HomeMy WebLinkAboutKMM_NC Mine Application_09202024_FINAL NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
NOTE: It is recommended that you contact the appropriate Regional Office or the Raleigh Central Office for a PRE-
APPLICATION MEETING to discuss your intentions and address any questions.
1. Name of Mine Kings Mountain Mine
County Cleveland River Basin Broad River Basin
Latitude(decimal degrees to four
places) 35.2233
Longitude(decimal degrees to four
places) -81.3535
2. Name of Applicant Albemarle U.S., Inc.
Applicant Contact John Kuhn Consultant Contact Wendy Conn
Applicant Email john.kuhn@albemarle.com Consultant Email wendy.conn@erm.com
Telephone 704-734-2708 Telephone 813-357-3888
Cell Phone 704-231-4208 Cell Phone 941-544-8848
Permanent Address for Receipt of 348 Holiday Inn Drive, Kings Mountain, North Carolina 28086
3. Official Mail"
348 Holiday Inn Drive, Kings Mountain, North Carolina 28086
4. Mine Office Address
5. Mine Manager Kim Hackney
Mine Manager Email kim.hackney@albemarle.com
Telephone Cell Phone 804-512-1946
1 certify that all details contained in this permit application are true and correct to the best of our knowledge.We
fully understand that any willful misrepresentation of facts will be cause for permit revocation.
Signature' Date
Print Name Christopher Danauskas
Title Site Director— Kings Mountain
*This will be the name that the mining permit will be issued to and the name that must be indicated on the reclamation bond(security)that
corresponds to this site.
**The Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources must be notified of any changes in the permanent address or telephone number.
***Signature of company officer required.
G.S.74-51 provides that the Department shall grant or deny an application for a permit within 60 days of receipt of a complete
application or, if a public hearing is held,within 30 days following the hearing and the filing of any supplemental information
required by the Department.All questions must be addressed,and all required maps provided before this application can
be considered complete.Attach additional sheets as needed.
Revised September 21,2021 1
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
NOTE:All the following questions must be thoroughly answered regarding your mining operation for the intended
life of the mine.All responses must be clearly conveyed on a corresponding,detailed mine map.
A.GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MINE
1. Answer all the following that apply:
❑ This is an application for a NEW permit.
Indicate the total acreage at the site to be covered by the permit
(This is the acreage the new permit fee will be based upon.)
Of this acreage,how much is owned and how much is leased?
Acres owned: Acres leased:
Property owner if leased:
0 This is an application for a MODIFICATION to a mining permit.
Mining Permit Number: 23-01 and 23-34 Total permitted acreage: 771.70
Does the modification involve acreage within the previously approved permitted boundary?
DYES ❑NO
If yes,indicate the acreage to be covered by this modification 771.70
Does the modification involve acreage outside the previously approved permitted boundary?
0 YES ❑NO
If yes,indicate the additional acreage to be covered by this modification 311.73
NOTE:You must complete all of Section F of this application form entitled Notification of Adjoining
Landowners
Of the acreage to be added to the permit,will any portion be affected(i.e.:disturbed,ground cover
removed)by the mining operation?
0 YES ❑ NO
If yes,indicate the acreage to be affected within the acreage to be added to the permit 1,083.43
The modification fee is based upon the proposed new affected acreage within the previously
approved permitted boundary plus the proposed total acreage to be added outside the previously
approved permitted boundary.
❑ This is an application for TRANSFER of a mining permit.
Mining Permit Number: Total permitted acreage:
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
MINING FEE SCHEDULE
A nonrefundable permit application processing fee when filing for a new mining permit,permit modification,or transferred permit is
required as follows:
APPLICATION TYPE 0—25 ACRES 26+ACRES
New Permit Applications $3,750.00 $5,000.00
Permit Modifications $750.00 $1,000.00
Permit Transfers $100.00 $100.00
Annual Operating Fee $400.00 $400.00
Acres for new permits means the total acreage at the site to be covered by the permit.Acres for modification of permits means the
new affected acres within the previously approved permitted boundary plus the proposed total acreage to be added outside the
previously approved permitted boundary.
2. Name of all materials mined: Spodumene -a lithium-bearing ore
3. Mining Method:
❑ Hydraulic Dredge Front-end Loader&Truck Shovel&Truck
❑ Dragline&Truck ❑ Self-loading Scraper Excavator&Truck
XJ Other(please explain): Open pit
4. Expected maximum depth of mine(feet)The early pit phases will advance the depth of the legacy open pit to
approximately 450 feet below grade and push back the east wall toward its final position. The final pit phase
will comprise a pushback to form the west wall crest and advance the pit floor to an elevation of 285 feet
below grade. The overall slope heights will range from 650 feet(east wall)to 705 feet(west wall).
Depth is relative to what benchmark?(e.g.,natural ground level,mean seal level,road elevation,etc.):
Above mean sea level
Expected average depth of mine(feet) 195 feet above mean sea level
5. Has an area at this site been mined in the past?
YESL NO
If yes,when and by whom was this activity conducted? Foote Mineral Company, 1950s-1980s
6. Estimated life of the operation(years): 9.4
NOTE:The Department may request clarification on how life of mine was calculated.
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
B. MAPS
1. Clearly mark and label the location of your mining operation on six(6)copies of a 7.5-minute quadrangle and a county
highway map.These maps,in addition to six(6)copies of all mine maps and reclamation maps, must be submitted
with each permit application.
7.5-minute quadrangles may be obtained from the N.C.Geological Survey:
Mailing Address Physical Address
1612 Mail Service Center 512 N.Salisbury St.,5t"Floor
Raleigh,NC 27699-1612 Raleigh,NC 27604
Http://Portal.ncdenr.org/web/Ir/geological home (919)733-2423
County highway maps may be obtained from the N.C.Department of Transportation:
Mailing Address Physical Address
NCDOT GIS Unit NCDOT GIS Unit
1587 Mail Service Center 3401 Carl Sandburg Court
Raleigh,NC 27699-1587 Raleigh,NC 27610
http://www.ncdot.rg/iVgis (919)212-6000
2. A table/chart must be provided on the mine map that clearly lists the approximate acreage of tailings/sediment ponds,
stockpiles,waste piles, processing areas/haul roads,mine excavations and any other major aspect of the mining
operation that is proposed to be affected/disturbed during the life of the mining permit.A table/chart similar to the
following will be acceptable:
AFFECTED ACREAGE TABLE:
For new permits,complete only the total affected acreage column.
