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centered on the limited amount of digestible technical information that is available to communities. Every stakeholder, from environmental groups to industry members, commented on this issue. The responsibility of informing the public about the technical aspects of the project and its impacts most often falls to the industry itself. As mentioned previously, a problematic dynamic may exist if the companies presenting the information are also the ones benefiting from the mining operation. Stakeholders shared several ideas in changing this dynamic and providing more education to community members. Multiple stakeholders used superfund sites as an example for how to move forward. Through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, communities can apply for technical support to get an analysis on some aspect of a site. A similar model could be adopted at Thacker Pass, as one stakeholder said, “what this really comes down to is the community needs to get good information.” The challenge of this process relates to the initial exploration, assessment, and presentation of initial information by the mining company. Two different stakeholders called for an independent assessor to present the technical aspects, as they felt the industry and BLM were incapable of providing objective insights. Payment for this independent assessment would either come from the mining company or from a general royalty fund provided by the federal government through previous mineral extraction funds. Alternatively, the potential to use a nonprofit organization as an independent source of information was discussed. As a consequence of the current system, community members do not understand the details of mining processes and cannot advocate for themselves. Those familiar with Lithium Nevada’s operation and engagement commented that Lithium Nevada is attempting to be forthright and educate the community, with efforts still ongoing. They also commented that there is a general shortage of experts from a workforce perspective in these kinds of operations as lithium exploration booms across the state and globe. Even though Lithium Nevada has been working on the conceptual idea of Thacker Pass lithium mining for several years, the implementation and production of the technical aspects of the project have occurred more recently. BENEFITS: LOCAL SOURCES OF LITHIUM AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES County, industry, and a few environmental stakeholders noted that there are significant opportunities tied to lithium extraction at Thacker Pass. The two biggest benefits center on the large amounts of lithium production in the face of climate change, and the economic opportunities production would bring to the entire region. As one environmental stakeholder commented, “lithium is the most essential single ingredient for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.” They admitted the impact of mining would completely alter the area, and they also acknowledged that lithium from Thacker Pass would help the U.S. shift away from importing lithium and batteries from countries that have less stringent environmental laws. Another stakeholder said projects like Thacker Pass are essential for the U.S. to have energy independence and security, cautioning that the U.S. relies too much on other sources for lithium. The economic benefits of Thacker Pass could provide opportunities for the region according to county officials. Humboldt County currently has proposed two major operations that will help grow the local economy—the Thacker Pass project and a salmon farm. Both would result in around 300 jobs according to the County. County stakeholders expressed optimism about the benefits this would create for the region, meaning there would be additional ancillary businesses and general services that would grow from Thacker Pass and the salmon farm. Humboldt County officials said the projects presented an opportunity to build better infrastructure, grow new business, and stabilize the County’s economy. Additionally, they said it would allow the economy to diversify to let residents work in new fields and help retain families and college graduates from the area. An industry stakeholder posited that the jobs at Thacker Pass were not typical mining jobs, but technical positions with salaries that would start at $60,000 and average $100,000 per year. For context, the median salary for Humboldt County in 2019 was $58,820 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022). However, stakeholders noted that government support is needed to help economic expansion—both in infrastructure and workforce development. Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Implications 65 AUGUST 2022PDF Image | Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States
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