Native American tribes say will destroy a site of cultural and religious value.

The Forest Service said it will republish an environmental report needed for the Resolution Copper project land swap to occur within 60 days. The agency added that it may pause the swap if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a related, long-running case.