For modifications,complete all columns.
CATEGORY CURRENT AFFECTED PROPOSED CHANGE TO TOTAL AFFECTED
ACREAGE AFFECTED ACREAGE ACREAGE
Tailings/Sediment Ponds 7.00 13.43 6.43
Stockpiles 16.55 68.01 51.46
Waste piles 0 127.72 127.72
Processing Areas/Haul Roads 0 208.79 208.79
Mine Excavations 91.43 140.32 48.89
Other(Please explain) 16.72 76.43 59.71
Total Affected Acreage 131.70 634.70 503.00
Total Permitted Acreage 263.40 1,269.40 1,006.00
"Other" includes buildings, dewatering storage area, Water Storage Basin 1 (WSB-1), inundation area, and ground
disturbance areas.
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
3. Mine maps must be accurate and appropriately scaled drawings,aerial photographs,or enlarged topographic maps of
the entire mine site.All aspects of the mine site must be clearly labeled on the maps along with their
corresponding(approximate)acreage.Thus,all mine and reclamation maps must denote those activities that
are intended to be conducted during the life of the mining permit.All maps must be of a scale sufficient to clearly
illustrate the following,at a minimum:
a) Property lines of the tract or tracts of land on which the proposed mining activity is to be located including
easements and rights-of-way.
b) Existing or proposed permit boundaries with geographic controls(e.g.,metes and bounds,coordinates)labeled
c) Initial and ultimate limits of clearing and grading
d) Outline and width of all buffer zones(both undisturbed and unexcavated)
e) Outline and acreage of all pits/excavations
f) Outline and acreage of all stockpile areas
g) Outline and acreage of all temporary and/or permanent overburden disposal areas
h) Location and acreage of all processing plants(may be described as to location and distance from mine if
sufficiently far removed)
i) Locations and names of all streams,rivers,and lakes
j) Outline and acreage of all settling and/or processing wastewater ponds
k) Outline and acreage of all planned and existing access roads and on-site haul roads
1) Location of planned and existing on-site buildings
m) Location and dimensions of all proposed sediment and erosion control measures
n) Location of 100-year floodplain limits and wetland boundaries
o) Names of owners of record,both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit
boundary;if an adjoining tract is owned or leased by the applicant or is owned by the lessor of the mine tract,
names of owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts that are within 1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary
must be provided on the mine map.
p) Names of owners of record, both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit
boundary which lie directly across and are contiguous to any highway,creek,stream,river,or other watercourse,
railroad track,or utility or other public right-of-way. If an adjoining tract is owned or leased by the applicant or is
owned by the lessor of the mine tract, names of owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts,that are within
1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary,must be provided on the mine map(s).NOTE:"Highway"means a road
that has four lanes of travel or less and is not designated as an Interstate Highway.
q) Map legend
1) Applicant name 5) Scale
2) Mine name 6) Symbols used and corresponding names
3) North arrow 7) Date prepared and revised
4) County 8) Name and title of person preparing map
Map scales should meet the following guidelines:
PERMITTED ACREAGE MAP SCALE
0—49 acres 1"=50'
50—199 acres 1"= 100'
200+acres 1"=200'
NOTE:Smaller scaled maps may be acceptable if they clearly illustrate the above items.
NOTE: In addition to the above,the maps must also include any site-specific information that is provided in
the answers to the following questions(italicized questions/statements)in this application form.This
application will not be considered complete without all relevant items being adequately addressed on the mine
maps.
Revised September 21,2021 1 5
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
C.PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
1. Describe in detail the sequence of events for the development and operation of the mine and reference the sequence
to the mine map(s).Attach additional sheets as needed.
Albemarle U.S., Inc. (Albemarle)currently operates lithium compound and metal production facilities within a 16-
acre fenced area of the former mining site. The existing lithium compound production facilities receive raw
materials from other Albemarle properties or external suppliers and do not have the specialized equipment
required to extract lithium compounds from the mine product (spodumene concentrate). Thus, although the
existing plant will coexist with the mine, there will be no interdependence or relationship between the two distinct
facilities.
Albemarle currently holds two North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) mine permits:
KMM 23-01 (East Mine Permit) and 23-34 (West Mine Permit). Albemarle also requests to be completely
released from Permit 23-34, as the requested modification to Permit 23-01 subsumes the area included in Permit
23-34. The applicant anticipates the requested permit releases to occur after, and only if, modification to Permit
23-01 is approved.
This permit application requests to reopen the existing Kings Mountain spodumene mine or Kings Mountain Mine
(KMM), which ceased operations in the early 1990s, and re-establish production of spodumene concentrate to
meet current and expected demands for lithium (Project). The Project will consist of three primary stages:
construction, operations, and post-closure/final reclamation.
Proposed key features that will either remain in place with modifications, or will be newly added include:
• Growth media storage (GMS) area
• Expanded existing open pit
• Run-of-mine (ROM) pad
• Rock storage facilities (RSFs) (RSF-W, RSF-X, RSF-A)
• Overburden storage facilities (OSFs) (OSF-1, OSF-2, OSF-3)
• Water treatment plant(WTP)
• Water storage basin (Water Storage Basin 1 [WSB-1])
• Collection and sediment ponds
• Concentrator plant
• Crushing and screening circuit
• Plant feed stockpile
• Dense media storage (DMS) circuit
• Grinding circuit
• Covered conveyor system
• Non-process infrastructure (NPI) areas
• Haul roads
The Project has been designed to be constructed, operated, and closed in a specific sequence over defined
periods of time, as represented in life of mine (LOM)sequence mine maps and Table 4 of the attached
supplemental report. This permit application requests approval for activities that commence at the construction
phase, which is from Mining Year-2.5 through end of Mining Year 0. Construction of the facilities will begin in
Mining Year-2.5. Initial mining of the open pit will begin in Mine Year 0 and ramp up over time, using
conventional drill, blast, and load mining methods. During the LOM, (Mine Years 0 through 9.4), 24,505,000 tons
of ore will cumulatively be hauled to the ROM pad;17,183,000 tons of non-potentially acid generating (non-PAG)
rock and overburden to RSF-A; 10,563,000 tons of PAG rock to RSF-X; and 41,560,000 tons of aggregate rock
offsite for commercial use.
