EL CENTRO — Lithium extraction was at the heart of many discussions by experts, advocates and community stakeholders at the 13th annual Imperial Valley Environmental Health Leadership Summit last week.
The yearly gathering of environmental and social justice leaders, hosted by Comité Civico del Valle, was held at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse in El Centro on Oct. 22 and 23. Over two days, the summit tackled pressing issues impacting the Imperial Valley and beyond, from the effects of climate change on farmworkers to clean energy transitions like Lithium Valley. The event brought together a diverse coalition — including community leaders, scientists and policymakers — to share insights, discuss solutions and draw attention to the need for community-centered approaches to environmental health.
“We’ve had a long year of success,” said Comité Civico Executive Director Luis Olmedo. “We’re very proud to be able to share all this with you.” As participants settled in, Olmedo set a welcoming tone for the summit, describing the event as both a reflection on past accomplishments and a chance to tackle ongoing challenges. Panels throughout the summit sought to address Imperial Valley’s environmental and social issues, ranging from cultural perspectives on environmental protection to pressing questions about Lithium Valley’s impact on local communities and resources.
Wisdom of the Elders
A panel titled “Defenders of Environmental Justice” exemplified the spirit of the summit, bringing together three elders who have dedicated their lives to protection of the land, water and cultural resources. As the Valley prepares for the future of the lithium industry, these panelists shared wisdom and warnings about the potential effects this new opportunity can have on the land.
“The way we’re going, we’re going to set the world off balance,” said Preston Arrow-Weed, elder of the Quechan tribe and founding member of the non-profit Ah-Mut Pipa Foundation.
As a longtime advocate and activist for animals, the environment, the human beings who inhabit this desert region and the sacred lands of the Quechan people, Arrow-Weed sees the current push for lithium extraction as a danger. He implored all those present to take the responsibility of protecting the environment into their own hands.
“Once we were stewards of land. You should become stewards of land, too. To protect it, to do what you can for it,” he said.
Carmen Lucas of the Kwaaymii Laguna Band of Indians shared a similar perspective. She educated listeners on the cultural history of the Valley, sharing stories from her time as a champion for ecological justice. She called out developers and industry practices that, according to Lucas, often disturb animal habitats, plant ecosystems and sacred sites.
“We have artifacts that go back to 9,000 years,” Lucas shared. “One of the things I began to learn is that you industry folks are paving the way for development. You’re acting like archaeologists, and you’d like me to believe you’re scientists, but I began to ask the question: what makes this all right? This is our history. This is the way our people buried our history in the soil so that we’d know about it.”
These longview perspectives anchored much of the education and conversation at the summit. John Hernandez, executive director of Our Roots Multicultural Center, expressed his vision for generational education, sharing his belief that the possibility for sustainable practices in the future depends on educating young people in the present.
“I want us to make sure that people that are coming back to our communities are continuing to become educated, and that they get it,” Hernandez said. “So that’s what I would want to see before I die, that there’s some sustainability for future education. Taking ownership of your communities, not just letting them die. It’s important for the people that lived it long, long before I came, and for the ones that are going to live it, long after I’m gone.”
Lithium Valley Panels
While some panels took a generational perspective, others focused squarely on the immediate challenges brought by lithium development in Imperial County. The “Northend Communities & the Lithium Excise Tax” and “Community Benefit Agreements” panels spoke directly to the present, covering recent developments in the county’s plans for SB 125 Lithium Excise Tax spending and the creation of binding legal agreements between lithium developers and the communities of Imperial County, respectively.
RELATED STORY: Imperial County Board OKs Li Tax, Despite Protests of Residents
When asked about how local elected officials plan to prioritize the distribution of funds generated by the lithium excise tax, Imari Kariotis of the West Shores Advisory Council had strong words for the audience. “I’m going to tell you and everyone in this room, I don’t think they really have a plan,” Kariotis said. “I think it’ll change just like the percentages did. I think that all of us around the sea need to form a commission. We need to be the people who make sure the funding goes where it needs to go.”
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors recently approved its plan to distribute lithium excise tax revenue to the county communities based on population size. Panel members expressed that because the northend communities are much smaller in population size, though much closer to the site of future lithium extraction development, they would be missing out on much needed revenue for mitigation of negative environmental and health impacts, as well as improvements to already failing infrastructure.
This is not the first time criticism has been levied against the Board of Supervisors for its handling of potential SB 125 revenue. “There was a talk about the state taking over at one point,” Kariotis said. “(Assembly member) Eddie Garcia said something last week, and I’m like, that might be the way to have to do it because at least we as communities that are feeling this effect will know that our voices are heard and lifted up, because they’re not at the county level.”
RELATED STORY: Imperial County Lithium Tax Plan Under Fire; Supervisor Responds
While the lithium excise tax remains a hot button issue, organizers on the Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) panel presented a potential solution for collaboration with the major companies investing in lithium extraction at the Salton Sea.
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According to panel moderator Dr. James J.A. Blair, associate professor of anthropology at Cal Poly Pomona, CBAs are contracts made between companies and the communities they impact. They are sometimes enforced by government entities, and sometimes not, and most often provide financial and infrastructure mitigation as well as workforce provisions like local-only hiring and providing a living wage.
“Basically, the CBA process is a process of negotiation where the groups come together to the table and they identify shared goals and try to achieve those goals in some kind of a contract,” Blair said.
The county recently approved its Good Neighbor Community Benefit Agreement program, drawing criticism from community organizations and labor leaders. The panel laid out its ideas for potential agreements, highlighting the necessity for individual contracts with each company, the need for specific environmental mitigation measures, and a focus on local workforce development.
“I would just say, very clearly and directly, that the people who are gathered in this room today absolutely have the power to win transformative community benefits agreements with the three companies that are seeking to do lithium extraction in Imperial County,” said Patrick Dexter for the United Auto Workers union.
Keynote Casts Doubt
Keynote speaker Noemí Gallardo from the California Energy Commission addressed the summit, offering a candid assessment of the hurdles facing Lithium Valley’s development in Imperial County. Gallardo shared insights on the industry’s uphill battle, from funding obstacles to competition from other lithium-rich regions, underscoring the complexities in achieving the envisioned economic impact.
RELATED STORY: CEC Commissioner: Lithium Valley ‘Not A Sure Thing’
Gallardo’s remarks struck a note of caution, reminding attendees that the region’s lithium potential, while promising, remains tied to larger economic and political forces. She pointed to challenges like decreased lithium prices and competition for federal support as factors that could impact the industry’s viability locally.
Before closing the summit with a unity clap — a tradition among activist movements since the Delano Grape Strikes of the late 1960s — Master of Ceremonies Dr. Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez asked the questions the entire summit sought to answer:
“What is the opportunity for our community? What does an equitable economy look like? And how do we bring together developers and industries with the community to work with us?”
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