PART I: Economic Impact on Nevada and the United States
Part one of 2 News Nevada Investigates Rhyolite Ridge.
Lithium is a crucial element used in cell phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. However, the majority of it is mined outside the United States and is primarily processed in China. As a result, the competition for lithium has become a national security issue. The federal government is investing heavily in lithium, and Nevada is poised to become the epicenter of this activity. Ioneer, an Australian lithium-boron company, has received a $700 million conditional loan from the US Department to develop Rhyolite Ridge in Esmeralda County. It is the largest lithium and boron deposit in North America and could increase the current domestic production fourfold, resulting in approximately 370,000 electric vehicles on the road each year. We examined research that shows how much of an economic game-changer Rhyolite Ridge could be for the country, Nevada, and the neighboring communities.
PART II: Regional Community Footprint
Esmeralda and Nye County residents submitted concerns over water, truck access, housing for workers, and more. So, we decided to go to the communities nearest the Rhyolite Ridge project and hear from residents firsthand.
For projects of this magnitude, there is a lengthy and thorough regulatory process that must be followed. In the United States, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the cornerstone of accountability and transparency. It allows all Americans to have a powerful voice in shaping the federal government's decisions on projects that impact their health, well-being, and environment. We carefully reviewed the project's Environmental Impact Statement Public Scope and found that residents of Esmerelda County and Nye County had submitted concerns over issues such as water supply and truck access. To gain a better understanding of these concerns, we decided to visit the communities nearest to the Rhyolite project and hear directly from the residents.
PART III: The Project Faces Environmental Hurdles
Josh talks about the environmental regulations that could become obstacles in the project.
Rhyolite Ridge, located on the Silver Peak Range in Esmeralda County, has the potential to significantly boost the U.S. Electric Vehicle industry. However, this area is also the only known habitat of an endangered plant species called Tiehm's buckwheat. While the President of Ioneer, Bernard Rowe, believes that the mine and the endangered plant can coexist, the Great Basin Director of the Center for Biological Diversity, Patrick Donnelly, disagrees. He believes that the destruction of any critical habitat is unacceptable and the environmental group has pledged to challenge the project's permitting in court.
Rhyolite Ridge Environmental Impact Statement Public Scoping Report
Tiehm's Buckwheat Scientist LetterÂ
President Biden Letter Urging Endangered Species Act Designation
