Geothermal Brine Pretreatment and Metal Recovery
5 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022030704
Lead Agency
Imperial County
Document Title
Geothermal Brine Pretreatment and Metal Recovery
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
6/18/2025
Document Description
The Energy Commission has considered relevant CEQA documents including the Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Determination as prepared by the lead agency (Imperial County). The County approved Conditional Use Permits No. 21-0020 and 21-0021, on January 23, 2024. On March 17, 2025, the Energy Commission approved a grant to Material Research LLC to develop a geothermal brine treatment process based on metal sulfide precipitation. This new process will remove interfering minerals to enable direct lithium extraction and allow the recovery of valuable critical minerals like zinc and manganese from the geothermal brine.
Contact Information
Name
Chuck Gentry
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Mechanical Engineer
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Name
Jim Minnick
Agency Name
Imperial County Planning & Development Services
Job Title
Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Anoop Nagar
Agency Name
Materials Research LLC
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Calipatria
Counties
Imperial
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
R. Lateral
Zip
92233
State Highways
111
Waterways
Salton Sea
Other Information
7903 Davis Road, Calipatria
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
California Energy Commission
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Imperial
Final Environmental Document Available at
https://www.energy.ca.gov/files/march-17-2025-business-meeting-backup-materials
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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