Western tribes’ last ditch effort to stall a large lithium mine in Nevada

The future of the largest lithium mine on federal land in the US, situated in Nevada, is being contested by Western tribes in a federal appeals court.

Case background: The mine, which has been under construction after gaining federal permission earlier this year, is planned by Canadian company, Lithium Nevada, and is set to become a major domestic source of lithium for electric vehicle batteries.
* The site is on land deemed sacred by some Native tribes, and activists from these tribes gathered in the court to protest against the mine.
* The Shoshone Paiute Tribe member, Gary McKinney, accuses federal land managers of disregarding the area’s cultural significance.

Legal standing: Lithium Nevada’s lead attorney, Laura Granier, maintains that proper procedures were followed, highlighting the $8.7 million spent on environmental planning and mitigation efforts.
* The company aims to overcome legal and bureaucratic obstacles by this summer, with full construction planned soon after.

The stakes: According to Corby Anderson, from the Colorado School of Mines, the Nevada mine is a crucial domestic source of lithium, a significant input for the US which currently imports primarily from South America.
* The dispute over the mine places the Biden administration in a challenging position as it seeks to balance cleaner energy source demand against resolving historical disputes in Indian Country.

What’s next: The Ninth Circuit court is expected to deliver its verdict on this case later this summer.
* Arland Melendez, chair of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, hopes for further consultation with tribes on the project, outlining a separate federal lawsuit alleging inadequate discussions prior to the mine’s approval.

View original article on NPR

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