Prior to construction activities, vegetation will be cleared, and growth media salvaged and stored in the GMS.
Diversion ditches will be installed to intercept non-contact surface water drainage and convey it to existing
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 16
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
drainage outlets. Silt fences, or other best management practices (BMPs) and erosion control measures, will be
installed downstream to prevent release of sediment to the environment and to control surface and stormwater
runoff. BMPs will be maintained on a schedule to achieve performance expectations.
The generalized sequence of construction activities will be as follows:
• Implement erosion and sediment (E&S)control measures (see sequence of BMP installation details in
Section C.3.(A) below).
• Execute clearing and grubbing activities—stockpile vegetation and soil separately in designated areas.
• Build vegetated berms and establish buffer zones.
• Develop access roads, temporary site service roads, and laydown areas.
• Excavate unsuitable saprolite and overburden beneath facilities where required.
• Remove legacy tailings and embankment materials within the RSF-X excavation footprint and construct the
liner.
• Begin movement of bulk waste rock filling areas on the north side of the interstate between Kings Creek and
for other facility locations.
• Commence grading to bulk cut and fill requirements. Place fill and install permanent drainage systems and
erosion control structures (ROM pad wall).
• Develop utilities infrastructure.
• Develop permanent haul roads.
• Initiate development mining in the open pit.
• Construct permanent infrastructure.
The generalized sequence of operation activities will be as follows:
• The open pit footprint will be expanded by drilling and blasting. Ore will be hauled by truck to the ROM pad
before being fed to the concentrator plant.
• Potentially acid generating (PAG) material generated during initial mining operations (beginning in Mining
Year 0)will be stored in RSF-W, which will be located within the open pit, until RSF-X is built(approximately
2 years) and ready to accept waste rock. RSF-X and associated collection ponds will be underlain with a
high-density polyethylene liner(HDPE)for the protection of groundwater.
• Non-PAG material and some DMS rejects will be permanently stored within RSF-A.
• Ore from the ROM pad will be fed through a three-stage (primary, secondary, and tertiary)crushing system.
Ore leaving the tertiary crusher will be conveyed to the plant ore stockpile located next to the process plant.
• The process plant is a DMS and flotation facility that utilizes a water process to separate and refine the ore.
• The DMS circuit will also produce coarse spodumene that will be dried prior to a final dry magnetic
separation stage to produce a final coarse spodumene concentrate.
• The wet grinding circuit will include a ball mill to reduce the crushed ore slurry to a final milled product size
Pso of 212 microns (0.0212 centimeters) prior to reporting to flotation.
• Flotation circuits for mica and spodumene will produce spodumene concentrate.
• Spodumene concentrate will be conveyed from the concentrator plant to the concentrate load out facility and
transported offsite by rail.
• Filtered non-PAG mica and spodumene tailings generated from the concentrator plant operations will be
conveyed to the tailings loadout facility and loaded onto trucks to be transported offsite to the Archdale
Tailings Storage Facility(TSF)for permanent storage.
• Commercially valuable, non-spodumene-bearing material will be transported to the Martin Marietta mine for
sale.
More detailed construction and operational sequencing, as well as temporary and permanent BMP sequencing
ii included in the attached supplemental report.
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 17
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
2. Describe specific erosion control measures to be installed prior to land disturbing activities and during mining to
prevent offsite sedimentation(include specific plans for sediment and erosion control for mine excavation(s), waste
piles,access/mine roads, and process areas),and give a detailed sequence of installation and schedule for
maintenance of the measures.Locate and label all sediment and erosion control measures on the mine map(s)and
provide typical cross-sections/construction details of each measure. Engineering designs and calculations are required
to justify the adequacy of any proposed measures.
Specific E&S plans have been developed to prevent offsite sedimentation during construction and operations.
The E&S plans include appropriate BMPs that were selected based on engineered designs and calculations that
comply with the specific requirements of the North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission's Erosion and
Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual(2013). The attached supplemental report and associated mine
maps include specific plans for mine excavations, waste piles, access/haul roads, and process areas.
A preliminary site-specific construction and operational erosion control plan and grading plan have been
attached as an appendix to the supplemental report. As part of new site construction and commissioning, design
and operational details will be used to prepare a stand-alone E&S control plan tailored to the final site conditions.
Both temporary and permanent controls have been included in the E&S plan to be implemented at different
phases.
Installation of stormwater controls will coincide with construction over the course of 2.5 years. The drainage
areas and stormwater management controls are presented as Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Construction
Stormwater Management Plan and Report, which is appended to the supplemental report. Phase 1 (initial)
construction will commence at LOM -2.5 years, continue for approximately 9 months, and include earthmoving
and disturbance activities. Phase 2 will begin directly following completion of Phase 1 and include both
temporary and operational stormwater management facilities.
Temporary E&S controls will be implemented during different Project phases and may be used during one or
more phase. These temporary controls will be removed when no longer needed.
Temporary Controls—Construction
During the construction phase, controls will include but are not limited to:
• Silt and sediment fences
• Rock construction entrances
• Diversion berms
• Compost filter socks
• Erosion control blankets
• Pumps/ pumped water filter bags
• Temporary sediment ponds
• Temporary seeding
• Sediment basin outlet skimmers
Temporary Controls—Operations
During the operations phase, temporary controls may include the same controls used during construction, and
will also include but are not limited to:
• Pit perimeter ponds
• Rock dam sediment trap
• Grass-lined channels
• Paved flumes
Permanent Controls
The various E&S control measures to be used during operations include:
• Sediment control ponds
• Grass-lined channels
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 8
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
• Permanent stormwater diversion channels
• Riprap-lined channels
• Outlet protection level spreader(s)
Closure
As part of closure, controls will include but are not limited to:
• Surface grading;
• Surface topsoiling, roughening, and revegetation; and
• Riprap-lined channels.
3. A)Will the operation involve washing the material mined,recycling process water,or other wastewater handling?
ZYES F ]NO
If yes,briefly describe all such processes including any chemicals to be used.
