In Arizona, the Forest Service is preparing to sign off on the transfer of federal forest land — considered sacred by a neighbouring Native American tribe — to allow construction of one of the nation’s largest copper mines. In northern Nevada, the department is close to granting final approval to construct a sprawling open-pit lithium mine on federal land that sits above a prehistoric volcano site. But others, like the lithium mine in Nevada, will have the final federal permit needed before construction can begin and will be hard for the next administration to stop. Backers of these projects say they are committed to minimising the effect on public lands, sacred Native American sites and wildlife. A small piece of the project is on Interior Department land.

Source: bd News24 December 20, 2020 05:26 UTC