The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal LLC (HKG) concerning activities in Imperial County, California, that affected wetlands linked to the Salton Sea. The company conducted dredging and ditching on leased land from the Imperial Irrigation District as part of a lithium extraction and geothermal power project. This work resulted in material discharge into wetlands, leading to water flow changes that impacted about 1,200 acres of wetlands.
As part of the settlement, HKG is required to develop a plan to restore these wetlands. "EPA is committed to our responsibility to enforce environmental law, and to play our role in protecting the Salton Sea, associated wetlands, and all waters of the U.S.,” stated EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. She emphasized the importance of ensuring clean energy projects comply with federal regulations.
Beginning in November 2021, HKG extended drain channels and related structures on nearly 2,000 acres owned by the Imperial Irrigation District. The construction involved ditching and dredging that discharged materials into approximately 27 acres of wetlands and caused water diversion affecting up to 1,200 acres.
Geothermal plants like HKG's project can produce electricity continuously by utilizing heated water beneath the Salton Sea. This process also involves extracting lithium from this water, which is essential for batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.
For more information about environmental laws and regulations or EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region initiatives, visit their enforcement reporting website or connect via social media platforms.
