U.S. land managers in Nevada have completed a final environmental review of a proposed lithium mine. The mine aims to provide minerals essential for electric vehicles and clean energy while protecting an endangered wildflower. Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning emphasized the importance of safeguarding species in conjunction with providing critical minerals for the country. The final environmental impact statement is open for a 30-day comment period and may face legal disputes from environmental groups concerned about violations of the Endangered Species Act and potential extinction of the Tiehm’s buckwheat wildflower, which only exists near the California border.
Australian mining company Ioneer Ltd., leading the project, views the completion of the review as a significant achievement after a six-year endeavor to establish the Rhyolite Ridge mine. The mine is expected to commence production as early as 2028, crucial for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries. The potential of the mine could meet the lithium demand for around 370,000 electric vehicles annually. This move aligns with efforts to secure domestic sources of critical minerals sustainably.
Critics fear that the mine signifies the Biden administration’s prioritization of climate change mitigation over wildlife and sacred lands conservation. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Tiehm’s buckwheat as an endangered species, attributing mining as the primary threat to its survival. Despite assurances from the administration, opponents remain skeptical about the protection of the flower and its habitat.
The Center for Biological Diversity has been actively opposing the mine, expressing concerns about the project’s impact on the rare wildflower’s habitat. Ioneer has adjusted its blueprint to reduce habitat destruction for the plant, which spans eight sub-populations covering about 10 acres. Additionally, Ioneer plans to implement a propagation strategy to grow and relocate flowers nearby, a method viewed skeptically by conservationists.
Nevada currently hosts the only operational lithium mine in the U.S., with another mine under construction near the Oregon border. The Thacker Pass mine by Lithium Americas faced legal challenges from environmentalists and Native American groups concerned about its impact on sacred lands. These developments underscore the complex balance between resource extraction and environmental preservation in the transition to a clean energy future.
