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23 Dec, 6 tweets, 2 min read
UPDATE: A federal court judge in DC on today (Tuesday Dec. 22) imposed a temporary restraining order on helium drilling project on pristine federal lands in Utah that I wrote about in SUNDAY NYT. int.nyt.com/data/documentt…
Here is the story. This was one of four projects that I focused on in this story. It is a temporary restraining order, which is very unusual, as Interior has not even issued the drilling permit yet. But judge agreed that his action would be moot if he waited.
Here is the story from Sunday's paper. Final approval of this Utah project had been expected as soon as Dec. 23, with construction slated to begin immediately . nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/…
More of the temporary restraining order from Judge RUDOLPH CONTRERAS, who was nominated to the court by President Obama.
Here is a news release issued by the environmental group that filed the lawsuit challenging the drilling permit
Have asked the backers of the project--Twin Bridges LLC of Colorado---for any comment.

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More from @EricLiptonNYT

Eric Lipton Profile picture
23 Dec
Trump pardon fest begins. Among those at head of the line: two ex Republican House lawmakers convicted of federal crimes.
Other pardons include George Papadopoulos, former Trump campaign aide who has spent months sending tweets praising Trump and anything and everything having to do with him.
We did a piece a few weeks ago that discussed George Papadopoulos and his pursuit of a pardon, among others. @kenvogel nytimes.com/2020/11/25/us/…
Read 7 tweets
Eric Lipton Profile picture
20 Dec
MINING THREAD PART 4: Industrial-scale helium project will be give FINAL approve by Trump Interior Depart(not mining but drilling) as soon as this week in one of most iconic locations in US. An unspoiled area of majestic beauty. Pics by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance/Bloxham
The plan near here, in part controlled by Interior's Bureau of Land Management: one of the largest helium drilling operations in the US. Would start small, to prove the reserves. But backers of project could ultimately produce "5 to 10% of world annual helium production"
As BLM evaluated this project, it asked a series of questions.
Read 12 tweets
Eric Lipton Profile picture
19 Dec
MINING THREAD PART 3: Let's turn to South Dakota's famed Black Hills and the land of near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A MASSIVE uranium mine is planned, in part on federal land. But here is the rub. All of this territory is still claimed by Sioux Nation of Indians
The Canadian-based mine developer, Azarga Uranium, just got approve from Trump-era EPA to inject a chemical called lixiviant via so-called Deep Injection Wells into underground water supply to force uranium to leach into the water.
Here is a critical EPA document that looks at the damage this project will do to groundwater in the area. Read it yourself. EPA, based on consultant study, argues harm will be in Uranium ore area, not drinking water area. Tribe is not convinced. epa.gov/sites/producti…
Read 6 tweets
Eric Lipton Profile picture
19 Dec
MINING THREAD PART 2: Lithium, a soft, silvery-white metal, is vital for the cleaner-energy world. It is used in batteries for electric cars & to hold solar power. There is a plan to build one of world's largest lithium mines on federal land in NEVADA
This is another enormous project. And early next month, it is expected to get FINAL "Record of Decision" approval from Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management based on this just published study of the environmental impacts. See this to read it: eplanning.blm.gov/public_project…
This is a remote area, north of Winnemucca, Nevada, not far from Oregon state line. This area has sizable population of Sage Grouse, a threatened bird species famous for its elaborate mating dance. The mine will disturb the sage grouse's "priority habitat management area" PHMA
Read 6 tweets
Eric Lipton Profile picture
19 Dec
THREAD: TRUMP's Mining Push. A journey through the documents, via Twitter. Let's take the mine sites (each getting approvals in final weeks Trump tenure) one at a time: copper in ARIZONA, lithium in NEVADA and uranium in SOUTH DAKOTA. Evaluate them. Consider risks & benefits.....
Everything about these projects is bigger than life. Giant. Hard to quantify. The Arizona copper mine is expected to produce 1 billion pounds of copper per year--or 25 percent of the annual US demand for copper. Wow. But it will be in a spot that is now a NATIONAL FOREST.
So that is a lot of copper. And it will create a lot of jobs. But it will cause some real damage to the area. As the underground mining progresses, gradually a giant crater will form. Up to 1.8 miles wide and 1,115 feet deep.
Read 8 tweets
Eric Lipton Profile picture
19 Dec
JUST POSTED: The Trump administration is rushing to approve a final wave of large-scale mining and energy projects on federal lands, encouraged by investors who want to try to ensure the projects move ahead even after President-elect Biden takes office nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/…
Let's take a look at some of these projects awaiting actions in the remaining weeks of Trump's tenure. MASSIVE mining projects on federal lands. First stop, ARIZONA. Sacred Native American lands now in a national forest are targeted for destruction to make way for a copper mine
Next stop SOUTH DAKOTA. Area near Black Hills planned for massive new uranium mine, on land also historically held by Native American tribe. Groundwater would be contaminated to extract the radioactive uranium.
Read 10 tweets

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