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A $250M investment will help this lithium mine get up and running. That’s bad news for these tribes.

Summary

Lithium Americas has secured a $250 million investment to advance its lithium mine at Thacker Pass, Nevada, despite strong opposition from Indigenous tribes who consider the site a sacred burial ground. The project, backed by a $2.26 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan, aims to bolster domestic EV battery production but has faced legal challenges from tribal groups, all of which have been unsuccessful. A report from the ACLU and Human Rights Watch argues the mine violates Indigenous rights, citing environmental risks and lack of proper consent. Advocates call for mining law reforms to better protect tribal lands from industrial development.

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