Arizona tribe’s efforts to halt lithium mining on culturally important grounds

Members of the Hualapai Tribe in Arizona are seeking an extension of the temporary ban placed on exploratory drilling for a lithium project near their sacred lands. The tribe has used these lands for religious and cultural ceremonies for centuries. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order last month for work at a site between Phoenix and Las Vegas, and leaders of the tribe are set to testify before the court on Tuesday.

The Hualapai Tribe is requesting a preliminary injunction to continue the prohibition on activity until a trial addresses their concerns that the Bureau of Land Management failed to adequately assess potential impacts on the sacred springs, known as Ha’Kamwe, that hold significant cultural and spiritual value for the tribe and have been used for healing and prayers for generations.

On the other hand, Arizona Lithium Ltd., the company behind the project, has argued that the tribe’s claims are speculative and that the exploration for lithium is of significant public interest as the country works towards addressing climate change. The company plans to establish drilling sites to determine the viability of mining lithium, vital for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries and other purposes.

This legal battle is one of many clashes between Native American tribes, environmentalists, and President Joe Biden’s administration as green energy projects intersect with culturally significant lands. In a similar case last year, a lithium mine project in Nevada faced opposition from conservationists and tribes who argued it would destroy sacred lands with historical significance.

The Hualapai Tribe, along with environmental groups like Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project, have raised concerns about the impact of the lithium project on their cultural practices and the environment. They argue that the approval of exploratory drilling violated various environmental and historic preservation laws.

While the government lawyers emphasize the need for evidence of imminent irreparable harm to the tribe, the Hualapai Tribe contends that the federal consultation process was flawed as the sacred springs were not adequately included in the evaluation. Supporters of the lithium project, including the Navajo Transitional Energy Company, believe it is crucial for advancing clean energy initiatives, yet the tribe insists that potential benefits are speculative as mining plans have not been finalized. The hearing will shed light on the ongoing dispute over the intersection of renewable energy goals and the protection of cultural heritage and sacred sites.