Mining lithium from the drying Salton Sea could bring jobs and much-needed tax revenue to one of California’s poorest counties, boosters say. But when Imperial County approved permits for a company to do just that, officials failed to thoroughly analyze impacts on nearby communities, two environmental said in a petition filed in Imperial County in March. At a hearing in the case on Thursday, Los Angeles lawyer Jordan Sisson, who’s representing the environmental groups, outlined their concerns over the project. Imperial County used outdated data to determine how much Colorado River water the project would need, Sisson said. He said officials also failed to meaningfully consult locals about the project — and in particular, to ask local Indigenous groups about the impact it would have on sacred sites.