In February 2026, the , located in Clayton Valley , Nevada, successfully completed its federal permitting process. This landmark approval, announced by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council , allows Albemarle Corporation to reconcile and expand existing activities at the only operational domestic lithium production site in the United States .
Beyond Clayton Valley, other major Nevada projects have also secured significant federal approvals: BLM approves lithium exploration project in Clayton Valley
: Formerly known as the Clayton Valley Lithium Project , it was formally designated as a FAST-41 Transparency project in August 2025 . While it has completed all required environmental baseline studies, it is currently advancing through the NEPA permitting process as of early 2026. Other Major Nevada Lithium Projects
: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved this exploration project in April 2025 . The final reclamation permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection became effective on May 31, 2025 . It authorizes exploration wells and baseline monitoring over a 10-year period.
The project was fast-tracked under the federal program, which aims to improve the transparency and speed of environmental reviews for critical infrastructure. Recent Permit Approvals in Clayton Valley