Las Vegas News Center
Amid the Biden administration’s ambitious goal of transitioning towards clean energy, a fierce battle is brewing in Nevada over the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine, poised to become the third lithium mine in the United States. While the government extols the project’s potential for supporting electric vehicle production, environmentalists cry foul, raising concerns over the survival of an endangered Nevada wildflower.
Expedited Environmental Review
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed mine, indicating significant progress in the Biden administration’s expedited environmental review. Lithium, a crucial element in electric vehicle batteries, aligns with President Biden’s focus on sustainable energy.
Officials within the BLM and the Interior Department underscore the significance of the project in securing domestically produced critical minerals for the “clean energy economy.” Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Steve Feldgus emphasizes the importance of collaboration and protecting vulnerable species in the responsible development of these minerals.
Environmentalists’ Resistance
Environmental groups vow to challenge the mine’s approval, asserting that it violates the Endangered Species Act and threatens the existence of Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare wildflower found only in Nevada. Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, denounces the project as “greenwashing extinction.”
The group argues that the proposed protection plan endangers the plant’s critical habitat, violating the Endangered Species Act. Conservationists emphasize their determination to contest the mine’s approval if the BLM proceeds as proposed.
Nevada’s Lithium Boom
Nevada currently boasts the sole existing lithium mine in the United States, with another under construction in the northern part of the state. Projections indicate a six-fold increase in global lithium demand by 2030.
In response to concerns about Tiehm’s buckwheat, Australian mining company Ioneer Ltd. has adjusted its blueprint to reduce the mine’s impact on the plant’s habitat. Mining director Bernard Rowe estimates lithium production could commence by 2027.
Endangered Plant in the Crosshairs
Tiehm’s buckwheat, a plant with distinctive yellow and cream-colored blooms, is confined to a small area between Reno and Las Vegas. Its eight sub-populations cover approximately 10 acres, equivalent to the size of eight football fields.
On December 14, 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Service listed Tiehm’s buckwheat as an endangered species, citing mining as a primary threat. Just days later, the government announced its intent to commence work on the environmental impact statement. The Energy Department also granted Ioneer a conditional loan of 0 million for the project.
Concerns over Expe
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
