Rare buckwheat provides hurdle for US lithium mining
A rare wildflower endemic to western Nevada may hinder progress for the US's lithium mining sector following a US environmental agency proposal to list it as endangered, which should provide some degree of legal protection.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced last Thursday it will be seeking to list the Tiehm's Buckwheat under the US's Endangered Species Act, reflecting ongoing tensions between environmentalists and US industry as the nation looks to decarbonise key sectors.
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If successful, the listing will not immediately halt the project, but it may hinder funding and permitting, which could have severe effects on the project and its future.
The land is currently being developed by Sydney-based Ioneer. The company aims to mine the land for lithium to be used in lithium-ion batteries, as part of the "Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron" project which was slated to commence construction this year and begin operations in 2023.
The company claims this project contains the largest lithium reserves in the US. If completed, it should be able to provide lithium for 400,000 electric car batteries a year, as well as boron for use in wind turbine production.
Ioneer also claims it will remain committed to the future of sustainable mining.
Another proposed lithium mine in Nevada, Thacker Pass, is also facing pressure from conservation groups, according to the FT.
The agency claims the damage the mining sector could do to the Tiehm's buckwheat could be "irreversible" and "permanent" in a statement on Thursday.
The New Scientist claims only around 40,000 specimens of the flower remain in the wild, likely due to its small range.
A recent incursion by local squirrels, as well as the mining project, could stand to reduce the flower's population by anywhere from 70% to 88%, the wildlife agency claims.
US President Joe Biden announced last week he intends to look abroad for key metals for automotive electrification in a bid to placate environmentalists.
The FWS's proposal is currently open for public discussion and could come into effect by the end of the year.
Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Martha Williams said the agency remains committed to protecting the US's wildlife and fauna.
"[We hope] to work with diverse federal, Tribal, state and industry partners to not only protect and recover America’s imperilled wildlife but to ensure cornerstone laws like the Endangered Species Act are helping us meet 21st-century challenges.
“We look forward to continuing these conservation collaborations and to ensuring our efforts are fully transparent and inclusive.”
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Ioneer issued a statement supporting the decision to list Tiehm's Buckwheat as endangered, adding that it was taking "every precaution" to minimise the impact its mining will have on the flower's population.
"We fully support and share the FWS's commitment to protect and preserve Tiehm's buckwheat," it added. "The latest finding was in line with our expectation, and we support the FWS's deliberations on a final listing decision."
"The process will provide greater certainty around our schedule and diminish the prospect of future litigation," it added.
The mining firm also said the flower is being threatened by animals, drought and climate change.
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