AZL General Discussion, page-13477

Compare the AZL timeline to this one:BLM just approved the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project in Nevada, a joint venture between Nevada Lithium and Iconic Minerals (both Canadian companies).

So what was the timeline on this?–The Plan of Operations was submitted in January 2022, and revised in March and April 2022.--An Interdisciplinary (ID) Team of BLM resource specialists was formed on May 26, 2022.–The Environmental Assessment was issued in September 2022.

Interesting, that “the BLM TFO [Tonopah Field Office] initiated government-to-government consultation with the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, the Yomba Shoshone Tribe, and the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, for the Project on July 13, 2021.” First, it shows early involvement by BLM, even before the formal application. This, of course, was during the early months of the Biden Administration. Second, “government to government” is what the Hualapai wanted from BLM with Big Sandy, but were refused during the Trump Administration.The EA addressed Native American concerns, unlike the Big Sandy EA that put them off as “To Be Determined.”

The EA states, “if any TCPs [Tribal Cultural Properties], tribal resources, sacred sites, etc. are identified within or in close proximity to the NEPA Project Area, a protective “buffer zone” may be acceptable, if doing so satisfies the needs of the BLM, the proponent, and affected Tribe. The size of any “buffer zone” would be determined through coordination and communication between all participating entities.“At this time, no impacts related to Native American Religious and Cultural Concerns have been identified by the Tribes and are not anticipated from the Project. In addition, the BLM Native American Coordinator for the Battle Mountain District has and would continue to attend all Tribal Council meetings for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, the Yomba Shoshone Tribe, and the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, and Tribal consultation would continue throughout the life of the Project.”

https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/2021595/200533726/20067920/250074102/20220921_BonnieClaire_PublicEA.pdf