Nevada

No regulatory ‘shortcuts’ for mining exploration in Nevada

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Press Room

No regulatory ‘shortcuts’ for mining exploration in Nevada

Karl Marlowe
| Reno Gazette Journal

Re: “Lawmakers need statewide lithium plan, says conservation group,” Feb. 20:

As a retired exploration geologist, I’ve noted multiple articles on the recent lithium boom to be misleading. Most recently, the article by the Nevada Current’s Jeniffer Solis presents a very misleading picture of the lithium “boom,” leaving the reader to believe that legislative and regulatory reforms are needed. Although there are certainly places where resource extraction should be prohibited, the vast majority of these are already withdrawn as wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, cultural sites and other off-limits sites.

The article begins by stating that there are more than 80 proposed lithium projects in Nevada, failing to note the status of any project. Currently one new lithium mine is under construction, and one project is in the process of mine permitting. A small number are conducting early-stage drilling under BLM and state permits. Most are simply lithium prospects staked by small companies or individuals. Many never reach the initial drill stage, and very few prove viable beyond initial drilling.

As exploration geologists, we don’t get to choose where a mineral deposit occurs; we follow geological clues to find the very few deposits that can be extracted economically. The Tonopah area is a lithium exploration hot spot due to the favorable geologic environment. The Town of Tonopah was built on silver-gold deposits discovered there in the early 1900s, and this geological environment is also favorable to host other deposits including copper, molybdenum and lithium.

Oversight from multiple agencies

Solis claims that “according to the Association of State Geologists, the United States lacks an effective process for gathering, organizing, compiling or publicly sharing geologic data that would help in the identification of valuable mineral deposits.” While there is much room for improvement, multiple agencies with appropriate expertise are charged with these tasks.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the principle federal agency with that responsibility; Congress recently appropriated funds for that purpose. The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NVBMG) and Nevada Division of Minerals cooperate with the USGS and several State entities (including UNR, UNLV, and DRI) to conduct detailed geologic evaluations which better define prospective areas and historic mine sites for valuable resources (metals, geothermal).

In addition to the geological surveys, the USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada Division of Wildlife are charged with ecosystem management and protection of threatened and endangered species. All of this data is public and available via the UNR library, USGS and NVBMG and other websites. Regulators, mining companies and the general public rely extensively on this data to begin the more rigorous search for resources of interest, in addition to environmental or cultural concerns.

Federal and state permitting begins before the first exploration disturbance can occur. For initial exploration projects with minimal disturbance (less than five acres), this is typically a 15-day review of the project and its potential impacts on biological, cultural and other resources; protective measures are stipulated. If the initial work produces encouraging results, additional permitting requires detailed biological, cultural and other surveys conducted by independent experts. Results of these studies are compiled into environmental assessments or environmental impact statements under the direction of the BLM or U.S. Forest Service and multiple state agencies. Under an exploration plan of operations, disturbance remains limited and timing of activities may also be significantly restricted. These more advanced permits typically require a minimum of 18 months to prepare prior to allowing additional disturbance. Assuming that exploration successfully defines a viable project, mine permitting requires additional studies and review, tacking a minimum of 18-24 months to the timeline for a small, minimal impact operation.

No ‘shortcuts’ exist

Permitting of exploration and mining projects is increasingly difficult throughout the West, due in part to lawsuits filed by activist groups, including Patrick Donnelly’s Center for Biological Diversity. The CBD claims to support domestic mining so long as it is “done in the right places and with the right techniques. We oppose business-as-usual mining, dewatering of open pits, pit lakes, excessive water consumption, extinction of species or severe degradation of habitat, and regulatory shortcuts …”

There are no regulatory “shortcuts.” As noted above, the permitting process begins with identification and avoidance of sensitive areas during exploration and appropriate mitigation prior to mining. Mitigation may include permanent avoidance of certain areas.

A reality check is in order for minerals to drive a “green transition,” as lithium is not the only critical metal needed. Mining of copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese will all need to be dramatically increased as well for production of batteries and other resource intensive items. Ultimately, the solution to determining where responsible mining occurs is through appropriate geological, biological and cultural studies. Appropriate funding and prioritization of the state geological surveys is critical to this objective.

Karl Marlowe is a recently retired mineral exploration geologist and lifelong outdoorsman.

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Nevada

Allegiant Stadium ceremony recognizes 2026 Nevada Youth of the Year

Published

5 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Allegiant Stadium ceremony recognizes 2026 Nevada Youth of the Year

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A special ceremony at Allegiant Stadium recognized Nevada’s Youth of the Year ambassador finalists on Saturday.

Several dignitaries attended the event as a panel of judges listened to speeches from the finalists.

They shared their leadership skills and personal growth within Boys & Girls Clubs around the Silver State.

Youth of the Year is a national competition to honor exemplary teen Club members.

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Luna N. was named Southern Nevada’s Youth of the Year ambassador earlier this year.

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Nevada

EDITORIAL: A gold star for Nevada’s property tax system

Published

17 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

EDITORIAL: A gold star for Nevada’s property tax system

Nevada has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country. That’s an achievement to celebrate, not a problem to fix.

