We need you to ATTEND both meetings as the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) has agreed to hold a public hearing on the Piedmont Lithium Carolinas mining permit application on November 15, 2021, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., followed by a virtual overflow hearing on November 18th for those outside our area. YOU MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO 12 PM EST ON NOVEMBER 15th TO SPEAK.
The application for Mining Permit No. 36-35 (Pending) is for a proposed 500' deep 1,500 acre lithium hard rock blasting destructive mining operation in Gaston County that will impact our drinking wells, our streams, our air quality, wildlife, and ultimately the health of our community. The company pushing for this destruction of our community is Piedmont Lithium who is a young junior mining company that has never opened, operated, or more importantly closed such an environmentally impacting mine of any size. We strongly oppose they way they have stolen land from our local farmers over the last 5 years, divided families, have not approached our local officials until July 2021 to outline their intentions for over 1,500 acres, have overstated their approvals and local support, have locked down landowners with long term option agreements to Piedmont's favor while pricing for lithium has increased 3X, and have not treated our citizens fairly. They have the potential to be a terrible neighbor and environmental disaster in our community for the next 20+ years as we can only hope they are around and have funding to clean up the mess they leave behind.
The in-person hearing will be held at the Gaston County Courthouse November 15th in the Harley B. Gaston, Jr., Public Forum on the second floor. An information session, where DEMLR staff will be available to explain the state’s application process and considerations, will be held from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. with the public hearing beginning at 6:30 in the same location.
When: Monday, November 15, 5:30 p.m. Information Session, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Hearing
Where: 325 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Way, Gastonia
Due to significant public interest & opposition, DEMLR will also host a virtual overflow hearing on Thursday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. via WebEx. If registrants are not able to speak during the November 15 hearing, they will be asked to provide comments in writing or to attend the Nov. 18 virtual hearing. Speakers will be asked to register in advance for the public hearing no later than 12 PM Nov 15th, and to choose either the in-person or virtual hearing date.
For the 1,500+ friends who have signed our petition outside NC and who cannot travel to the in person meeting Nov 15th, we ask that you please plan to attend the Nov 18th virtual/online hearing and provide your comments. The Mining Commission needs to hear from you!
Event Title: Piedmont Lithium Carolinas Public Hearing Online
Date and Time: Thursday, November 18, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Webex Link: https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/j.php?MTID=m16a9c3c254010c443da070
Event Password: NCMining (62646464 from phones)
Meeting Number (Access Code): 2429 910 6211
By Phone: +1-415-655-0003 US TOLL | Access code: 242 991 06211
Anyone wishing to speak at either hearing must register by 12:00 p.m. on November 15, 2021. To register, please visit https://forms.office.com/g/xjR07YaPa3 or call 919-707-9207.
The comment period is open through November 26, 2021. Comments can be submitted via email to ncminingprogram@ncdenr.gov with the subject line “Piedmont Lithium,” by leaving a voicemail at 919-707-9207 or by mail to:
Adam Parr
Assistant State Mining Engineer
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
DEQ will consider all public comments and other available information about the permit application before deciding whether to issue the final permit, deny the permit or issue it with amended conditions requiring Piedmont Lithium to resubmit with full and accurate information demonstrating how this proposed mine will not harm our community.
The application, public notice and proposed mine maps can be found online here:
These are the criteria to which DEQ will consider denying the permit that we need your help and expertise as geologists, hydrologists, and environmentalists to speak to:
(1) That any requirement of this Article or any rule promulgated hereunder will be violated by the proposed operation;
(2) That the operation will have unduly adverse effects on potable groundwater supplies, wildlife, or fresh water, estuarine, or marine fisheries;
(3) That the operation will violate standards of air quality, surface water quality, or groundwater quality that have been promulgated by the Department;
(4) That the operation will constitute a direct and substantial physical hazard to public health and safety or to a neighboring dwelling house, school, church, hospital, commercial or industrial building, public road or other public property, excluding matters relating to use of a public road;
(5) That the operation will have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park, forest or recreation area;
(6) That previous experience with similar operations indicates a substantial possibility that the operation will result in substantial deposits of sediment in stream beds or lakes, landslides, or acid water pollution; or
(7) That the applicant or any parent, subsidiary, or other affiliate of the applicant or parent has not been in substantial compliance with this Article, rules adopted under this Article, or other laws or rules of this State for the protection of the environment or has not corrected all violations that the applicant or any parent, subsidiary, or other affiliate of the applicant or parent may have committed under this Article or rules adopted under this Article and that resulted in:
a. Revocation of a permit,
b. Forfeiture of part or all of a bond or other security,
c. Conviction of a misdemeanor under G.S. 74-64,
d. Any other court order issued under G.S. 74-64, or
e. Final assessment of a civil penalty under G.S. 74-64, [or]
f. Failure to pay the application processing fee required under G.S. 74-54.1.
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Email us at: stoppiedmontlithium@gmail.com