Permitting
Rhyolite Ridge Permitting – Project was Approved by U.S. Federal Government in October 2024
On October 24, 2024 the BLM issued the formal Record of Decision (ROD) for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, representing the final required federal permit for the Project.
View Formal Record of Decision
Visit the BLM’s E-Planning Page for the Project
Timeline of Permitting Process
The Bureau of Land Management published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) on April 16, 2024 and accepted comments until June 3, 2024.
On September 20, 2024, the BLM published the Final Environmental Impact Statement.
BLM Press Release
Concurrently on September 20, 2024, The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) also formally released the ESA Section 7 Biological Opinion concluding that the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project will not jeopardize the ESA-listed Tiehm’s buckwheat or adversely modify its critical habitat.
Process Timeline
In August 2020, Ioneer submitted its initial Plan of Operations to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Following consultation and guidance from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM, we submitted a revised Plan of Operations to the BLM in July 2022 to reflect the modification of the initial mining quarry, avoiding all known populations of the Tiehm’s buckwheat.
In October 2024, the BLM issued a formal Record of Decision for the Project, allow construction activities to commence at Rhyolite Ridge.
View the Rhyolite Ridge Project’s Record of Decision
Read more about our efforts below regarding:
• Tiehm’s buckwheat conservation
• Water Usage at Rhyolite Ridge
Rhyolite Ridge Quick Facts
- During the two-year construction period, the Project will employ 400-500 workers and 250-300 workers once operational. Median total compensation levels will be approximately $141,000.
- Rhyolite Ridge is estimated to contribute approximately $15 – $25 million in taxes to state and local governments during construction. Once operational, the project is estimated to contribute $13 – $35 million annually through property taxes, net proceeds on minerals, and other taxes and fees.
- Due to the unique ore found at Rhyolite Ridge, the water usage associated with the production of lithium is much lower compared to current domestic production. The process is designed to recycle the majority of water usage, further reducing water demand.
- There is no need for tailings dams or evaporation ponds because of the unique searlesite at Rhyolite Ridge.
- The design of Rhyolite Ridge’s processing facility will allow the company to produce sufficient electricity to power its processing operations, meaning zero-reliance on the electrical grid.
- Ioneer’s ability to process this resilient, domestic supply of lithium on-site for use in the U.S. battery supply chain greatly reduces the environmental impact of shipping across oceans.
- Ioneer has signed three binding offtake agreements with some of the largest car manufacturers in the world to supply Nevada lithium for US Vehicles: Ford Motor Company, Prime Planet Energy and Solutions (a joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic), and EcoPro Innovation. Additionally, Ioneer signed an offtake agreement with Nevada based Dragonfly Energy which will allow for Nevada sourced lithium carbonate to be used in Nevada manufactured batteries.
- Ioneer has also entered into Memorandums of Understanding with Nextech Batteries in Carson City, and Lithion in Henderson in an effort to bolster the State’s and the US domestic lithium battery supply chain.
What’s Next?
| Notice of Intent (NOI) | Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published a NOI to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Rhyolite Ridge project. | Complete |
| Public Scoping Process | The BLM hosted two scoping meetings regarding the Project. (Wednesday, January 4th at 2:00PM PST and Thursday, January 5th at 5:00PM PST) The Scoping Period Concluded March 6, 2023 | Complete |
| Draft EIS (DEIS) | Following review of initial public comments, the BLM developed a DEIS that described any potential impacts to the environment and Ioneer’s plans to offset or mitigate them. | Complete |
| Public Comment | The public was provided another opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. The BLM will use these comments to either conduct further analysis of the plan which may require us to modify any mitigation plans. The BLM held two in person public meetings and one virtual meeting to solicit feedback on the dates/times below: May 6, 2024 5:00PM – Fish Lake Valley Community Center, Dyer, NV May 7, 2024 5:00PM – Tonopah Convention Center, Tonopah, NV May 9, 2024 – Virtual Meeting Via Zoom – Recording Available For Replay on BLM’s E-Planning Site | Complete |
| Final EIS (FEIS) | After comments on the DEIS were collected and reviewed, the BLM published a FEIS and draft Record of Decision (ROD) on September 19, 2024. | Complete |
| Release of of ESA Section 7 Biological Opinion from USFWS | The Biological opinion concluded that the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project will not jeopardize the ESA-listed Tiehm’s buckwheat or adversely modify its critical habitat. Its issuance marks the end of the ESA consultation process between USFWS and the BLM regarding Rhyolite Ridge. | Complete |
| 30-day Regulatory Wait Period | Complete | |
| Issuance of Record of Decision (ROD) | The BLM issued a ROD indicating acceptance of Ioneer’s plan. The public is then provided with an opportunity to object to this decision and the BLM is required to respond and address any concerns raised. Once this process is complete and Ioneer receives a final Record of Decision, the BLM can issue a final approved plan of operations. | Current Phase |
| Nevada Permits | In addition to the NEPA permitting process, Ioneer is required to receive permits from other authorities, which were issued by In June and July 2021 respectively. The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection issued two key Nevada State permits, the Class II Air Quality Permit and the Water Pollution Control Permit. Rhyolite Ridge is the first developmental lithium project in Nevada to receive both of these two key permits. Once all necessary permits, including the federal Record of Decision, are received, construction of the Rhyolite Ridge project can proceed. |