A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Burns Paiute Tribe and Summit Lake Paiute Tribe against the federal government’s permitting of a lithium mine near Thacker Pass, but is allowing the tribes to amend their complaint.
Seeking to block further construction at the site, the plaintiffs alleged violation of several federal laws.
Judge Miranda Du wrote Nov. 9 that the plaintiffs failed to prove those violations, but might be more successful if they refiled.
Thacker Pass is the site of a large mine being built by Lithium Americas on what is North America’s largest known lithium deposit. The site is located north of Winnemucca near the Oregon border.
If the tribes do not file an amended complaint within 30 days, the court may dismiss the case.
The court previously denied the tribes’ requests for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.