Buffer Zone

Several times in the past couple years I have predicted that the most the Hualapai could hope for is a buffer zone around Hakamwe, of anywhere from half a mile to two miles. And I have suggested that this is unacceptable to AZL because it knows that most of the lithium is close to Hakamwe, where it has already drilled but inexplicably wants to return for more samples to generate more good news.

I wonder now if this solution will be imposed judicially, since BLM insisted on an “all or nothing” approach. The judge can tell AZL it can proceed with the southern drill sites, if it doesn’t have any hydrologist reports to contradict the one from the Hualapai. Meanwhile, the tribe is not arguing for the “nothing” alternative; it maintains that BLM should have permitted something other than “all.”

Since AZL admits the drilling will take six months, why not allow them to start now and come back in three months if they want to do more? They have an obligation to mitigate their damages.