Conservationists and a Native American tribe have filed suit against the U.S. government seeking to halt a lithium mine in Nevada. The plaintiffs say the project threatens the endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat, disrupts groundwater, and jeopardizes cultural resources. The legal action follows approval by the U.S. Interior Department of Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mine.
Rhyolite Ridge mine location and the plant’s only known habitat
The Rhyolite Ridge mine is described as being at the only known habitat for Tiehm’s buckwheat. The site is located between Reno and Las Vegas in Nevada. The lawsuit frames the placement of the mine as central to its claims about impacts on the plant and surrounding environmental conditions.
Clean energy push and competing conservation concerns
The challenge is linked to broader policy tensions tied to the Biden administration’s push for increased lithium production for clean energy technologies. Those technologies include electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. The plaintiffs contend that the Interior Department’s decision conflicts with earlier warnings from wildlife experts.
In December 2022, wildlife experts classified Tiehm’s buckwheat as “in danger of extinction.” Fermina Stevens, director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project, highlighted what she described as a conflict between climate action and biodiversity protection. John Hadder, director of the Great Basin Resource Watch, said Indigenous cultural areas and environmental laws were disregarded in favor of mineral extraction.
Agency response and company position
Rita Henderson, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management, said the agency had no immediate comment on the lawsuit. Ioneer’s Vice President Chad Yeftich said the company was confident it could defend the project. He asserted that the permitting process was thorough and careful.
Endangered Species Act claims and habitat loss limits
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Endangered Species Act. It claims the mine will significantly harm critical habitat designated for Tiehm’s buckwheat. According to the suit, the permit allows for loss of up to one-fifth of this essential habitat.
The plaintiffs also say that the affected habitat supports pollinators important to the plant’s survival. They cite an earlier position from the Fish and Wildlife Service in which it indicated that the designated habitat was vital for conservation and recovery of Tiehm’s buckwheat. The filing describes this as reinforcing concerns raised in prior assessments.