Amnesty International Report Says Nevada Lithium Projects Lack Indigenous Consent

A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Interior said the report's authors are "notorious for making baseless claims, repeatedly rejected by courts," and that Bureau of Land Management reviews of lithium projects in Nevada included extensive environmental review and opportunity for tribal engagement.

Americas, the owner of the Thacker Pass mine, disputed many of the report's claims, including those regarding inadequate consultation, environmental risks and violation of Indigenous rights. The company noted that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is not binding in the United States but said the project complies with it anyway.

"The Thacker Pass Project has the potential to significantly advance America’s electrification efforts, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals," Lithium Americas stated in its response. A spokesperson for Ioneer, the owner of the Rhyolite Ridge project, said the company "respectfully but firmly disagrees with the findings released by Amnesty International" and highlighted its engagement with tribes.

The spokesperson added that the company complies with all U.S. legal requirements. Surge and Evolution, the owners of the Nevada North Lithium Project, did not respond to a request for comment from Grist. In an earlier response to Amnesty International, Evolution said it takes reasonable efforts to conduct proactive and ongoing engagement with Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous leaders have opposed lithium extraction in Nevada for years, citing risks of water contamination and biodiversity loss. Stevens said consultation has become more limited as global demand for lithium has grown. More than 20,000 mining claims have been filed in the state amid the lithium boom.

"We can survive without technology, but we can’t survive without water," Stevens said.