Snapshot: The Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, led by Australia-based Ioneer, is a 7,000-acre mining operation in Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA. Once operational, it is expected to produce enough lithium annually to supply 370,000 electric vehicles and operate for 23 years. However, the project has sparked major controversy due to its impact on Indigenous cultural sites, groundwater depletion, and the critically endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat wildflower.

On 19 September 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project. The statement concluded that the mine could proceed, despite acknowledging significant environmental risks. However, human rights and environmental organisations immediately raised concerns, stating that the review process was rushed and failed to adequately consider the irreversible harm to Indigenous lands, water sources, and biodiversity.

On 24 October 2024, the US Department of the Interior formally approved the project, granting Ioneer the necessary federal authorisation to proceed with mining operations. The approval marked the first full regulatory clearance for a lithium project under the Biden administration, aligning with government efforts to expand domestic lithium production for electric vehicles. However, conservationists groups condemned the decision, arguing that it disregarded legal protections for endangered species and sacred sites.

On 31 October 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity, Great Basin Resource Watch, and the Western Shoshone Defence Project filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging the BLM’s approval of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project. The plaintiffs alleged that the authorisation violated multiple environmental protection laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The lawsuit argued that the mine threatens the endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat, as it would destroy a large portion of its critical habitat. Plaintiffs also raised serious concerns over water resources, stating that the mine’s groundwater withdrawals could dry up dozens of springs, including Cave Spring, a site of cultural and spiritual significance to the Western Shoshone people. The lawsuit further accused the US Government of disregarding Indigenous concerns, arguing that federal agencies failed to conduct a thorough environmental review and neglected the rights and traditions of Indigenous communities.

On 27 March 2026, US District Court of Nevada rejected the plaintiffs’ claims, stating that the federal authorisation sufficiently addressed environmental concerns and detailed mitigation measures for the protection of the endangered wildflower. On 8 April 2026, the claimants filed an appeal.

The case is ongoing.