Environmentalists and Native Americans Confront the Threat of Nevada's Lithium Mine: Sacred Lands vs. Industrial Progress

Opposing the construction of a lithium mine in Nevada supported by the Biden administration, environmentalists and Native Americans are set to present their arguments before a US appeals court.

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For nearly two years, the Biden administration’s shift away from fossil fuels and endorsement of lithium and copper mining have faced criticism from environmentalists and Native Americans.

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The appeals court is urged by lawyers representing environmentalists and tribes to overturn a judge’s decision allowing construction to proceed on the Nevada lithium mine.

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Despite acknowledging that federal land managers violated the law by approving certain aspects of the project, the lawyer for conservation groups claims that the US district judge in Reno exceeded her authority by refusing to evoke the mine’s operation plan.

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With environmentalists and Native Americans opposing President Biden’s climate change initiatives that support the mine’s construction, the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada has become a contentious issue.

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The mining company, Lithium America, has filed a lawsuit to prevent trespassing and secure a protective order against protesters.

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The leaders of the Western Shoshone and Paiute tribes have unsuccessfully argued that the Thacker Pass Mine is situated on sacred lands where tribal members were massacred in 1865 and is protected by laws preserving historical and cultural resources.

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The decision of the court on the Thacker Pass mine could have broad implications for mining operations across the western United States.

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