Lithium

California Court Clears Path for Lithium Mining in Imperial Valley Despite Environmental Concerns

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Los Angeles, CA — A federal judge has ruled in favor of a company’s plans to extract lithium from the Salton Sea area in California’s Imperial Valley, dismissing the environmental concerns raised by several advocacy groups. The verdict clears the path for the lithium extraction project which is expected to have significant implications for the electric vehicle industry, relying heavily on lithium for batteries. The decision was handed down in a legal challenge where environmental organizations argued that the lithium extraction could pose significant risks to the local ecosystem and communities. They claimed the project … Read more

Conservationists and Native Tribe Sue to Stop Nevada Lithium Mine, Citing Threats to Endangered Wildflower and Cultural Sites

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RENO, Nev. — Conservationists and the Western Shoshone tribe are actively opposing the federal government’s authorization of a lithium mine in Nevada, fearing it will eradicate an endangered plant species, disrupt sacred native sites, and alter natural groundwater flows. This litigation underscores the tensions between ecological preservation and the pursuit of renewable energy resources. The Center for Biological Diversity, alongside the Western Shoshone Defense Project, initiated legal action following the U.S. Interior Department’s approval of Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mining project. This site, located near the California border and equidistant from Reno and Las … Read more

Legal Victory Partial for Companies in Arkansas Lithium Royalty Dispute

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Little Rock, AR – In a significant legal proceeding on Friday, an administrative law judge hinted at likely siding partially with a group of five companies that petitioned the state Oil and Gas Commission to establish a royalty rate for lithium production from the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas. This area is emerging as a hotbed for lithium extraction, vital for battery production. The companies, seeking clarity and stability regarding the financial terms of lithium extraction, hope a fixed royalty rate will make investment and operations planning more predictable. Lithium, predominantly used in batteries for … Read more