After a California judge denied environmentalists’ claims that the Hells Kitchen lithium extraction project approved by Imperial County was not adequately studied for water supply, air pollution and tribal issues, the two groups are pressing on. Their appeal filed on March 7 in California’s 4th District Court of Appeal could stall the already badly delayed project. Comite Civico del Valle and Earthworks charged in a lawsuit a year ago that Imperial County violated the California Environmental Quality Act by approving the project by relying on an environmental impact report that failed to adequately analyze and alleviate impacts, including possible air pollution, hazardous waste and impacts to diminishing county water supply.

Related article:

• Calexico Chronicle (Calif.): Environmental groups appeal approval of Hell’s Kitchen lithium project