LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) — The Department of Interior has announced a two-year pause on new mining claims near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
In addition to the pause, officials say they will also launch a public process to review a 20-year withdrawal of the land from mining claims to protect it from further pollution.
“This is a historic day for Ash Meadows and the entire Amargosa River watershed,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity and a longtime local resident. “Ash Meadows is the crown jewel of the Mojave Desert and mining pollution doesn’t belong anywhere near this ecosystem. With these protections in place it’ll remain a vibrant oasis for the many plants and animals whose survival depends on this beautiful place.”
Ash Meadows has been identified as one of the most biodiverse places in North America, including over two dozen species of aquatic plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. These include the Devil’s Hole Pupfish.
The campaign for mineral withdrawal began in 2023, when local opposition to a Canadian mining company started a movement to withdraw mining from the area altogether. The campaign was launched by the Amargosa Conservancy, and supported by the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, the town advisory boards in the communities of Amargosa Valley and Beatty, and the Nye County Commission.
“This withdrawal is an important tool to stop the proliferation of mining claims near Ash Meadows,” said Donnelly. “But our work here is far from over. With hundreds of existing mining claims surrounding the refuge, we’ll remain vigilant with our attorneys on call in case another operation like Rover Metals tries mining here. We’ll be watching, and we’ll be ready.”
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