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1st public hearing held for proposed Piedmont Lithium open-pit mine in Gaston County

There will be two chances to have your voice heard this week.

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources (DEMLR) is holding public hearings this week about the Piedmont Lithium Carolinas mining permit application. 

At this time, the permit for the lithium mining operation in Gaston County is pending. In accordance with The Mining Act, the public hearing must be held by Nov. 30. 

The first information session with DEMLR staff was held at the Gaston County Courthouse Monday night. This meeting was also the first time many families got to meet face-to-face with state regulators to voice their concerns.

“I live within 50 feet of where these pits are going to be and no one has come talked to me, no one has emailed me a letter so I’m kind of angry," neighbor Sandra Foster said.

Based on the permit plans, there will be four mines built across 1500 acres in north Gaston County. Many neighbors fear the mine will contaminate their water supply, pollute surrounding land, and damage their homes' foundations.

Lisa Carpenter Baldwin and her family began organizing neighbors against the mine earlier this summer. 

"Hundreds of homes, businesses and farms are being destroyed by this mine's proposal; that our way of life is being destroyed," Carpenter Baldwin said. "We just want to preserve the land and the water for future generations." 

Piedmont Lithium’s Brian Risinger said they hope the meeting will show the company cares about the community.

"What we really hope is that people see the lengths that we have gone through to make this the safest, most eco-conscious project of its kind in the world," Risinger said. "This county and this country have an opportunity to contribute to protecting and preserving the planet but also creating really good-paying jobs in the process." 

Piedmont Lithium must apply for several other permits, but ultimately it is up to Gaston County commissioners to make the final decision whether or not to approve the project to move forward.

A virtual overflow hearing will also be held on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. by WebEx. 

Speakers are being asked to register in advance for the public hearing and choose either the in-person or virtual hearing date. 

Anyone wishing to speak at either hearing must register by 12:00 p.m. on Monday. To register, click this link or call 919-707-9207.

Below is the information to join virtually on Nov. 18. 

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 a permit. 

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