Expansion of the nation’s only operating lithium mine would likely have only a modest impact on its remote Nevada desert location, according to a draft environmental review that looks like a green light for a project the Trump administration wants to streamline. … “Since no new water rights are being sought as part of the proposed action, and since pumping at the facility would not change with construction and implementation of the [proposal], impacts on groundwater resources are expected to be negligible, long-term, and regional,” the EIS states.

Other development and water impact news:

• Capitol Weekly (Sacramento, Calif.): Opinion: Let’s seize opportunity to fix CEQA
• The Sacramento Bee: Opinion: Sacramento (and its lawyers) confront county on Natomas. What’s next?​