EnergySource Minerals, LLC will develop a robust engineering package and accurate capital budget for a facility that will extract lithium and mineral co-products from geothermal brines using processes and equipment from the water treatment, metal processing and chemical processing industries. An existing Pilot Facility will be used for a small scale demonstration of the extracted lithium product.
Cal Code Regs., tit. 14 sec. 15306 provides that projects that consist of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. In this project, EnergySource Minerals, LLC will develop an integrated engineering design, therefore the project falls within section 15306 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14 sec. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project entails operating an existing pilot facility which consists of minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects of the environment. This project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
