Environmentalists Sue Over Approval of Ioneer’s Lithium Mine in Nevada

Eco-friendly and local groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior's approval of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine in Nevada.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Las Vegas, includes groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which argue that the project poses an existential risk to the rare wildflower Tiehm's buckwheat and could lead to its extinction. They also stated that the mine would adversely affect groundwater, resources, wetlands, air quality, cultural resources, and wildlife habitats, transforming a remote part of rural Nevada into an industrial complex.

Australia-based Ioneer expressed that it does not expect the lawsuit to "significantly impact our proposed development timeline" and believes the project can be developed sustainably.

The approval paves the way for the development of a mine that will become an important supplier for Ford (IS:FROTO) Motor and other electric vehicle manufacturers.

While approving the mine, the Department of the Interior stated it has taken numerous steps to protect the ecosystem near the mine site, located approximately 362 km north of Las Vegas. The project contains enough lithium to power around 370,000 electric vehicles each year, with construction planned to begin next year and production expected to start by 2028.