Lawsuit Against Rhyolite Ridge Lithium Mine Approval

By Nate Raymond, Ernest Scheyder
(Reuters) – Environmental and Indigenous groups filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Interior Department's approval of ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine in Nevada, which is the first domestic source of lithium permitted by President Joe Biden's administration.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Las Vegas, argues that the project poses an existential risk to the rare wildflower Tiehm’s buckwheat, possibly driving it to extinction.
The plaintiffs contend that the mine would adversely impact groundwater, springs, wetlands, air quality, cultural resources, and wildlife habitats, transforming a remote part of rural Nevada into an industrial area.

They assert that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the mine without ensuring protection for the wildflower or adequate environmental assessments, violating the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

The Interior Department did not comment on the lawsuit.

Australia-based ioneer stated that they do not expect the lawsuit to significantly affect their development timeline and believe the project can be developed sustainably.
Chad Yeftich, ioneer's vice president, expressed confidence that the BLM will prevail in the lawsuit and indicated their intent to vigorously defend the decision based on its thorough permitting process.

The mine's approval came after a six-year review involving discussions between regulators, ioneer, and conservationists regarding the fate of Tiehm’s buckwheat.
The permit paves the way for a mine that will supply lithium for electric vehicle manufacturers, including Ford Motor.

This approval also unlocked a $700 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy and a $490 million equity investment from Sibanye Stillwater to fund the project.

When approving the mine, the Interior Department mentioned that it had taken numerous steps to protect the ecosystem near the site, located roughly 225 miles north of Las Vegas.
The project is expected to contain enough lithium to power approximately 370,000 electric vehicles annually, with construction slated to begin next year and production expected to start by 2028.