@Icecoldbundy They have surface water rights (announced last...

@Icecoldbundy They have surface water rights (announced last year) for use in processing, purchased off an exisiting rights holder. I can't remember the volume required but it was less than the local golf course.

The public hearing that was meant to be heard tomorrow is regarding the rights to extract brine for production purposes, they currently only have rights to extract for exploration purposes. The hearing is a due process formality, ASN requested a continuation (postponment) to give them more time to ensure they have all their ducks in a row to demonstrate to the chief state engineer that the brine extraction will not pose any adverse risk to local water supply (which largely comes from completely separate, shallower groundwater aquifers). Approval *should* just be a formality.