The Applicant recently proposed changes to the project including construction of a new permanent access road, well pad, and injection well in an entirely new footprint, resulting in the loss of approximately 12 additional acres of aquatic resources. USACE must thoroughly evaluate and address the new activities, including the potential associated impacts on federally listed species, proposed compensatory mitigation, and evaluation of cultural and tribal resources.
Additionally, since the Applicant substantially modified the reasonably foreseeable impacts to aquatic resources from those described in the original public notice, USACE determined a new public notice is necessary for proper evaluation of the proposal. To complete the public notice, USACE requested additional information required by regulation. The Applicant stated they will provide the information on November 5, 2025. Once received and determined complete, USACE will issue a public notice describing the modified proposal.
California
Milestones:
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
11/20/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Mining
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
The Hell’s Kitchen Critical Minerals & Power Project will convert geothermal brine into steam to generate electrical energy. The power plant will use the geothermal brine to produce electrical power from its steam and the direct lithium extraction plant will convert the dissolved lithium into battery-grade lithium hydroxide and/or lithium carbonate for the battery industry. The Project is located southeast of the Salton Sea, Calipatria, California.
The Executive Director granted a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers request to extend completion dates for all actions on October 10, 2025. The Executive Director Determination is posted here.
Original Target Date: 07/15/2026
Milestone: Section 106 consultation concluded (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
Section 106 consultation concluded (Agency Action) extended by 62
From: 07/15/2026
To: 09/15/2026