RENO, Nev. (AP) — A lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. government by conservationists and a Native American tribe, aiming to stop a lithium mining project in Nevada. They argue that the mine will threaten the existence of an endangered desert wildflower, disrupt local groundwater systems, and endanger cultural sites.
The Center for Biological Diversity had signaled a legal challenge just days before when the U.S. Interior Department approved Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mine, located near the California border. This region is the only known habitat for Tiehm’s buckwheat, a wildflower that could be driven to extinction by the mining activities.
This lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of legal actions responding to infrastructure projects that aim to support President Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda. This initiative seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by increasing lithium production for electric vehicle batteries and solar panels.
Activists claim that the Interior Department’s approval of the mine represents a significant reversal of earlier warnings from U.S. wildlife experts. Nearly two years ago, these experts had highlighted the severe risks facing Tiehm’s buckwheat, which was classified as an endangered species in December 2022 due to its precarious status.
Fermina Stevens, the director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project, which is collaborating with the Center for Biological Diversity on the lawsuit filed in Reno, said, “One cannot save the planet from climate change while simultaneously destroying biodiversity.”
John Hadder, director of the Great Basin Resource Watch, another co-plaintiff, expressed that “the use of minerals, whether for EVs or solar panels, does not justify this disregard for Indigenous cultural areas and keystone environmental laws.”
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Reno, represented by spokesperson Rita Henderson, declined to comment immediately on the lawsuit. However, Ioneer’s Vice President, Chad Yeftich, stated that the mining company plans to support the U.S. government and intends to “vigorously defend” the project’s approval, emphasizing that it underwent a meticulous and thorough permitting process.
Yeftich expressed confidence that the BLM would prevail in court and mentioned that he does not foresee the lawsuit delaying the anticipated start of construction next year.
The suit alleges that the mine threatens sacred sites for the Western Shoshone people, including Cave Spring, a natural spring situated less than a mile away that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.
Central to the lawsuit are claims of violations of the Endangered Species Act. The documents reveal a stark change in the tone of the Fish and Wildlife Service, which previously warned about the severe threats to Tiehm’s buckwheat. The original biological opinion depicted dire conditions, assessing the plant’s situation as “in danger of extinction now.”
The lawsuit indicates that the mine could cause significant loss of critical habitat, potentially affecting up to 20% of the nearly 1.5 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) designated as crucial for the plants’ survival, including their pollinators. This could result in long-lasting damage, with some areas becoming uninhabitable for decades.
Initially, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a protective measure encompassing 910 acres (368 hectares) of critical habitat for Tiehm’s buckwheat. Their decision to list the species as endangered was partly based on the severity of threats and the lack of alternatives that would ensure the plant’s viability in the future.
The case also presents new evidence that the Tiehm’s buckwheat population, estimated at fewer than 30,000, has faced additional declines since August, which were not included in previous assessments by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This reduction is comparable to a previously reported incident in 2020, where rodents caused a significant population drop by as much as 60%.
Despite acknowledging that the proposed project would disturb 146 acres (59 hectares) of the plant community for approximately 23 years, the Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the overall value of the critical habitat would not be significantly diminished.
