Wikipedia

Thacker Pass lithium mine

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Floodplain (talk | contribs) at 17:50, 3 August 2021 (Adding some context on the history of communication between the BLM and indigenous tribes within the region. I also find it somewhat strange that this article does not discuss the geologic history of the deposit -- the history is almost entirely political, though the title of the article suggests to me that there should be some geologic/apolitical history of the circumstances that brought lithium to be at the site perhaps before discussion of the recent political history). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Thacker Pass lithium deposit, previously called the Kings Valley lithium deposit, is a lithium clay mining development project located in Humboldt County, Nevada.[2][3] The project is located 21 miles (34 km) west-northwest of Orovada, Nevada within the McDermitt Caldera,[4][5] and overlaps with 2866 acres of big sagebrush habitat, as well as known golden eagle breeding sites.[6]

Thacker Pass Lithium Project
Location
Thacker Pass lithium is located in Nevada
Thacker Pass lithium
Thacker Pass lithium
Nevada
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41°42′30″N 118°03′43″W / 41.70833°N 118.06194°W / 41.70833; -118.06194[1]
Production
ProductsLithium
History
Openednot yet operational
Owner
CompanyLithium Americas Corp.
WebsiteThacker Pass website

History

Thacker Pass is the traditional homeland of several related Indigenous nations, including the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.[7]

Bill Haywood's 1929 autobiography discusses a massacre that occurred at Thacker Pass.[8] Haywood states that he was told by Jim Sackett, a pensioner who participated in the massacre, that indigenous men, women and children were killed. One indigenous man escaped on horseback. Two infant children also survived and were raised by Charley Thacker. Haywood states that he met the two survivors, named Charley and Jimmy Thacker, who had grown to "fine stalwart men" that had "gone back to the nomadic life." Haywood also states that he met Ox Sam, who stated that he was the one who escaped on horseback.

Thacker Pass is called Peehee mu'huh in the Paiute language, meaning 'rotten moon'. This name derives from a massacre that occurred at this location between 1865 and 1889 when a band of Paiute families were killed; their rotting remains were strewn about the moon-shaped Pass and discovered by surviving members of the band during a full moon.[9][10] Members of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe have stated that their tribe, "descends from essentially two families who, hiding in Thacker Pass, managed to avoid being sent to reservations farther away from our ancestral lands" and hence that this tribe owes its existence to the shelter provided by the Pass.[11]

The Thacker Pass area has been disturbed by lithium mining exploration activities since 2007 [12], including excavation of bulk material in an open pit and drill core sampling. During the permitting process for the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in 2020, the Bureau of Land Management consultation with the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, the Summit Lake Paiute tribe, and the Western Winnemucca Indian Colony resulted in no issue concerning historic property within areas of potential disturbance [13].

The Thacker Pass lithium project

The Thacker Pass lithium project has Proven and Probable Reserves of 179 million tonnes of lithium ore grading 0.33% lithium, being 3.14 million tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE).[14][15] As of 2017, the Thacker Pass hectorite deposit was the most significant lithium-clay resource discovered in the U.S.[4] Unlike more conventional brine mining, hectorite clay requires sulfuric acid treatment to separate lithium salts from associated minerals.

In August 2019, Lithium Americas lodged a Plan of Operations for its proposed mining project with the Bureau of Land Management, the federal mining regulator.[16] In January 2020, the company announced the publication of a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Thacker Pass lithium project.[17]

Protests

On January 15, 2021, BLM issued their Record of Decision approving the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine.[18] Protestors began occupying the site on the same day.[19][20] Members of several regional indigenous tribes have protested the mine, citing threats to land, water, wildlife, hunting and gathering areas, and sacred sites.[21][22] Local ranchers and a coalition of environmental non-profit organizations have stated that the record of decision was fast-tracked, that the public input process was questionable, and have filled multiple lawsuits against the mine.[23][24] The Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribal Council initially had a project engagement agreement with Lithium Americas, but the council responded to a petition from tribal members by voting unanimously to withdraw from that agreement and to sue the BLM for violations of federal law in allowing the project to proceed.[21][25] The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony has demanded a stop to the project, stating in a letter to the BLM that, "Just because regional tribes have been isolated and forced onto reservations relatively far away from Thacker Pass does not mean these regional tribes do not possess cultural connections to the Pass."[7]

