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Thacker Pass is a fast-tracked lithium mine proposed in Northern Nevada. Better known as Peehee Mu’huh (Rotten Moon) by the Paiute and Shoshone people, this mine will lie just 15 miles from the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone’s reservation border. 

Dirty mining is NOT clean energy! 

Support reform of the 1872 Mining Law

The incredibly outdated 1872 Mining Law legally makes mining the “highest and best use” of public lands in the United States. The law legally makes it difficult for frontline community voices to be respected and listened to in decisions around permitting mines.

The new push for extraction of “critical minerals”, is seeing legislation to fast track already outdated mining laws. It is more important than ever to make sure our laws are refined, through a public process, to ensure we prioritize ecosystems and community well-being! However, instead we are seeing bills being developed with the mining industry behind closed doors. Bad bills are in process in the U.S. Senate (S. 1281) and a parallel bill in the U.S. House (H.R. 2925) both introduced by Nevada delegation.  LEARN MORE!

This is a dangerous path. Modern mining is very damaging to the environment and disruptive to frontline communities –  in some cases resulting in a permanent loss of Indigenous culture. Thus, mining must be done in a careful and judicious way, including stricter analysis and public oversight.

In 2022, the Biden Administration released a fact sheet addressing the “clean energy” transition. The administration launched an interagency working group focused on reform of this archaic law. The administrations released guiding principles and you can view Earthworks suggested reform. Voice your support for reforming the 1872 mining law, THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS, by calling, writing or emailing your State Representative. Find your Representative here or add your name to the Action Letters Below!

Find Contact information for your U.S Congressional Representative HERE

Easily find your Nevada legislators here: https://nvlcb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2cd4575624417fa56fd084a7ee4dd9

Support local legislation!

The Nevada Mining Reform Coalition introduced Assembly Bill 313, Mining Water Reclamation and Conservation Act, at the 82nd state legislative session. The bill would require the backfilling of pit lakes to reduce water loss, a look at restoring water balance, and prevent degrading groundwater in pit lakes. Pit lakes are the wasteful and often toxic remnants of a mine project that was dug below the water table. 

AB 313 would require mining companies to take responsibility for the reclamation of any surface area as well as any surface water or groundwater that would be affected by the mine project.  Industry would have to back-fill pits to avoid the formation of new pit lakes. Great Basin Resource Watch estimates that the total volume of water destined for pit lakes in Nevada is approximately 550 billion gallons, equivalent to about 765,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Water is essential for the health and wellbeing of Nevadans. Surface and groundwater belong to the public, including mining pit lakes. Click here to learn more about pit lakes! Tell your legislator you support AB 313! 

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Upcomming Events / Important dates

2-3

June

Journey of a Water Protector

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TBA

June

9th Curcuit court hearing on Thacker Pass case

 

19

June

Owyhee Community Event

View Details – TBD

24

March

Red Dress Social Powwow

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29

March

Community event @ McDermitt, NV

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