Lemhi Pass Mine Developer: U.S. Rare Earths, Inc. Location: Lemhi Pass, Idaho Prepared February 2018

Background In 2008, the mineral exploration company U.S. in the past, thorium and REE extraction are Rare Earths, Inc. began aggressively surveying completely new endeavors. mining claims in Lemhi Pass along the Idaho- Despite high levels of interest and activity in and Montana border. The Texas-based company around the Pass from 2008 to 2015, the Lemhi Pass formerly known as Colorado Rare Earths, Inc sought mine failed to come to fruition due to a variety of to extract certain rare earth elements (REE) and factors. Those factors will be explored in the Policy thorium from the Pass arguing that the mine would Context and Environmental Assessment and Public boost the local economy while also contributing to Response sections. America’s resource sovereignty and helping to satisfy increasing demands from defense, energy and technology industries for rare earth elements. Lemhi Pass is of geologic note because of the presence of highly concentrated thorium and rare earth element deposits below the surface. Lemhi Pass has one of the largest and most concentrated thorium deposits in the world with an estimated 64,000 metric tons of thorium oxide. Additionally, the geologic 1 composition of Lemhi Pass is particularly unique Lemhi Pass location, REE reserves in yellow because of the relatively balanced ratios between Policy Context thorium and REEs. In most other REE mining Rare earth elements and thorium have been projects, thorium concentrations tend to be too low topics of political debate recently for many reasons. for their production to be profitable (USGS, 2009). First, rare earth elements are used in numerous US In addition to geological interest, Lemhi Pass is military, technology, and civilian green industry of particular historic and cultural significance. First, applications. For example, the mineral deposits of the Pass is a part of the ancestral lands of the Lemhi Pass contain significant amounts of Shoshone-Bannock tribes. Lemhi Pass has historic neodymium, which is crucial in the production of and spiritual importance as it is the resting the place wind turbines (Biello, 2010). Because of this, the for their ancestors (Lemhi- Shoshone). Secondly, demand for REEs has skyrocketed in recent years Lemhi Pass was a significant location during Lewis and is projected to only grow. Additionally, China and Clark’s expedition and, as the site of a National currently dominates the world’s supply of REEs Historic Landmark, attracts large amounts of tourists. which gives it massive political clout to control The lifestyles of residents in the Lemhi Pass area export trade. The Lemhi Pass mine would help have been defined by its unique historic and natural mitigate the United States’ dependence on China’s features. Eastern Idaho and western Montana is rare earth resources. Finally, thorium, which is often mostly rural and boasts distinctive natural beauty and found alongside rare earth element deposits, is a a robust outdoor recreation economy (Lemhi radioactive element that has tremendous advantages County). The area also has a history of ranching, in energy production over uranium. Thorium is more which plays a large role in the local economy. While abundant than uranium in the Earth’s crust, is 200 the Lemhi Pass area has experienced mining projects times more potent, is cheaper, and produces less radioactive waste. Despite this, demand for thorium in the United States is low, regulations surrounding region and is also designated by the Forest Service as thorium extraction are strict, and actually separating a sensitive species (Moseley, et al. 1990); and the the thorium from ore and REEs is time-consuming Chinook Salmon is an endangered species. Activity and expensive (DeHaemer, 2014). from the mine, such as construction, and potential radioactive contamination had the possibility of negatively impacting habitat and population size for all three of these species. The Shoshone-Bannock tribes also expressed concerns about the proposed mine. As mentioned earlier, Lemhi Pass is the site of Shoshone-Bannock tribes’ ancestral lands, which the tribes argued were under attack. Members of the tribes still lived at and Lemhi Pass2 regularly visit one of the proposed mine sites where Environmental Assessment and Public Response their ancestors are buried. The tribes also cite the Because the Lemhi Pass mine never progressed significance of Lewis and Clark’s historic journey further than the exploration stage, a public release of through the Pass and the harm the mine might bring an Environmental Assessment through the National upon the tourism economy of the area. Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) was never Despite these concerns, there are still those that necessary. However, this does not mean that the recognize the economic benefits that the mine could potential environmental impacts of the mine were not bring to the rural area. Past mining, mainly for examined or that the public did not respond to the molybdenum, used to support the local economy proposed mine. The Lemhi Pass Mine faced more than it does today and some stakeholders wish opposition and apprehension on a number of to see a revitalization in that sector (Taggart, 2015). environmental topics. One concern voiced by the public was that Conclusion radioactive dust from the mine could potentially The Lemhi Pass mine has embroiled in a classic reach nearby grazing fields, harm cattle, and hurt the mine-proposal debate in which jobs and the economy area’s ranching economy. In addition, many were pitted against human health, natural expressed concern over the potential contamination environment and culture. It is unclear how these two of surface water and groundwater along with opposing sides may eventually reconcile with each exposure to radiation. Many questioned whether U.S. other due to more the more powerful forces of the Rare Earths, Inc would take necessary precautionary global economy. Currently, the Lemhi Pass mine was measures (Stewart, 2012) . determined to not be a profitable endeavor and so the Another concern pertained to sensitive plants mine has not been built. Should global markets and wildlife in the area, namely Sage Grouse, change, developments could begin again. This is yet Penstemon Lemhiensis (or “Beardtongue”) and another testament to the power and volatility of our Chinook Salmon. The Sage Grouse populations of global economy, which calls into question the Lemhi Pass heavily rely on the vegetational practicality of any REE developments in the United composition of the area (ISGAC, 2014); Penstemon States. Lemhiensis is endemic to the greater Lemhi Pass

Works Cited

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Photo Sources 1https://geology.com/usgs/ree-geology/ 2https://franceshunter.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/lewis-clark-road-trip-lemhi-pass/