Silver Peak Lithium Mine Project Completes Federal Permitting
Contact Information
Permitting Council Press Office (media@permitting.gov)
WASHINGTON (February 27, 2026) – The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is pleased to announce the completion of federal permitting for the Silver Peak Lithium Mine. Posted to the FAST-41 Transparency Dashboard in response to Executive Order 14241, the mining project is the only operational domestic production of lithium in the nation, making it an important contributor to meet U.S. lithium demands.
“The Silver Peak Lithium Mine marks the 10th FAST-41 mining project to complete federal permitting since the start of the Trump Administration,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “We’re showing that transparency and coordination works, allowing us to move critical projects through permitting more efficiently than ever.”
Located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, the Silver Peak Lithium Mine sought federal permitting approval to reconcile existing mining activities and expand operations of the active lithium mine. Operational since the 1960s, the Silver Peak Lithium Mine has operated its lithium extraction operation since its inception. The lithium produced at Silver Peak helps meet demand for battery production, life-saving equipment used by NASA and the U.S. Navy, building products (cement, tile, mortar), steel and welding.
“As the only active lithium mine in the United States, Silver Peak remains an essential asset for America's domestic lithium supply chain. Federal approval of this project supports Albemarle's efforts to expand the facility’s production capacity and enhance efficiency,” said Chris Danauskas, Vice President of Manufacturing Excellence for Albemarle Corporation. “We are proud of our years-long collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management and their steadfast support along with that of the Permitting Council, and the National Energy Dominance Council.”
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management led federal permitting for this project. Albemarle Corporation is the project sponsor. Learn more on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
About the Permitting Council and FAST-41
Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) is a federal agency charged with improving the transparency and predictability of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain critical infrastructure projects. The Permitting Council is composed of the Permitting Council Executive Director, who serves as the Council Chair; 13 federal agency Council members; and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Office of the Executive Director coordinates federal environmental reviews and authorizations for projects that seek and qualify for FAST-41 coverage, which are in turn entitled to comprehensive permitting timetables and transparent, collaborative management of those timetables on the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
Learn more about the Permitting Council at permitting.gov.
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Last Updated: Friday, February 27, 2026