20240925_Narrative

SIBELCO
RECEIVED
Sibelco North America, Inc. SEP !5 M2,4
P.O.Box 588•Spruce Pine,NC 28777
(Phone)828/592-2764 DEMLR
September 19,2024
Mr.Adam Parr,State Mining Specialist
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1612
Subject: Request for Modification
Sibelco North America,Inc. -Hawkins Mine,Permit No. 61-04
Spruce Pine,North Carolina,Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Parr:
Sibelco North America, Inc. is requesting that Mining Permit No. 61-04 be modified to
increase the amount of land that can be disturbed by an additional 32 acres. Enclosed please find
the original and 5 (five) copies of an application for the expansion of Sibelco North American,Inc.'s
Hawkins Mine, located in Mitchell County, North Carolina. A permit processing fee of $1000.00 is
included.
The modification request includes expanding the existing Hawkins Approved to Disturb'
boundary to allow expansion of the existing Phase I Mine Waste Disposal Area. The existing
Approved to Disturb' Hawkins Mine Waste Disposal Area is requested to expand to the north to
allow for Phase II of the Disposal Area. A stability analysis titled "Hawkins Slope Stability and
Geotechnical Investigation Report" (March 2024) performed by a licensed North Carolina
Geotechnical Engineer with Geosyntec Consultants is included with this application. Also included
is the "Stormwater Management System Design and Analysis for Hawkins East Disposal Area"
prepared by Geosyntec Consultants. Please note the 14 (fourteen) design drawings by Geosyntec
Consultants are being mailed separately in a tube labeled 2 of 2.
Please note that all stormwater designs and calculations were performed highly
conservatively. The existing sediment structure (HAW3) will be expanded, and the increased size is
designed to handle stormwater for a worse-case scenario, assuming the watershed is entirely
disturbed at once. This is to allow for an undetermined stripping sequence, although the entire
watershed reporting to the structure will never be completely disturbed in its entirety. Additionally,
the basin is designed to not only contain the 10-year 24-hour storm event and pass the 25-yr 24-hr
storm event, but also to pass the 100-yr 24-hr storm events, while utilizing a floating skimmer for
the primary basin decant. For stormwater control design of the disposal area, the addition of
washed stone and riprap prior to each temporary slope drain,in combination with the over-designed
sediment basin,utilizing a floating skimmer while controlling 100-yr 24-hr storm event,well exceeds

Mr.Adam Parr
Page 2 of 3
regulatory requirements. Thus, optimum water quality discharge will be maintained. Final cross
sections are included for the expanded sediment structure as well as the disposal area.
For the proposed Phase II expanded Mine Waste Disposal Area, please know for the past 2
years we have been working with Clearwater Environmental Consultants, Inc. to delineate streams
and wetlands in order to obtain Section 404 Permit and 401 Certification. Jurisdictional
Determination QD) was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a pre-
application meeting was held with multiple agencies. The application for individual permit was
submitted in August 2024.
1 greatly appreciate any help you can provide to expedite review of the permit application as
to issue the mining permit as quickly as possible once the Section 404 Permit and 401 Certification
are issued by USACE and NCDWR.
Once you have received the application package and allowed time for an interim review,
Please advise so we may set up a call to discuss. In the meantime, if you have any questions or
require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at (828) 592-2764 or
Jeff Ferguson Fe=[e-mail].
Sincerely,
OeyFe son,P.E.
Sustainability Manager North America
SIBELCO NORTH AMERICA,INC.
Enclosures