Water combined with other chemicals and reagents will be used throughout the majority of the concentrator
facility which is described in detail in the supplemental report. Material extracted from the mine will undergo
several initial mechanical size reduction and separation steps that mostly do not involve the use of water. The
DIMS ore-sorting circuit will use a mixture of water and ferrosilicon and magnetite that will be pumped to a dense
media cyclone, which will separate particles based on their density relative to the specific gravity cutoff criteria
(see additional descriptions of this DIMS process and the process flow sheet in the supplemental report in
Section "Proposed Features").
After the crushing, grinding, and ore separation circuits, ore will be processed further in a concentrator facility,
which will achieve additional separation of ore from other materials in several circuits identified below that occur
in water and other added reagents. The anticipated reagents to be used in the plant include: SYLFAT FA2,
Washington Mills Duramet, MAGNAFLOC 10, FLOTIGAM EDA, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, soda ash, and sodium
hydroxide (See Appendix J: Safety Data Sheets of the supplemental report for reagents and chemical safety
data sheets).
Water will also be used/generated in the following circuits: mica and spodumene flotation circuits; separate
lithium, concentrate, and tailings thickeners; and in the separate lithium and mica concentrate and spodumene
(lithium)tails dewatering circuits. In addition, water will be used and generated in the WTP which will employ
reverse osmosis. Anticipated chemicals that will be used in the WTP include sulfuric acid, caustic, sodium
hypochlorite, coagulant, flocculant, and anti-scalant.
As part of the process flowsheet included in the supplemental report, the plant requires a minimum of 200
gallons per minute of relatively clean water for gland seal water and reagent use (see Figure 43: Kings Mountain
Mine Water Balance Flowsheet in Appendix A: Mine and Reclamation Maps). The minimum water stream will
result in a net positive water balance at the processing plant. Any excess process water will be routed through
the WTP, and effluent from the WTP may be reused in the concentration process as clean makeup water.
Recovered water from the WTP will be reused in the concentration process, with excess stored in WSB-1, as
previously described. The reverse osmosis water treatment process will generate two waste streams: a
wastewater brine that will be either disposed of in the public sanitary sewer managed by the City of Kings
Mountain if the discharge limits are met, or otherwise sent offsite to an approved disposal facility, and filter cake
waste solids generated from the WTP filter press that will be dropped into a roll-box that will be disposed of
offsite at an approved solid waste landfill facility.
No other washing of the mined material is proposed as part of the extraction and processing operations. The
site-wide water balance demonstrates that the processing plant has been designed to control the undesirable
release of water from the site and illustrates that the most impacted water will be used first before attempting to
consume water from less impacted sources. Water on the site can be classified in the following categories: non-
contact water, non-PAG contact water, PAG contact water, and process water. Additional details are available in
the attached supplemental report.
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
Water released from WSB-1 will contain a combination of water pumped from the pit and WTP effluent
(regulated as wastewater), and other contact water that will be classified as stormwater. Accordingly, the WSB-1
discharge point will be regulated as a wastewater discharge under the NCG02. All other contact water discharge
will be classified as stormwater discharges under the NCG02.
B)Will the operation involve discharging fresh or wastewater from the mine or plant as a point discharge to the waters
of the State?
Z YES F]NO
If yes,briefly describe the nature of the discharge and locate all proposed discharge points(along with their method of
stabilization)on the mine map(s).
Most of the stormwater that contacts mining operations and processing areas, including pit dewatering, will be
managed in collection ponds that will be pumped to WSB-1. In addition to the contact stormwater, any excess
water recovered from the WTP will go to WSB-1.
Non-contact water will be similarly discharged through WSB-1 or from internal outfalls into South Creek. WSB-1
will assume water from contact and non-contact sources.
Under normal operating conditions, exiting flows will be controlled through a low-level outlet consisting of an
inclined riser pipe set above the lowest point of WSB-1 and along the upstream embankment slope to the crest
of the embankment. Additional riser pumps will be installed at selected elevations, which will be individually
opened or closed as part of operations to control water levels.
RSF-X and RSF-A will have dedicated retention ponds to collect direct runoff water. Water from the RSF-A pond
and associated diversion ditches will be diverted to WSB-1 without treatment. Water from the RSF-X pond will be
treated at the WTP prior to discharge into WSB-1.
The supplemental report and associated figures (Appendix A: Mine and Reclamation Maps) include more detail,
as well as the numbering and location of all internal and external outfalls.
Revised September 21,2021 Page 110
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
C)Will any part of the proposed mine excavation(s)extend below the water table?
ZYES ❑NO
If yes,do you intend to dewater the excavation(s)?
Z YES NO
Estimated withdrawal rate in gallons per day: 216,000
If yes,what impact,if any,will mine dewatering have on neighboring wells?Locate all existing wells on the mine
map(s)that lie within 500 feet of the proposed excavation area. Provide data to support any conclusions or statement
made,including any monitoring well data,well construction data,and current water withdrawal rates. Indicate whether
the proposed mine locale is served by a public water system or private wells.
Initial dewatering of the existing legacy open pit has been authorized by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) Permit No. NC0090212. Dewatering of the mine pit will occur during operations as the pit
expands. At the maximum pit extent at Mine Year 9.4, groundwater flow entering the pit(and subsequently
removed) is estimated at 150 gallons per minute. The KMM site will rely upon potable water service from the City
of Kings Mountain, and water stored in WSB-1 will be sufficient to support mine operations. There will be no
extractive wells to dewater the mine pit or provide water for mine operations.
There are no community wells within 500 feet of the proposed pit excavation. Drawdown is expected to
propagate to wells identified in the hydro-census conducted by AECOM on behalf of Albemarle in 2022.
However, a significant effect on these wells is not expected as the drawdown predicted at those locations is
small. The location of these three wells can be found on Figure 7-2 of the Hydrogeological Study and
Groundwater Modeling Report presented in Appendix D.
D)If you answered yes to any of the above questions,provide evidence that you have applied for or obtained the
appropriate water quality permit(s)(i.e., non-discharge, NPDES,Stormwater,etc.)from the Stormwater Program. In
addition,the applicant is required to register water use with the Division of Water Resources,Ground Water
Management Branch, if the operation withdraws more than 10,000 gallons per day and needs a capacity use permit
from the Division of Water Resources,Ground Water Management Branch,if the operation lies in a capacity use area
and withdraws more than 100,000 gallons per day.
Albemarle has submitted an NCG02 permit application to the Stormwater Program to authorize all water
discharges from the KMM.
