An Australian company’s plan to extract lithium in Utah faces criticism over water usage and potential radioactive contamination.
Kyle Dunphey reports for Utah News Dispatch.
In short:
- The Utah Division of Water Resources approved A1 Lithium’s application to drill wells near Green River.
- Environmental groups argue the project’s high water usage and proximity to a radioactive aquifer pose risks.
- A1 Lithium asserts the project will be environmentally sustainable and provide local jobs.
Key quote:
“There’s a lot of uncertainty. I’m not anti-lithium. I’m pro public welfare.”
— Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network
Why this matters:
Lithium extraction is vital for electric vehicle production, but it raises environmental and public health concerns, particularly regarding water usage and contamination risks. Lithium extraction is notoriously water-intensive, raising alarms in an already arid state where water scarcity is a pressing issue. Local communities and environmental advocates argue that diverting water for mining operations could exacerbate the drought conditions affecting Utah.
