Federal leaders talk to community near the Salton Sea about lithium extraction
Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz toured the Salton Sea area along with Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva.
Grijalva is currently the ranking member of the House Committee of Natural Resources. The committee has jurisdiction over bodies of water and natural resources such as lithium.
The Salton Sea alone has the estimated potential to provide 40 percent of the lithium used by the world.
"I wanted him to see firsthand the end here from the communities, local communities, who work around the Salton Sea in order to continue the momentum and building the plan necessary for the investments in working with the Salton Sea and the lithium valley economy that we're producing
Ruiz says that the economic impact of the lithium valley will positively benefit the community.
Some community members say they continue to worry about the long-term impacts this could have on their health. Leaders say they will ensure that whatever process is happening will be in the cleanest form.
News Channel 3 Morning Anchor Angela Chen took a deeper look at the lithium potential, or white gold rush, in the Salton Sea area in her award-winning series "Trouble Waters: The Salton Sea Project."
Check Out: The ‘White Gold Rush’ at Salton Sea is slow going but holds major lithium pay dirt
