I am writing out of concern with the Thacker Pass lithium mine proposed by Lithium Americas in northern Nevada. As you may be aware, this project was fast tracked through permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through Trump administration executive orders. The proposed mine would be on the traditional Paiute lands of the people now residing at the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Reservation, and is adjacent to the ranching and agricultural communities of the Kings River Valley and Quinn River Valley.

Despite significant concerns raised by both communities, the mine project is advancing. Some of these concerns include:
- Lack of transparency in permitting
- Destruction of cultural heritage
- Destruction of graves as the proposed site was the location of a massacre enacted upon Paiute people
- Inadequate consultation with the Native and non-native communities
- Groundwater depletion
- Potentially 300 years of post mining water pumping and active treatment
- Sulfur Dioxide emissions from a sulfuric acid plant proposed to be built on the site
- Wildlife impacts to sage grouse, golden eagle, mule deer, and pronghorn
- Increased violence against women in a community already facing the crisis on missing and murdured Indigenous women and girls

Despite these concerns, the Bureau of Land Management and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection are continuing to support Lithium Americas in their pursuit of this mine. We are concerned that without federal involvement through the Department of the Interior that these lands and peoples will become a massive sacrifice zone against the will of those who depend on this place as their home.

That is why I am writing you this letter to request that:
1. You visit Thacker Pass and meet with McDermitt Tribal members as well as local ranchers.
2. You and your staff review inadequacies in the consultation process which occurred through NEPA.
3. Pursue a federal mineral withdrawal to ensure permanent protection of Thacker Pass from being sacrificed.

Thank you for your service to the land and people. I hope that you will be able to use your office to ensure we put people and planet first, and ensure that we consider equity in climate mitigation through not sacrificing entire communities against their will.