CA AB208

Creates Lithium Subaccount within Salton Sea Restoration Fund to fund restoration projects, operations and maintenance, and community engagement grants at the Salton Sea using revenues from lithium extraction tax.

Imposes lithium extraction excise tax beginning January 1, 2023 at tiered rates ($400-$800 per metric ton of lithium carbonate equivalent) with 80% distributed to counties and 20% to Lithium Subaccount.

Expands definition of "mining operation" to include extraction of minerals from geothermal brine and applies existing gold/silver mining fees ($5 per ounce gold, $0.10 per ounce silver) to geothermal mineral extraction operations.

Allows revenues from geothermal resource leases and royalties to be used for lithium extraction projects and mineral recovery from geothermal brines in disadvantaged communities.

Appropriates $5,000,000 to County of Imperial for environmental review, community engagement ($3.85M), grants to community organizations ($800,000), and ombudsperson position ($350,000) related to geothermal and lithium development.