RGJ opinion piece by Robson, author and "activist": Lithium mining might charge Nevada’s economy, but it will destroy the environment (msn.com)

RGJ opinion piece by Miller, retired Professor of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno:  Opinion: Thacker Pass lithium mine important for Nevada, US and the world | Miller (rgj.com)

Robson: "Pat Hickey writes that he finds it “ironic that certain environmental activists are opposing the mining of lithium in Nevada.” I would be one of those activists, and I do indeed oppose mining lithium in Nevada, or anywhere else for that matter. I oppose mining in general."

Dr. Miller:  "Few could rationally argue that climate is not a critical environmental problem facing the world. As a faculty member of UNR for over 40 years, I have taught environmental science courses that have focused on the evolving threats of climate change. But I have also been concerned about the impacts of mining and co-founded a Nevada-based environmental organization concerned about mining. This group has done important work holding the powerful accountable and giving a voice to environmental, Native American, and scientific community representatives to ensure environmental justice.

But now, this group, allied with other organized groups based outside of Nevada, including a self-described “radical environmental“ group, are dead wrong on their opposition to a lithium extraction project in Northern Nevada. The Thacker Pass mine will produce the lithium critical to battery production for automobiles that use electricity for transportation rather than carbon-based fuels and provide a major contribution to reducing the impacts of climate change."

" For the Thacker Pass mine, for example, the impacts will be substantially less than effectively all gold mines of its size. In fact, as a critic of the mining industry for 40 years, this mine is the most benign mine I have examined."

"Unlike gold mines, the Thacker Pass mine will have no long-term contaminated drainage from heaps, no potential for acidic drainage, no pit lakes and will have a concurrent partial pit refill reclamation plan. The Thacker Pass mine will use approximately 2,500 acre-feet of water each year, but those water rights have been purchased from agricultural use, so that groundwater withdrawal from the Quinn River Valley will not increase, compared to past years."

Elizabeth Robson's background:  Author and "environmental activist".

Dr. Glenn Miller's background: Emeritus Professor and Co-Chair of Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, UC Santa Barbara.  PhD. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, UC Davis.

Professor Miller's earlier opinion piece back on 20 July 2021 in the Sierra Nevada Ally:

The Thacker Pass Mine is Indeed Benign, Compared to Most Gold and Copper Mines in Nevada - Sierra Nevada Ally

Ok, take a look at the "Opinion" of both of these individuals, consider their individual background regarding the subject matter (LAC's proposed Thacker Pass Project) and decide who has the stronger argument.

I tried to find out more about the background of Elizabeth Robson, but I ran itno several different Elizabeth Robsons in that search and could not clearly identify anything more about her.  I would be interested in finding more specifics about her expertise, real or imagined, in the field of Environmental Science.  If anyone has anymore information in that regard then please share it here on this forum.  I would definitely like to see a clearer contrast between the two backgrounds involved in these two divergent opinions. 

Thanks!

Okiedo