The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Still in Court
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Above a collection of recent protest signs, videos and press releases opposing the Thacker Pass lithium mining project.
There was a new hearing this week concerning Thacker Pass in Humboldt County and whether the Reno-based court approval of the large lithium mine violated federal mining law.
Environmentalists now say U.S. District Judge Miranda Du disregarded an 1872 federal law when allowing construction to begin on the project earlier this year.
Just last year, another federal court invoked that old law, ruling against an Arizona copper mine project over its plans to use federal land without valuable minerals as a dumping site, the same issue facing Lithium Americas on lands for dumping its waste rock.
So now the ball is in the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where there were new protests this week.
Lawyers for Lithium Americas say they’ve already addressed these latest concerns during a federal review, and that the company will be using the mine pit itself as a site for waste rock. The Trump and Biden administrations have been in favor of the mine, despite the environmental and historical significance of its location.
The rare greater sage-grouse will be losing thousand of acres it inhabits, while different tribes say they have been ignored, and that the site of the mine they call PeeHee Mu’Huh is sacred. The name translates to “rotten moon” in honor of Indigenous people massacred by the U.S. Cavalry in 1865 in an area of the pass shaped like a moon.
As the start of mining approaches, lawyers for Lithium Americas have sued tribe members and activists for allegedly vandalizing and stealing equipment, and flying drones close to mine personnel.
The project and courtroom battles have led to repeated protests, including campouts at the site as well as rallies at the Believe Plaza in Reno and outside our downtown federal courthouse.
Our Reporting and Social Media Highlights This Week
The presentation of six proposed maps for adding a sixth ward to our current five drew concerns on our social media, including from former progressive mayoral candidate William Mantle who wrote: “Maps 2-5 violate the standard of compactness. Wards shouldn’t be spaghetti. I’m quite disappointed in what’s been drafted here (some incredibly bad). The majority of public maps submitted were far more sensible. Only 1 or 6 can be considered, I believe, and even those have flaws.”
On our Instagram, the City of Reno wrote: “Make sure to let us know which maps you prefer and your input on the others before July 14 at Reno.gov/redistricting!”
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