Paiute and Shoshone LanD UNDER THREAT BY LITHIUM MINING PROPOSAL IN NORTHERN NEVADA

Thacker Pass in northern Nevada, an area of significant ecological and cultural importance to the Paiute and Shoshone peoples, is the proposed site for an open-pit lithium mine. While this project by Lithium Nevada is intended to support renewable energy through electric car batteries, it has faced considerable opposition due to its potential impact on the environment and Native American cultural heritage. The mine is situated on one of the largest lithium deposits in the U.S., located in the McDermitt Caldera, an extinct supervolcano.

A Rushed Approval Process and Community Concerns

The approval process for the mine has been expedited, with the environmental impact statement (EIS) being completed in just one year, compared to the average of 3.5 years for similar projects. This acceleration was partly due to Executive Order 13927, passed during President Donald Trump's administration, which fast-tracked environmental reviews for energy projects. Lithium Nevada's federal permits were issued on January 15, 2021, shortly after President Biden's inauguration. According to Daranda Hinkey, a member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, many tribal members were unaware of the mine's approval.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to consult with nearby tribes, but according to John Hadder of the Great Basin Resource Watch, a lack of response to a notification letter is often seen as a green light. Hinkey noted that the notification occurred in the summer of 2020 when tribal offices were closed and the community was dealing with a surge in COVID-19 cases, making it impossible for the tribe to comment during the EIS period. Additionally, virtual community meetings excluded many residents of Fort McDermitt due to a lack of internet access.

Cultural and Environmental Stakes

Thacker Pass, known to the Paiute as Peehee mu’huh or "rotten moon" because of a historical massacre of tribal members by white soldiers, is believed to contain burial sites. An archaeological treatment plan is now underway to identify any culturally significant sites and determine if human remains are present. As Hinkey explained, a core belief is that disturbing such sites brings illness. After pressure from tribal members, the Fort McDermitt Tribal Council withdrew from a previous engagement agreement with Lithium Nevada.

The mine also poses a significant environmental threat. The pass is a vital wildlife corridor for animals like sage grouse, golden eagles, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. It is also the headwaters for several springs and creeks that are home to the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout. Environmental groups, including Great Basin Resource Watch, have filed a lawsuit against the BLM, arguing that the rushed EIS was poorly prepared and that unnecessarily damaging habitats is not a way to combat climate change. Rancher Edward Bartell has also filed a separate lawsuit due to concerns about potential groundwater contamination, which Lithium Nevada has not promised to compensate for.

Protests and Next Steps

In response to the proposal, local activists have formed groups to protest the mine. The People of Red Mountain group, composed of Fort McDermitt members, is writing letters to government officials and seeking support from other tribal councils. Another group, Protect Thacker Pass, has established an encampment at the site to raise awareness and try to stop the mine.

Currently, Lithium Nevada is awaiting three final permits from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP): a Mining Reclamation Permit, a Water Pollution Control Permit, and a Class II Air Quality Operating Permit. Public hearings and comments for these permits are expected to take place in late spring and summer of 2021. The Fort McDermitt Tribal Council is prepared for a potential lawsuit, pending the results of the archaeological survey. As Council member Billy Bell stated, this is the "first time that this type of threat level for environmental and human health has reached our reservation’s borders."

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