US BLM releases final EIS for Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass project

Lithium Americas has announced that the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the final environmental report for its Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada.

The Thacker Pass lithium project is located in Humboldt County, Nevada, US.

It is fully-owned by Lithium Nevada, a fully-owned subsidiary of Lithium Americas.

The BLM has issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) statement after more than a decade of reviewing the Thacker Pass project.

Lithium Americas president and CEO Jon Evans said: “The publication of the Final EIS is the culmination of more than a decade of work studying, exploring and developing the Thacker Pass project.

“Thacker Pass has the potential to provide future sources of high-quality lithium chemicals critical for establishing a strong domestic lithium supply chain required to support a low-carbon economy.”

The final federal permit, which is the issuance of the ‘Record of Decision’ by the BLM, is expected by early next year.

Currently, Nevada state officials are in the process of reviewing a water-protection permit for the project.

In a press statement, Lithium Americas stated: “The Final EIS is the result of pre-planning work that included the early collection of environmental baseline information, community and Native American engagement, project re-design, and the initial submission of a Conceptual Plan of Operations for agency consideration.”

The lithium mine is expected to be operational in 2023.

In June 2018, Lithium Americas unveiled plans to fast-track the development of Thacker Pass, after the results of a PFS suggested the project could have positive economic consequences.