The KMM is not in a capacity use area and will not require a capacity use permit, but a water withdrawal
registration will be filed with the Division of Water Resources at the appropriate time.
4. A)Will the operation involve crushing or any other air contaminant emissions?
ZYES NO
If yes,indicate evidence that you have applied for or obtained an air quality permit issued by the Division of Air Quality
or local governing body.
The Project will require a minor source air permit, and an application has been submitted to the Department of
Air Quality to construct and operate stationary sources associated with the mining process.
B)How will dust from stockpiles,haul roads,etc.,be controlled?
Mining operations will employ enclosed conveyors and dust extraction systems (dust plants) utilizing bag filters
at various transfer locations in the primary and secondary crushing circuits to reduce fugitive dust. Dust will be
extracted at various points within the sizing and sorting process (sorting bins/feeders/machines, conveyor
chutes, tertiary crushing) and filtered within a dust plant.
The plant feed stockpile will be in an enclosed building and include dust collection and control systems (a dust
plant)to minimize dust generation during material handling processes.
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As needed watering of ore and waste during mining, on the ROM pad stockpile, and in various waste piles
(RSFs, OSFs, and GMS area)will be conducted to reduce airborne dust. Concurrent reclamation of stockpiles
will further reduce the amount of bare earth surfaces, minimizing potential sources of dust generation.
Water trucks will routinely spray water on the haul truck routes to effectively suppress dust emissions. Dust
control water will be supplied either by the pit dewatering force main prior to entering WSB-1, or directly from
WSB-1. Other controls for dust may include treatment with magnesium/calcium chloride and speed and traffic
controls.
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5. A)A buffer will be required between any mining activity and any mining permit boundary or right-of-way. It may be an
unexcavated buffer(no excavation,but roadways,berms,and erosion&sedimentation control measures may be
installed within it),an undisturbed buffer(no disturbance within the buffer whatsoever),or a combination of the two,
depending upon the site conditions. Note that all buffers must be located within the mining permit boundaries.
How wide a buffer will be maintained between any mining activity and any mining permit boundary or right-of-way at
this site?A minimum buffer of 25 feet is recommended,although a wider buffer may be needed depending on site
conditions. Show all buffer locations and widths on the mine map(s).
Various buffer types will be established to mitigate potential offsite impacts throughout the KMM consisting of a
combination of unexcavated naturally vegetated, unexcavated planted vegetated, unexcavated vegetated berms,
unexcavated enhanced evergreen, and undisturbed buffers. Widths will vary depending on the location of
infrastructure relative to property boundaries and jurisdictional watercourses/wetlands, although they will not be
less than 50 feet. Buffer types and sizes were developed based on a visual impact assessment (VIA)that was
performed in 2024. Buffer types, widths, and locations are clearly depicted on the mine maps and described in
more detail in the supplemental report attached.
B)A minimum 50 foot wide undisturbed buffer will be required between any land disturbing activities within the mining
permit boundaries and any natural watercourses and wetlands unless smaller undisturbed buffers can be justified.
Depending on site conditions,a buffer wider than 50 feet may be needed.
How wide an undisturbed buffer will be maintained between any land disturbing activities within the mining permit
boundaries and any natural watercourses and wetlands at this site?Show all buffer locations and widths on the mine
map(s).
See above response.
6. A)Describe methods to prevent landslide or slope instability adjacent to adjoining permit boundaries during mining.
Minimum 2 horizontal to 1 vertical slopes or flatter for clayey material and minimum 3 horizontal to 1 vertical slopes or
flatter for sandy material are generally required unless technical justification can be provided to allow steeper slopes.
Several of the proposed mine facilities including the open pit, RSF-A, OSF-1, and OSF-3 will either include
excavations or placement of temporary or permanent fill materials adjacent to the mine permit boundaries and
have been designed to prevent landslides or slope instability.
All permanent fill piles for the Project will ultimately be constructed to meet the stated minimum slope
requirements (2 horizontal to 1 vertical or flatter for clayey material, and minimum 3 horizontal to 1 vertical or
flatter for sandy material). The initial slopes for RSF-A (a permanent facility), and the slopes for RSF-X(a
temporary facility)will initially be constructed at steeper angles (2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical ranging from 20
degrees to 26 degrees)than the general requirements for sandy materials (18.43 degrees); however; the
majority of the materials to be stored on the RSFs will consist of fragmented coarse-grained partially weathered
rock and competent bedrock that have index (laboratory strength) properties that are typically stronger than the
finer-grained clayey and sandy soil materials. In addition, limit equilibrium stability analyses show these
temporary, steeper 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical RSF slopes will be stable under static and pseudo-static
conditions and are described in detail below. RSF-A will originally be constructed over a gently sloping terrain
(5 degrees to 15 degrees), founded atop in-situ saprolite and partially weathered rock, have a total height of
approximately 280 feet. Materials stored in RSF-A will be comingled at a mix ratio that will not negatively affect
the strength governed by the coarse rock component and placement will be carefully managed and evenly
distributed.
The 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical temporary RSF-A slopes will later be regraded between lifts to 2 horizontal to 1
vertical to satisfy reclamation requirements as shown on Detail 1 on Drawing 100 in Appendix D of Appendix O:
Conceptual Closure Plan. Regrading of RSF-A lifts during their construction could be progressively reclaimed
since it will be constructed from the bottom up and will also include 16-foot slope breaks (see Detail 1 on
Drawing 100 from Appendix O: Conceptual Closure Plan)that will remain at the top of each lift to reduce erosion
from surface flows while vegetation is established for long-term stability. All the materials that will be stored at
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RSF-A, including some fine materials that will need to be comingled at a mix ratio that does not negatively affect
the strength governed by the coarse rock component. Placement of materials into RSF-A will need to be
carefully managed and inspected by the mine operators through even spreading/distributing of material across
the crest widths with mobile equipment (haul trucks and dozers).
Since the extent of the RSFs locally encroaches upon the permit boundary, environmental features (e.g.,
wetlands and creeks), and other infrastructure, they have been designed with a minimum 100-foot setback
distance for local scale failure events.
