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POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS The aim of this study was to answer the question: what state and federal policies could be enacted that would best promote lithium extraction at the Salton Sea and Thacker Pass that allow for environmental protection, while also supporting economic development and other social and public health benefits? It is a question that asks whether extraction can be done differently, whether policies can simultaneously facilitate low to no environmental impact, alleviate greenhouse gas emissions, achieve equitable economic outcomes, and ensure tangible community benefits. Can lithium extraction have it all? Given the divergent perspectives of stakeholders and complexity of issues raised during the stakeholder interview process, arriving at a simple answer to this question would be an oversimplification and still remains speculative. The policies and frameworks that govern and guide lithium extraction at the Salton Sea and Thacker Pass, as well as the rest of the US, involve multiple spheres. Each extraction technology and extraction location have different needs. It seems multi-benefit lithium extraction is possible on different scales but is contingent on the action and implementation of federal, state, and local policies. This is further predicated on more abstract questions: what levels of environmental impacts are acceptable, and who and how much should different communities, industries, and other entities benefit? Nonetheless, stakeholders identified several areas where improvements could generate sought-after outcomes. Specific recommendations include the following: 1. 2. Enhance federal and state environmental agency capacity Associated with the previous point, every stakeholder commented on the time-consuming approvals process and the lack of capacity of both federal and state agencies. Regulations are helpful in ensuring projects safeguard against adverse impacts. However, with limited capacity and technical expertise, the process is back- logged and uneven across projects. Government agencies need more capacity to perform a more robust environmental analysis and engage communities in a more widespread fashion. Agency budgets are dictated by the current federal administration. To ensure consistent, effective governance over time, some mechanism is required to shield agency budgets from the pivot swings of federal elections. What this mechanism could be remains unknown and requires further research. For the Salton Sea region, the need for enhanced governmental capacity is concentrated in local air monitoring districts, water districts, and the governments of Imperial and Riverside Counties. At the state level, California needs to enhance the capacity of the Lithium Valley Commission and the California Energy Commission. In Nevada, agency support is needed on several levels including the Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and funding to help enhance tribal agency capacity. On the federal level, the need is most acute at the U.S. Department of Energy and the BLM. 3. All aspects of communities should be included in providing a guiding voice in the development of industry that directly impacts their homes and livelihoods. This is taking place in some form in the Salton Sea, though it should be repeated elsewhere and expanded on given noted shortcomings in transparency and engagement strategies. If lithium battery-related industries locate in a region, then federal government assistance is needed to provide financial support to expand and improve infrastructure that minimizes environmental impacts and ensures current residents benefit from infrastructure upgrades. Government assistance is also needed to bolster workforce development programs and ensure local residents have opportunities to access quality jobs with livable wages. Prioritize direct lithium extraction (DLE): Encourage inclusive community economic development through government support: Assuming that impacts associated with DLE in the Salton Sea would remain minimal as this technology type scales up, and that scaling up DLE is feasible, DLE appears to offer the lowest impacts of available extraction technologies. The use of geothermal energy offers additional benefits in the production of a consistent source of renewable energy. Locations like the Salton Sea Geothermal Field offer vast quantities of lithium that would help address U.S. and perhaps global demand for lithium production. Other areas, such as Nevada and Arkansas, should be looked at for potential sites for DLE. Focusing on DLE could help assuage demand for lithium in other areas that are more resource intensive and have stronger environmental impacts like evaporation technology or surface mining. Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Implications 67 AUGUST 2022PDF Image | Potential Lithium Extraction in the United States
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