Conservationists and a Native American tribe are suing the U.S. government to block a lithium mine in Nevada, claiming it poses a serious threat to the endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat, disrupts groundwater, and jeopardizes cultural resources. The lawsuit follows the U.S. Interior Department’s approval of Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mine, which is located at the only known habitat for this rare wildflower, situated between Reno and Las Vegas.
This legal challenge reflects broader tensions surrounding the Biden administration’s push for increased lithium production to support clean energy initiatives, including electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. The plaintiffs argue that the Interior Department’s decision contradicts earlier warnings from wildlife experts who classified Tiehm’s buckwheat as “in danger of extinction” in December 2022.
Fermina Stevens, director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project, emphasized the conflict between combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. John Hadder, director of the Great Basin Resource Watch, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the disregard for Indigenous cultural areas and environmental laws in favor of mineral extraction.
Rita Henderson, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management, stated that the agency had no immediate comment on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Ioneer’s Vice President Chad Yeftich expressed confidence in the company’s ability to defend the project, asserting that the permitting process was thorough and careful.
The lawsuit specifically points to violations of the Endangered Species Act, claiming that the mine will significantly harm the critical habitat designated for Tiehm’s buckwheat. The permit for the mine allows for the loss of up to one-fifth of this essential habitat, which supports various pollinators crucial to the plant’s survival.
In their original proposal to protect the plant, the Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that the designated habitat was vital for the conservation and recovery of Tiehm’s buckwheat, reinforcing the urgency of the situation as outlined in their earlier assessments.