The engineered RSF-A and RSF-X subgrade foundations will need to be carefully excavated and constructed
prior to construction of the overlying dump platforms to make stable facilities. Weaker zones of unsuitable
saprolite within the RSF excavation footprints will need to be excavated to stronger foundation soils/bedrock to
improve stability especially around the toes of the proposed facilities. It is anticipated that weak saprolite soils
below the RSF toes will need to be removed to provide stability. The excavation depths at RSF-A will be
between 10 and 20 feet(on average)and to a maximum depth of up to 30 feet. The excavation depths at RSF-X
will be between 20 to 25 feet (on average), and greater than 80 to 100 feet below existing grade and will include
excavation of unsuitable tailings and embankment fill. The RSF foundation bases will be excavated at the safe
slope angles identified above based on the material type and, if required, the stability of the excavation will be
analyzed and monitored by a geotechnical engineer to maintain adequate factors of safety at all times. Stability
measures to improve excavation stability may include buttressing with rockfill and/or other ground improvement
techniques. The same approach to unsuitable material removal during RSF-A construction will apply to RSF-X
except that the legacy tailings will also be removed at RSF-X.
The OSFs are permanent facilities that will be constructed in flat, level lifts during Project development, and at
their final configuration, with a slope of no greater than 3 horizontal to 1 vertical. They will be revegetated once
complete. If some of the OSF materials are later removed for reclamation use as general fill or sold, the
remaining OSF pile will be revegetated.
Pits have been modeled and constructed using industry design acceptable criteria to provide stable slopes to
prevent landslides and instabilities adjacent to adjoining permit boundaries and other environmental features
during mining. For the slope stability analysis, the pit was subdivided into four geotechnical domains/sectors
including north, south, east, and west as described in the supplemental report. The pit bench slope design and
stability results will be periodically re-evaluated as the Project progresses, and regularly during operations as
part of mine planning and the Ground Control Monitoring Plan. Details of the open pit excavations including
bench widths and heights are described below in Section C.6.(D).
When working in and around the perimeter of the pit, equipment operators and ground personnel will follow the
site Ground Control Monitoring Plan for safe control of all highwalls, pits, and slopes. The Ground Control
Monitoring Plan will be designed to be consistent with prudent engineering design and to provide safe working
conditions.
In addition, a pit slope monitoring system will be implemented for the pit that will include the following
procedures:
• Daily inspections;
• Tension crack inspections;
• Survey prism placement and monitoring;
• Tactical radar unit, and vibrating wire piezometers to monitor pore pressures in the slope/highwall;
Pit wall design strategies will include:
• Blasting design implementation (pre-splitting, shallow footwalls, and trialing/refining);
• Scaling and cleanup to reduce the rock fall hazard and maximize bench performance;
• Geotechnical pit mapping including structural geology to assist in ground control management;
• Pit slope and groundwater monitoring with defined trigger levels/thresholds; and
• Updated stability and pore pressure analyses to verify any new pit designs.
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Landslides will be prevented by employing the design implementation strategies and observational monitoring
methods and instrumentation noted above that will include monitoring for and documenting (e.g., mapping and
photographing)any fill material instabilities (e.g., rock falls, sluffs, water ponding, ground movement, etc.)and
tension cracks on the surface adjacent to the edges of the existing legacy open pits and/or excavations, and
immediately notifying the appropriate Project supervisor.
The OSFs will be permanent facilities so they will be built in their final configuration during Project development
and construction. The placed overburden materials will be revegetated once they are no longer needed.
B)Provide a cross-section on the mine map(s)for all fill slopes(berms, waste piles,overburden disposal areas,etc.),
clearly indicating the intended side slope gradient,installation of any benches and/or slope drains(with supporting
design information)if needed, and the method of final stabilization.
Fill slope cross-sections are described and provided in the supplemental report for:
• RSF-A(temporary side slopes initially constructed at 22 to 26 degrees that will later be regraded to
permanent side slopes at 26.6 degrees);
• RSF-X (temporary side slopes constructed at 20 degrees);
• RSF-W(temporary side slopes constructed at 50 degrees; the material at RSF-W will later be removed and
temporarily stored at RSF-X);
• WSB-1 embankment fill section (permanent side slope of 21.8 degrees);
• OSF-1, OSF-2, and OSF-3 (all with permanent side slopes of 18.4 degrees);
• GMS area (temporary side slope of 18.4 degrees); and
• Perimeter safety berms (side slope at angle of repose: 35 degrees for coarse rock and 25 to 30 degrees for
silty soils)that will be installed on the haul roads.
Each section will clearly show the side slope gradient. No slope drains will be required since the RSF piles will
consist of coarse, free-draining, granular material. The method of final stabilization for each fill slope section is
also addressed in the supplemental report, but generally includes placement of 1 foot of growth media cover cap
followed by reseeding to establish vegetative cover to help minimize erosion.
Final stabilization of RSF-A lifts (slopes)will be established by regrading between lifts to 2 horizontal to 1 vertical
and construction of 16-foot slope breaks that will remain at the top of each lift to reduce erosion from surface
flows while vegetation is established for long-term stability. Waste materials placed at RSF-X will be completely
removed and placed inside the pit prior to pit lake rebound as part of the reclamation activities described later in
Section D of this application.
Revegetation of the originally constructed OSF slopes will be the final stabilization method.
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C) In excavation(s)of unconsolidated(non-rock)materials,specify the angle of all cut slopes including specifications
for benching and sloping. Cross-sections for all cut slopes must be provided on the mine map(s).
RSF-A and RSF-X subgrade foundations will need to be carefully excavated and constructed prior to
construction of the overlying fill and dump platforms to make stable facilities. RSF-A and RSF-X cross-sections
showing the planned RSF waste rock piles overlying the fill layer, and the existing subgrade elevation are
depicted in Drawings 300 and 400, respectively, in Appendix A: RSF-A and RSF-X of Appendix C: Design
Sheets of the supplemental report.
It is anticipated that weak saprolite soils below the RSF toes, over the shear key extents, will require excavation
to depths of between 10 and 20 feet (on average) and to a maximum depth of up to 30 feet at RSF-A, and
between 20 to 25 feet (on average) and greater than 80 to 100 feet below existing grade at RSF-X (see RSF-X
Stability Cross-Section I and RSF-A Stability Cross-Section BX in the plates provided in Appendix A:
Prefeasibility Engineering Design Report for Rock Storage Facilities A and X of Appendix I: Abridged
Engineering Design Reports in the supplemental report showing approximate limits of saprolite removal).
