A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting exploratory drilling for a lithium project in Arizona following objections from the Hualapai Tribe. The tribe, represented by environmental groups, has raised concerns about the potential harm to their culturally significant land in the Big Sandy River Basin.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved the drilling project by an Australian mining company, prompting legal action against federal land managers. The tribe alleges violations of the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act in the approval process.
