This has been a busy legal week at Peehee Mu’huh / Thacker Pass.

As you may recall, four conservation groups who are suing the BLM and Lithium Nevada had earlier filed an injunction motion to block archeological digging, because it would damage critical habitat for the Greater sage-grouse, until their lawsuit can be heard in court. The Reno federal district court judge denied that injunction motion, saying that the environmental damage from the archeological digging wouldn’t be enough harm. Our position, of course, is that any construction or digging on site is too much harm.

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Atsa Koodakuh Wyh Nuwu/People of Red Mountain argued to be allowed to intervene (join) the lawsuit filed by the four conservation groups, and the judge ruled this week that they can join the lawsuit.

Once this decision was made, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Atsa Koodakuh Wyh Nuwu/People of Red Mountain then filed an injunction motion to stop the archeological digging, for cultural reasons based in the National Historic Preservation Act. This asks the judge to stop the digging for different reasons than previously denied by the judge.

The BLM and Lithium Nevada have until August 12 to respond to this injunction motion, and we anticipate oral arguments about the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Atsa Koodakuh Wyh Nuwu/People of Red Mountain injunction motion will be heard August 23.

The following articles help explain these legal efforts in more detail:

Federal court holds hearing on Thacker Pass Lithium Mine

Native Americans win ruling to join lawsuit against Lithium Americas project

Tribes seek order banning digging at Nevada lithium mine

As you might guess, all this legal work takes a lot of time, effort, and money, so please donate to Protect Thacker Pass and/or Atsa Koodakuh Wyh Nuwu/People of Red Mountain if you can. Thank you!!

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