Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and Environmentalists Sue Over Ash Meadows Drilling

Plaintiffs have asked a federal court to halt exploratory drilling that they say would threaten springs, wetlands and tribal cultural resources near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Amargosa Conservancy filed the suit seeking to vacate Bureau of Land Management approval for St. Cloud Mining’s zeolite exploration project.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and was announced in a press release dated Feb. 4, 2026. Plaintiffs ask the court to overturn the BLM decision and block on-the-ground drilling while legal challenges proceed. The case centers on whether federal review complied with the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act and whether BLM adequately considered environmental harms.

St. Cloud Mining’s plan identified 43 boreholes, each to be drilled to about 200 feet, with company plans cited by plaintiffs estimating the groundwater table at roughly 100 feet. The planned holes lie adjacent to St. Cloud’s existing Ash Meadows mine and close to springs and wetlands that feed into the Amargosa River. Plaintiffs contend that exploratory drilling to those depths risks intersecting groundwater and altering flows that sustain the refuge’s unique ecosystems.

The legal claims in the filing allege that BLM “unlawfully approved” the project and failed to properly consult the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe under the National Historic Preservation Act. Mandi Campbell, the tribe’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, framed the stakes in cultural terms when she said, “The connection our people share with the Amargosa River and its abundant plant and wildlife communities is older than time.” Campbell added, “We have stood tall in the face of mining threats in these lands before, and we’re doing it again.” She urged protection of sacred places and historic resources.

Environmental concerns are equally explicit. Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said, “Ash Meadows is a global biodiversity hot spot, and it’s deeply disturbing that federal officials unlawfully failed to consider how mining exploration would threaten the area’s imperiled species.” Donnelly added, “We’re proud to stand with our Tribal and community partners to stop this dangerous mining project. Ash Meadows is too special to drill.” The complaint alleges threats to multiple imperiled species, including three federally protected plants named in the filing.

This challenge follows earlier fights over mineral development in the area. A proposed lithium mining project in 2023 prompted litigation and protests that led to a revoked authorization, and the area was later withdrawn from new mining claims in early 2025. Plaintiffs also tie the challenged approval to actions taken under a prior administration, asserting BLM’s decision warrants judicial review.

For Nye County residents the dispute is about more than one project. It raises questions about federal land-management decisions, the adequacy of environmental and tribal consultation, and the protection of scarce groundwater that supports wildlife and local cultural practices. The lawsuit could produce a preliminary injunction that stops drilling while courts resolve statutory and procedural issues, or it could set terms for further review of BLM’s decision-making. Local stakeholders and officials will be watching the federal docket and any BLM or company responses as the case moves forward.