KMM Mine Permit Application Cover Letter_09202024_FINAL

4250 Congress Street
Suite 900
Charlotte, North Carolina 28209
980-299-5700 A\\ Albemarle
September 20, 2024
Adam Parr
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Attn: Mining Program
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699
Subject: Kings Mountain Lithium Mine Project, North Carolina Mining Permit Application
Dear Mr. Parr:
Please find one original signed North Carolina Mining Permit Application enclosed for the
proposed Kings Mountain Lithium Mine (Project), with one additional hard copy. 4 hard drives
containing the complete application package files are also provided. The North Carolina Mining
Permit Application form for the Project, an associated supplemental report document, and a full
list of appendices is attached to this letter.
Please note the appendices are complex in structure; accordingly, a "roadmap" document is
provided in the supplemental report (immediately following the Table of Contents) to assist in
identification and navigation.
Per discussions with the North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
(DEMLR) on August 14, 2024, the proposed Project can be authorized through the issuance of
a Permit Modification Application. A check for the modified mine application fee of$1,000 is also
attached.
Albemarle U.S., Inc. (Albemarle) currently operates a lithium compound and metal production
facility (Kings Mountain Facility) at the legacy Kings Mountain Mine (KMM) (legacy mine)
located in the city of Kings Mountain in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Cleveland County is
approximately 30 miles west of Charlotte. The Project will consist of reopening the legacy mine
to produce spodumene concentrate from the spodumene ore to be extracted by deepening and
widening an existing, inactive open pit.
Albemarle currently holds two mine permits at the KMM, Permit 23-01 (East Mine Permit) and
Permit 23-34 (West Mine Permit), although no active mining is currently occurring. Albemarle is
requesting approval for a major modification to initiate hardrock mining and ore processing at
the facility, with subsequent release of Permit 23-34 (the requested major modification of
Permit 23-01 subsumes the area of Permit 23-34). Project specific details are contained within
https://www.albemarle.com

September 20,2024
Page 2
this application, supplemental report, and associated appendices. The permit release form is
also included in this application; however, we anticipate the release from Permit 23-34 would
occur after and only if the modification to Permit 23-01 is approved. A partial release of Permit
23-01 is also forthcoming to remove the existing production facilities, Albemarle Global
Technology Center for Research and Development, and Duke Energy substation, which totals
60.48 acres.
The Project will include the construction of infrastructure and service facilities, related
impervious areas located at the north and south site entrances, access and haul roads, and
associated stormwater management systems on 1,083.43 acres of previously disturbed and
undisturbed land.
While Albemarle understands that normally the need for a public hearing is determined by
DEMLR based on volume and type of comments received from the public, we would like to
respectfully request that DEMLR schedule a public hearing on this application to provide
certainty of the date and to avoid potential conflicts with the upcoming holiday season so
community members have the greatest opportunity to attend.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or need additional
information. On behalf of Albemarle, our team is looking forward to working with you during the
permitting process.
Sincerely,
J?nKuhn
Mine Environmental Permitting Lead
Enclosure:
Permit Application
North Carolina Mine Permit Supplemental Report: Kings Mountain Lithium Mine Project
Appendix A Mine and Reclamation Maps
Appendix B Permit Release Form
Appendix C Design Sheets

September 20, 2024
Page 3
Appendix D 2022 Prefeasibility Study— Hydrogeology Study and Groundwater Modeling
Appendix E Water Supply Well Mitigation Plan
Appendix F Stormwater Management Plans and Erosion and Sediment Control Plans
Appendix G Geotechnical Stability Reports, Calculations, and Cross-Sections
Appendix H 2O23 Prefeasibility Study— Baseline Geochemical Characterization (Abridged)
Appendix I Abridged Engineering Design Reports
Appendix J Safety Data Sheets
Appendix K 2023 Prefeasibility Study: Surface Water—Water Balance Development Report
Appendix L Federally and State-Listed Species Report
Appendix M Letter from City of Kings Mountain on Sewer Availability
Appendix N Visual Impact Assessment Report
Appendix O Conceptual Closure Plan
Appendix P Cross-Sections
Appendix Q Groundwater and Surface Water Sampling and Analysis Program for the Kings
Mountain Mining Project
Appendix R Albemarle Kings Mountain Mine— Blasting Impact Study
Appendix S Landowner Notifications