Ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR, OTC:GSCCF, NASDAQ:IONR) has wrapped up the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in relation to its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA.
Final EIS by year-end
This milestone marks a significant step towards the project's development, and the company is now confident of a final EIS publication by the end of this year.
The company says there has been a ‘timely conclusion’ to the Biden administration’s Department of Interior Draft Environmental Impact Statement comment period.
It now expects to deliver against the expectation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement being published in September 2024, with a Record of Decision entered in October 2024.
Once operational, the Rhyolite Ridge project is poised to considerably enhance the United States' lithium supply, quadrupling current levels and playing a crucial role in strengthening the domestic supply chain for minerals essential to the clean energy transition.
"Listening has made us stronger"
Ioneer believes its extensive engagement with federal, state and tribal officials, as well as community members over the past five years, has served it well as it moves the project forward.
“Listening has made our project stronger, and we look forward to addressing feedback to the Bureau of Land Management from the public comment period," managing director Bernard Rowe said.
The company is now focused on completing the remaining steps in the federal permitting process, with plans to begin construction soon.
"We are excited to complete the remaining steps in the federal permitting process, begin construction, and provide the critical components set to power millions of American electric vehicles," Rowe added.