RENO, Nev. — A coalition of conservation groups and Native American tribes is suing the U.S. government to block the construction of a lithium mine in Nevada, arguing that the project could devastate an endangered desert wildflower, disrupt groundwater flows, and desecrate culturally significant sites. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Western Shoshone Defense Project are spearheading the legal action, which has brought heightened attention to environmental and cultural concerns surrounding the development of lithium resources, integral to clean energy initiatives.
Background on Rhyolite Ridge Lithium Mine Approval
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Reno, follows the recent approval of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mine by the U.S. Interior Department. The mine, owned by the Australian company Ioneer Ltd., is situated in Nevada’s remote high desert near the California border, approximately midway between Reno and Las Vegas. This region is the sole known habitat of Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare wildflower listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 2022.
The lawsuit represents the latest in a series of legal disputes involving projects endorsed by the Biden administration under its clean energy strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by expanding lithium production for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy technologies. Conservationists, however, contend that the administration’s push for renewable energy materials must not come at the expense of biodiversity and cultural preservation.
Endangered Flower at the Heart of Environmental Concerns
At the core of the legal dispute is the future of Tiehm’s buckwheat, a small wildflower characterized by its pale yellow to cream-colored blooms. Conservationists argue that the mine’s construction and operations will significantly impact the plant’s critical habitat, threatening its survival.
In 2022, the FWS designated 910 acres (368 hectares) of land surrounding the wildflower as critical habitat, essential for the plant’s conservation and recovery. The FWS’s December 2022 designation specifically rejected a less protective threatened status for Tiehm’s buckwheat, emphasizing that it was “in danger of extinction now” due to “severe and imminent” threats posed by the proposed mine.
The lawsuit underscores this urgent need for protection, noting that nearly one-fifth of the plant’s critical habitat may be irreversibly altered or lost for decades, if not permanently, due to mining activities. This loss is likely to compromise the plant’s pollination processes, given that several pollinators rely on this specific habitat.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance of the Area to Indigenous Tribes
In addition to environmental concerns, the lawsuit also highlights the mine’s potential impact on Indigenous cultural sites, particularly those of the Western Shoshone people. The area around Rhyolite Ridge is home to sacred locations, including Cave Spring, a natural spring situated less than a mile from the proposed mine. For the Western Shoshone, Cave Spring holds historical and spiritual significance, serving as a site for cultural and spiritual knowledge transfer between generations.
Fermina Stevens, director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project and a lead plaintiff, criticized the project, stating that clean energy advancements should not come at the expense of Indigenous rights and biodiversity. “One cannot save the planet from climate change while simultaneously destroying biodiversity and disregarding Indigenous cultural areas,” Stevens said.
John Hadder, director of the Great Basin Resource Watch and another co-plaintiff, echoed these concerns, condemning what he described as a disregard for “keystone environmental laws” in pursuit of lithium for EV batteries and solar panels.
Shift in Government Stance on Endangered Species
The lawsuit further alleges that the U.S. Interior Department’s approval of the Rhyolite Ridge project signals a stark reversal by federal wildlife authorities. Nearly two years earlier, these same experts had issued warnings about the extinction risks facing Tiehm’s buckwheat. The plaintiffs argue that the decision to green-light the project contradicts the agency’s earlier assessments and the protections established under the Endangered Species Act.
In its 2022 report, the FWS acknowledged that the risks to Tiehm’s buckwheat were so grave and immediate that a threatened designation was insufficient to protect the species. The agency explicitly stated, “Tiehm’s buckwheat is in danger of extinction now, as opposed to likely to become endangered in the future.” The lawsuit claims that this about-face undermines the integrity of the FWS’s previous findings.
Impacts of Mine Construction on Tiehm’s Buckwheat Population
Adding to their case, the plaintiffs disclosed recent declines in Tiehm’s buckwheat population that were not accounted for in the FWS’s initial biological opinion. According to the lawsuit, the plant’s numbers have dwindled since August due to circumstances similar to those documented in a 2020 incident, where a suspected rodent population explosion led to severe grazing damage, reducing the plant’s population by as much as 60%.
While the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) attributed the 2020 losses to rodent activity, the plaintiffs argue that such incidents underscore the plant’s precarious situation and its vulnerability to both natural and human-induced disturbances. With fewer than 30,000 individual plants remaining, Tiehm’s buckwheat’s survival remains precarious, and the plaintiffs assert that the mine’s construction could exacerbate these declines beyond recovery.
Ioneer’s Response to the Legal Challenge
In response to the lawsuit, Ioneer has indicated that it intends to intervene on behalf of the U.S. government and defend the project’s approval. Chad Yeftich, Vice President of Ioneer, expressed confidence in the company’s comprehensive permitting process and reiterated the BLM’s commitment to the project. “We are confident that the BLM will prevail,” Yeftich said, adding that he does not anticipate the lawsuit will delay Ioneer’s plans to begin construction next year.
Yeftich also argued that the project’s approval followed extensive environmental assessments, and that Ioneer is committed to implementing safeguards to mitigate the mine’s ecological impacts. However, conservationists remain skeptical of the company’s assurances, pointing to the irreversible damage anticipated in the FWS’s initial reports.
Balancing Renewable Energy Development and Environmental Protection
The Rhyolite Ridge mine is one of several lithium extraction projects moving forward in Nevada and other Western states as part of the Biden administration’s broader green energy strategy. Proponents argue that the mine could help address the surging demand for lithium, a key component in EV batteries and solar panels, as the nation transitions toward clean energy.
However, this case underscores the complexities of balancing renewable energy development with ecological conservation and cultural preservation. Critics argue that an overemphasis on green technology at the expense of environmental integrity may ultimately hinder broader conservation goals. As Hadder of the Great Basin Resource Watch remarked, “The use of minerals for green technology cannot justify the sacrifice of protected species and sacred Indigenous lands.”
Ongoing Legal and Environmental Debate
The lawsuit’s outcome could set a significant precedent for other clean energy projects facing similar legal and ethical challenges. Environmentalists and Indigenous advocates are closely watching the case, hoping it will encourage more stringent environmental reviews and protect critical habitats and cultural sites from industrial encroachment.
For now, the fate of Tiehm’s buckwheat and the sacred lands of the Western Shoshone rest in the hands of the federal judiciary. This case highlights the difficult trade-offs between advancing renewable energy and preserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, and Indigenous rights. The resolution of this legal battle will have lasting implications for the future of both the clean energy industry and environmental conservation efforts across the U.S.
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