In early February, 2021, a local rancher filed a lawsuit suing the BLM over concerns about the project's water use.[23] On February 26, 2021, four environmental non-profits (Western Watersheds Project, Great Basin Resource Watch, Basin and Range Watch, and Wildlands Defense) also filed a lawsuit challenging the BLM's permitting of the project, claiming threats to sage grouse habitat, old growth sagebrush, golden eagle nests, endemic springsnails, and Endangered Species Act–listed Lahontan cutthroat trout, bighorn sheep, and pygmy rabbits.[26][27]

Protesters occupying the site of the proposed mine have concerns about the lack of free, prior, and informed indigenous consent for the project, environmental degradation, human rights violations, and greenwashing of the project.[28][29]

On April 10, 2021, Over 60 people from different reservations in the region came to Thacker Pass to demonstrate their opposition to the mine by praying, dancing, and sharing food with local people and protesters occupying the site. Indigenous people attending that event said there were sacred sites in the area including burials and also a massacre site from which the location derives its name in the Paiute language. They also demonstrated concerns about public health, water quality, air quality, and lack of indigenous consent for the project.[22]

In May, 2021 a group of Ft McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone tribal members calling themselves People of Red Mountain petitioned the United States Department of the Interior and others to halt construction of the lithium mine at Thacker Pass. Their petition states that Thacker Pass is a massacre site, contains ancestral burials, is sacred to their people, and is "essential to the survival of our traditions."[citation needed][11] The New York Times reported that, "the fight over the Nevada mine is emblematic of a fundamental tension surfacing around the world: Electric cars and renewable energy may not be as green as they appear."[30]

In July, 2021 a federal judge ruled that Lithium America may excavate archaeological trenches at the site while the judge considers the legal case. The digging will be less that 1/4 acre and will be used to determine whether the area is historical important to regional indigenous tribes. The judge also stated that environmental groups failed to show what specific harm would come from the digging the trenches.[31][32] The judge later ruled that regional indigenous tribes may join the lawsuit attempting to block the project.[33] The judge intends to rule on the overall case in early 2022.[31]

Criticism

Lithium Americas CEO Alexi Zawadzki has criticized the protests and reassured concerns about environmental impact. He argued that exploitation of the Thacker Pass lithium deposit would support President Biden’s economic security goals, provide jobs, and help the U.S. reach greenhouse gas emission targets.[34]

Glenn C. Miller, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada Reno wrote "The proposed Thacker Pass mine will be relatively benign in comparison to other large mines in Nevada, primarily gold and copper mines." Miller also stated that no mining below the groundwater level will occur for the first 20 years, though later mining may go below that level. Miller states that there should be an on-going discussion about how the project would change the character of the valley. Miller closes with "The Thacker Pass mine is an important mitigation measure to slowing the U.S. contribution to climate change."[35]

