Long Valley Mining

Earlier this week, a federal appeals court issued its opinion reversing the decision of a lower court that would have allowed exploratory drilling at Hot Creek. In their 2021 lawsuit, conservation groups, including Friends of the Inyo, said the Forest Service’s use of two categorical exclusions, rather than more detailed environmental review, effectively ignored the mining project’s effects on Bi-state sage grouse in the area, as well as the potential harm to nearby Hot Creek where endangered Owens tui chub live. This is a big victory! Read all about it in our media release.