WalletHub recently released a report on property tax rates throughout the country. It found that Nevada’s effective tax rate on property was 0.47 percent. It put the median home price in Nevada at around $435,000. At that 0.47 percent rate, the average annual taxes on a home that price would be just more than $2,000. The only states with lower rates are Hawaii at 0.27 percent and Alabama at 0.38 percent.

Most of Nevada’s neighbors also rank quite well. Arizona comes in fourth. Idaho is seventh, and Utah was ranked 10th. Thanks to California’s Proposition 13 — passed in 1978 to rein in the worst instincts of state politicians — even the Golden State ranks 17th in the country. Oregon ranks 27th.

No one likes paying property taxes, but Nevada’s low rates help families and those on fixed incomes afford their homes. Imagine living in New Jersey. It ranks last with an effective tax rate of 2.11 percent. The median home value in that state is around $455,000. That’s slightly higher than Nevada. But a New Jersey resident with a home of that value can expect to pay more than $9,500 annually in property taxes.

Yes, you read that correctly. A New Jersey resident who owns a median-priced home has to pay the government nearly $10,000 a year. That sounds more like renting from the government than homeownership.

Nevada’s property tax system, however, is subject to regular attacks in the Legislature. Last year, Assembly Democrats overwhelmingly voted for a constitutional amendment to increase property taxes on resold homes. The proposal died after not receiving a vote in the Senate. In 2021, the Nevada Association of Counties proposed a different bill to boost future property tax revenues. It didn’t receive a vote.

It’s true that Nevada’s property tax system is complicated. Determining how much someone pays involves terms such as “taxable value,” “depreciation” and “tax caps.” But the primary motivation of those wishing to change the system doesn’t appear to be simplicity. They clearly want more property tax dollars for governments to spend. Rather than raising taxes, they should promote the construction of more housing, which would drive additional property tax collections.

You don’t have to be able to articulate all the details to realize that Nevada’s property tax system works well. Property owners know there is a limit on how much their taxes can increase. The property tax caps provide government entities a stable source of funding. They even limit how much property tax collections will fall if housing prices drop.

Nevada is on top of a good list. Lawmakers should keep it that way.

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Nevada

Las Vegas woman arrested for alleged SNAP fraud

Published

1 day ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

Las Vegas woman arrested for alleged SNAP fraud

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Governor’s Office has announced the arrest of Mychelle Lay, a Las Vegas woman allegedly involved in the “theft of personal identifying information and trafficking of… SNAP benefits.”

Multiple cases were marked as suspicious by caseworkers with the Nevada Division of Social Services (DSS), and brought to the attention of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. It was at this time, officials said, that they learned Nevada State Police (NSP) were also tracking these activities.

“One of our caseworkers first identified suspicious activity after noticing multiple benefit applications tied to the same address. Most of the applications were submitted online and were processed in accordance with federal eligibility guidelines. As fraud tactics evolve, DSS continues to evaluate additional technology tools to strengthen fraud detection and protect the integrity of these programs.” — Robert Thompson, Nevada DSS administrator

In June, 2025, NSP officers with the Parole and Probation Division held a home contact on Lay, a probationer. They discovered fraudulent activity evidence at that time.

During their investigation, NSP learned that Lay had set up a fake business in December, 2024, that was approved for SNAP/EBT transactions and began to operate in January, 2025.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were processed through this scheme between January and September, 2025, according to financial records. The precise number of individual profiles in connection with the “business” is still unknown.

“While it is concerning to see this level of criminal sophistication, I applaud our state agencies for identifying this potential fraud, launching an investigation, and coordinating with law enforcement and the affected federal agencies. We do not tolerate any level of theft of taxpayer dollars and will continue to work with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.” — Governor Joe Lombardo

In addition to SNAP fraud, NSP’s investigation revealed “a potential fraud connected to Medicaid enrollment.” Officials are working to learn more about this activity.

The Nevada DSS (administrators of SNAP benefits and processors of Medicaid eligibility) shared that they are working closely with law enforcement’s investigation. The Office of the Inspector General and their Social Security Administration department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General are also assisting in this case.

“Fraud of this nature is egregious and diverts critical resources from those who need them the most, and puts responsible recipients of public benefits, like Medicaid and SNAP, at risk. This case of fraud highlights the important need for further modernization of Nevada’s systems and technologies. Many of these efforts are already underway at the Nevada Health Authority in partnership with the Nevada Department of Human Services.” — Ann Jensen, Nevada Medicaid administrator

According to the report, Lay was booked into the Clark County Jail with the following charges:

1 count of theft over $100,000
1 count of fraudulent acts — public assistance
1 count of multiple fraudulent transactions through an enterprise or occupation
11 counts of obtaining or using the ID of another

During the time NSP conducted their home contact, Lay was being supervised for possession of a controlled substance and for obtaining and using the personal identifying information of another.

This investigation is still ongoing. If you believe you might be a victim of identity theft, contact the Division of Social Services by visiting a local office, email welfare@dds.nv.gov, or call 702-486-1646 (Southern Nevada) or 775-684-7200 (Northern Nevada).

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