Topic: Possible lithium mining in the Panamint Valley

[KauriJ]

I hope it's okay to post this here.

I thought I'd share this LA Times article about possible lithium mining in Panamint Valley and efforts to prevent this from happening.

https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-death-valley-lithium-mine-california-environment-20190507-story.html

I've been visiting the Panamint Valley and Death Valley since I was two years old, and my parents and I have explored many of the 4WD roads in our HiLux and 4Runner. It's an incredibly beautiful place to travel to, and I would hate to think what effect this mine would have on the Panamint Valley area if it happens. I certainly realize folks' opinions are varied, but my reason for traveling on rough 4WD roads is for the scenery and to escape from civilization. I'm sharing this here in hopes it will reach other Toyota 4WD enthusiasts who visit DV and PV for this same reason and who don't already know about it.

Here's some more info from the BLM, including a map.

https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/nepa/120541/168871/205522/Appendix_C_Biological_Assessment_Panamint_508.pdf

There has also been some discussion of this on the death-valley.net forums (which is where I first heard about it).

http://death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=24619

[Gnarly4X]

Death Valley was my first 4-wheel drive trip, I was a ride-along.  I fell in love with DV and immediately bought a new 1986 Toyota 4-wheel drive truck and began visiting and exploring DV.  I  have spent many many days and nights 4-wheeling in DV.  It is truly one of the most fascinating and interesting places I have ever seen.  I know it has changed since 1986.

I live in AZ so I have seen what mining does to the land, wild life, and all living things.  I am not a tree hugger and believe there are some environmental movements that are not good, but preservation of certain land and areas on Earth is extremely important.

The human destruction of our planet is happening and way too rapidly.

Lithium is and will become an increasingly valuable element.  There are 10s of thousand of lithium mines world-wide.  We DO NOT need to destroy Death Valley National Park to mine lithium and line the pockets of some greedy faceless corporation that cares nothing about our environment.

That’s just my opinion – it may be worthless.

Gnarls.