References

  1. ^ Final Environmental Assessment Western Lithium Corporation Kings Valley Clay Mine (Technical report). March 2014. DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2013-0046-EA. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Kings Valley". United States Geological Survey.
  3. ^ "Global lithium resources" (PDF). uchile.cl. 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ a b Bradley, Dwight C.; Stillings, Lisa L.; Jaskula, Brian W.; Munk, LeeAnn; McCauley, Andrew D. (2017). Lithium, Chapter K of Critical Mineral Resources of the United States—Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply (PDF) (Report). United States Geological Survey.
  5. ^ "Public Input Sought for Clay Mine". Reno Gazette-Journal. January 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (PDF) (Technical report). Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. December 4, 2020. DOI-BLM-NV-W010-2020-0012-EIS. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Solis, Jennifer (June 11, 2021). "Opposition to lithium mine grows among tribes, conservationists". The Nevada Current. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Haywood, William D. (1929). Bill Haywood's book : the autobiography of William D. Haywood. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  9. ^ Price, Austin (Summer 2021). "The Rush for White Gold". Earth Island Journal.
  10. ^ Smart, Myron (March 24, 2021). "First Voices Indigenous Radio with Myron Smart and Will Falk". First Voices Indigenous Radio. pp. 16:20 to 18:40. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  11. ^ a b People of Red Mountain (May 20, 2021). "People of Red Mountain Statement of Opposition to Lithium Nevada Corp's Proposed Thacker Pass Open Pit Lithium Mine". Sierra Nevada Ally.
  12. ^ "Final Environmental Impact Statement Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Project Appendix B" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kathleen Rehberg's Letter to Reno-Sparks Indian Colony" (PDF). Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Fourie, Louis F.; Peldiak, Daniel (May 1, 2018). "Independent Technical Report for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Burnaby, BC: Advisian. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  15. ^ Ehsani, Reza; Fourie, Louis; Hutson, Andrew; Peldiak, Daniel; Spiering, Rob (August 1, 2018). "Technical Report on the Pre-feasibility Study for the Thacker Pass Project, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA" (PDF). Lithium Americas. Burnaby, BC: Advisian. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  16. ^ Cook, Michelle (October 10, 2019). "$1.3 billion lithium mining project takes shape in rural Northern Nevada". The Humboldt Sun. Winnemucca, NV. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  17. ^ Cook, Michelle (January 31, 2020). "$1.3 billion Lithium Nevada project on track for 2020 milestones". Nevada News Group. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  18. ^ Humboldt River Field Office issues a Record of Decision for the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine, Bureau of Land Management, January 15, 2021, retrieved March 16, 2021
  19. ^ Wilbert, Max. "Activists Occupy Site of Proposed Lithium Mine in Nevada". protectthackerpass.org. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "Blockade sought at lithium site". Elko Daily Free Press. January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Bahouth, Brian (April 8, 2021). "Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone tribal members protest Thacker Pass lithium mine". Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  22. ^ a b Bahouth, Brian (April 13, 2021). "Native Americans converge at proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine site: Four audio interviews". Siera Nevada Ally. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Price, Austin (March 4, 2021). "Let's Not Blow Up a Mountain and Call It Green". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved April 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Kapoor, Maya (February 18, 2021). "Nevada lithium mine kicks off a new era of Western extraction". High Country News. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "Press Release: Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe Cancels Agreement with Lithium Mine, Promising Lawsuit". April 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Great Basin Resource Watch (February 26, 2021). "Conservation and Public Accountability Groups File Legal Challenge to the Thacker Pass Lithium Mine" (PDF). Retrieved April 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Sonner, Scott (March 5, 2021). "Federal lawsuit challenges construction of lithium mine approved during Trump's final days". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "Thacker Pass Lithium mine approval draws around-the-clock protest". Sierra Nevada Ally. Retrieved March 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ Protect Thacker Pass. "Thacker Pass Mine Fact Sheet" (PDF). protectthackerpass.org. Retrieved April 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ Penn and Lipton (May 6, 2021). "The Lithium Gold Rush: Inside the Race to Power Electric Vehicles". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  31. ^ a b Scheyder, Ernest (July 25, 2021). Lewis, Matthew; Adler, Leslie (eds.). "US judge rules Lithium Americas may excavate Nevada mine site". Reuters. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  32. ^ Sonner, Scott (July 26, 2021). "Judge denies environmentalists' request to block digging at Thacker Pass lithium mine". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  33. ^ Scheyder, Ernest. Adler, Leslie (ed.). "UPDATE 1-Native Americans win ruling to join lawsuit against Lithium Americas project". Reuters. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  34. ^ Zawadzki, Alexi (April 28, 2021). "Lithium Nevada Corp's CEO explains the benefits of the Thacker Pass Lithium Project". Sierra Nevada Ally. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  35. ^ Miller, Glenn (July 20, 2021). "The Thacker Pass Mine is Indeed Benign, Compared to Most Gold and Copper Mines in Nevada". Sierra Nevada Ally. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
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