The RSF foundation bases will be excavated at the safe slope angles identified above (minimum 2 horizontal to
1 vertical slopes or flatter for clayey material and minimum 3 horizontal to 1 vertical slopes or flatter for sandy
material) and, if required, the stability of the excavation will be analyzed and monitored by a geotechnical
engineer to maintain adequate factors of safety at all times. Stability measures to improve excavation stability
may include buttressing with rockfill and/or other ground improvement techniques.
The RSF-X subgrade excavation will include excavation of unsuitable tailings and embankment fill. Due to
proximity and apparent interconnection of phreatic levels with the South Creek reservoir, dewatering/draining of
the reservoir and or sheet pile installation may be required to ensure the stability of the RSF-X excavation
slopes. RSF-X materials will be removed during closure and placed into the pit for permanent storage.
RSF-X will be founded on saprolite and partially weathered rock, have a total height of approximately 200 feet,
and be constructed with temporary maximum slopes of 2.5 horizontal to 1 vertical (20 degrees). Following
clearing/grubbing/stripping, the proposed RSF-X footprint will undergo cut-and-fill regrading to achieve an overall
slope of 15 degrees to maximum 20-degree sloping to the southwest(see Cross-Sections C-C' and D-D' on
Drawing 400 in Appendix A: RSF-A and RSF-X of Appendix C: Design Sheets), with a portion of the pad back-
sloped towards drainage trench locations to improve slope stability.
The stability of the proposed RSFs using assumed index properties learned from the geotechnical site
investigations under various conditions (e.g., with subgrade excavation and replacement of non-PAG waste rock,
without subgrade excavation, at various slope angles ranging from 2 horizontal to 1 vertical, to 4 horizontal to 1
vertical)were evaluated using Slope/W software (by Geostudio) at three representative geological/analytical
cross-sections (labeled as RSF-A BX-BX', RSF-X I-I', and RSF-X C-C'), were described earlier in Section C.
6.(A) of this application, and are included and summarized in Section 7 in Appendix B: Abridged RSF-A and
RSF-X Calculation Package of Appendix G: Geotechnical Stability Reports, Calculations, and Cross-Sections.
D)In hardrock excavations,specify proposed bench widths and heights in feet.Provide cross-sections of the mine
excavation clearly noting the angles of the cut slopes, widths of all safety benches and mine benches, and the
expected maximum depth of the excavation.
The floor of the legacy open pit is at 660 feet above mean sea level (amsl). The proposed open pit mine plan will
expand the open pit by 900 feet to the southwest and deepen the pit floor another 465 feet (the maximum depth
of the planned excavation)to an approximate elevation of 195 feet amsl (the elevation of the maximum depth of
excavation). The overall planned slope heights and angles range from 650 feet and 37 degrees at the east wall
to 705 feet and 53 degrees at the west wall, respectively. At the end of operations (see Figure 29: End of
Operations [End of Mining Year 9.4] LOM Phase 3, in Appendix A: Mine and Reclamation Maps), the pit
excavation will be 3,300 feet long, 1,800 feet wide, and 800 feet deep relative to the pit crest elevation.
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The proposed pit will be mined over 9.4 years in five phases, referred to as Phase 0 to Phase 4, as shown on
Figure 22: Proposed Pit Map and Cross-Sections in Appendix A: Mine and Reclamation Maps in the
supplemental report that include Cross-Sections A-A' and B-B'. The two cross-sections show the angles of the
cut slopes, widths of all safety benches and mine benches, and the expected maximum depth of the excavation.
Overall cut slope angles for the pit phases shown on the two cross-sections range from 23 degrees to 53
degrees. The north, west, and south walls were generally designed with single (30-foot height) and double
(60-foot height) bench configurations. The single bench slope design configuration includes 78-degree bench
face angles, 20-foot bench widths, and 48.7-degree inter-ramp angles. The double bench slope design includes
78-degree bench face angles, 26-foot bench widths, and 57.1-degree inter-ramp angles. The east wall has more
complex structures and was generally designed more conservatively with a single 30-foot bench height
configuration with 60-degree bench face angles, 20-foot bench widths, and 38.8-degree inter-ramp angles.
7. Describe other methods to be taken during mining to prevent physical hazard to any neighboring dwelling,house,
public road,or public,commercial or industrial building from any mine excavation.Locate all such structures on the
mine map if they are within 300 feet of any proposed excavation.
There are no neighboring dwellings, houses, public roads, or commercial buildings within 300 feet of the mine
pit. A preliminary blasting impacts study, provided in Appendix R: Albemarle Kings Mountain Mine— Blasting
Impact Study of the supplemental report, has been prepared by Austin Powder to assess flyrock, ground
vibration, and overpressure from blasting operations, and concluded that blasting will not exceed regulatory
standards.
A detailed blasting plan will be implemented, which will involve pre-assessment and modeling of each blast to
meet regulatory limits. The response to Section CA 1 below provides additional details.
8. Describe what kind of barricade will be used to prevent inadvertent public access along any high wall area and when it
will be implemented.Vegetated earthen berms,appropriate fencing and adequate boulder barriers may be acceptable
high wall barricades.A construction detail/cross-section and location of each type of barricade to be used must be
indicated on the mine map(s).
The existing open pit at the mining site is currently fenced with a highwall barrier to prevent public access. To
further enhance safety measures and prevent unauthorized entry into the open pit area, a high wall barrier/new
chain link fence will be constructed. This fence will be made of industrial-grade, galvanized steel, standing at a
height of 6 feet. The fence will be positioned along the outer perimeter of the site, positioned inside the berms,
effectively delineating the boundary and restricting access to the open pit area. The fencing will not cross any
watercourse or wetlands.
In addition to physical barriers such as fencing, surveillance systems and lighting will provide further deterrence
against unauthorized access to the open pit. Surveillance cameras strategically placed along the perimeter will
monitor activity and provide real-time alerts in the event of breaches or trespassing attempts. Combined with
adequate lighting, particularly during nighttime hours, these measures will deter potential intruders and enhance
overall site security. Moreover, signage indicating restricted access and warning of potential hazards will serve
as additional reminders for the public to adhere to safety regulations and respect the boundaries of the mining
site. Regular monitoring and maintenance of these security measures will be performed to maintain their
effectiveness over time. This includes routine inspections of the fence integrity, surveillance equipment
functionality, and lighting systems. Any identified issues or vulnerabilities will be promptly addressed to maintain
the integrity of the perimeter security and prevent potential safety hazards.
