Ann: Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge Project Moves Toward Construction, page-32

The argument is that there is no direct impact on plant populations, minimal overall disturbance to 714 acre habitat, specific protection and conservation plan and rigorous monitoring. Sensible co-existence. The plant will be protected and thrive. INR is incentivised to do this. No one else is.


”The North and South OSF Alternative was designed to avoid direct impacts to Tiehm’s buckwheat subpopulations and minimize disturbance within designated critical habitat (WestLand 2023b). The limits of disturbance associated with the quarry and haul road to the nearest plants within subpopulations 6 and 3 are 114 feet and 44 feet, respectively. Ioneer developed the Buckwheat Protection Plan: Applicant Proposed Conservation Measures for Tiehm’s Buckwheat and its Critical Habitat document which is specific to the North and South OSF Alternative (WestLand 2023b).

Approximately 714 acres of designated critical habitat would be fenced off (Figure 4-3). Specific treatment and design features for the fence proximate to the quarry or other features (i.e., drainage facilities and roads) would be developed at the time of construction. Coordination with the BLM, USFWS, and NDOW would occur prior to fence construction. Fencing would be regularly inspected for integrity and debris accumulation. Impacts from fencing would be minor, long-term, and localized.

The North and South OSF Alternative would disturb approximately 197 acres (22 percent) of designated critical habitat and avoid all subpopulations (Figure 4-3). Disturbance within designated critical habitat would be reclaimed, with the exception of 45 acres (five percent), primarily associated with the quarry lake (Figure 4-4). The Buckwheat Protection Plan: Applicant Proposed Conservation Measures for Tiehm’s Buckwheat and its Critical Habitat (WestLand 2023b) includes specific pollinator habitat reclamation.”