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9. Are acid producing minerals or soils present?
ZYES NO
If yes,how will acid water pollution from the excavation,stockpiles,and waste areas be controlled?
It is anticipated that PAG waste rock will be encountered during mining in the open pit. PAG rock will initially be
stored in RSF-W located within the existing mine pit(for approximately 2 years), while construction of RSF-X is
underway. During this period, runoff from RSF-W will be routed to the open pit sump where it will be comingled
with pit wall runoff and pit dewatering flow where settling will occur. The pit sump water will then be pumped to
the WSB-1 forebay, where additional settling will occur and where the pumped water will be comingled with the
water in WSB-1 before either being recycled for facility use and/or discharge of excess wastewater. Water
quality modeling indicates that this temporary situation will not cause exceedances of NCG02 discharge limits, or
any predicted exceedances of North Carolina surface water quality standards; however, during this time, the
water quality in WSB-1 will be measured more frequently to meet discharge standards, and if necessary, water
will be held in WSB-1 to correct before discharge.
All PAG rock in RSF-W will be relocated from the pit to RSF-X when construction of RSF-X is completed. RSF-X
and its associated collection pond will be equipped with an HDPE liner, to prevent migration of waters into
groundwater, and to allow collection and treatment at the WTP.
At closure, PAG rock will be removed from RSF-X and used to backfill the pit. The PAG material will be placed in
level lifts in the bottom of the pit, which will decrease the time needed to inundate the PAG material with water.
During closure, the pit will not discharge and subaqueous disposal of PAG material will prohibit further oxidation.
10. A)Describe specific plans(including a schedule of implementation)for screening the operation from public view such
as maintaining or planting trees,bushes or other vegetation,building berms or other measures. Show the location of all
visual screening on the mine map(s)and provide cross-sections through all proposed berms or proposed spacing,
sizes and species for tree plantings.
Please see the response to Question 5 above (Section C.5) regarding the various buffer types proposed, which
will be used to provide screening of operations from public view. One of the unexcavated buffers consists of a
berm that will be planted with native vegetation along certain sections of the property boundary. Plan view and
cross-sections of the buffer and plant installation are included in the supplemental report.
B)Could the operation have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park,forest,or
recreation area?If so, how will such effects(i.e.,noise,visibility,etc.)be mitigated?
The Project will not have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a publicly owned park, forest, or
recreation area.
• The Kings Mountain Gateway Trail will be relocated to an area that will not be impacted by the mine.
• Patriot's Park is the closest public park to the Project location, approximately 0.8 miles to the northeastern
edge of the Project boundary and 0.5 miles from Martin Marietta.
• Crowder's Mountain State Park is the closest state park, and the park boundary is approximately 2 miles
southeast of the Project.
Albemarle has conducted blast and vibration analyses that indicate operations will not produce adverse impacts
at any of the public park or recreation areas, and these impacts will not be detectable at Patriots Park or within
Crowders Mountain State Park. The Project will not cause increased traffic next to, or through, any of these
public areas. Due to the distance of the state park from the Project, and post-closure compatibility with the
landscape, no significant impacts are anticipated (Figure 47: Public Lands, Recreation, and Conservation Areas
Map of Appendix A: Mine and Reclamation Maps)with respect to noise, vibration, dust, or traffic generation.
Albemarle developed a visual impact assessment to document existing conditions and assess potential impacts
to the viewshed of the Project's surrounding area.
The results of the VIA specific to public recreational areas indicate that:
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• The Project will not be visible from Patriots Park.
• Visual impacts from the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail are already present.
• The Project is not visible from the majority of locations within Crowders Mountain State Park.
11. Will explosives be used?
YES NO
If yes,specify the types of explosive(s)and describe what precaution(s)will be used to prevent physical hazard to
persons or neighboring property from flying rocks or excessive air blasts or ground vibrations. Depending on the mine's
location to nearby structures, more detailed technical information may be required on the blasting program(such as a
third-party blasting study).Locate the nearest offsite occupied structure(s)to the proposed excavation(s)on the mine
map and indicate its approximate distance to the proposed excavation.
Explosives will be used during blasting to extract the rock from the open pit. All blasting will be performed using
ammonium nitrate/fuel oil, emulsion, bulk, or packaged products. Shots will be initiated with non-el (shock-
tube), electric, or electronic blasting caps. Blasting will occur less than five times per week, but not over
weekends, holidays, or during daytime working hours. All blasts will be monitored with a seismograph. An
experienced and licensed contractor will handle all explosives. No explosives will be stored at the Project site.
Variables (precautions)will be used to prevent physical hazards to persons or neighboring properties from flying
rocks or excessive airblasts or ground vibrations. Additional details are contained in the supplemental report and
appended blasting study.
12. Will fuel tanks,solvents,or other chemical reagents be stored on-site?
YES F]NO
If yes,describe these materials,how they will be stored and method of containment in case of spill.Indicate the
location(s)of all storage facilities on the mine map(s).
Small fuel tanks (natural gas, diesel, and oil)will be located onsite and are depicted on the mine maps.
Additionally, solvents and chemical reagents will also be stored onsite within appropriately designed structures.
Safety data sheets for all chemicals to be used and/or stored onsite will be readily available and easily
accessible to all onsite employees. A Spill Prevention Control Plan will be developed for each storage area.
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D. RECLAMATION PLAN
1. Describe your intended plan for the final reclamation and subsequent use of all affected lands and indicate the
sequence and general methods to be used in reclaiming this land.This must include the method of reclamation of
settling ponds and/or sediment control basins and the method of restoration or establishment of any permanent
drainage channels to a condition minimizing erosion,siltation and other pollution. This information must be illustrated
on a reclamation map and must correspond directly with the information provided on the mine map(s). In addition,
design information,including typical cross-sections, of any permanent channels to be constructed as part of the
reclamation plan and the location(s)of all permanent channels must be indicated on the reclamation map.
Albemarle will solicit feedback from the community and other stakeholders through public engagements and
correspondence to develop a post-closure vision that is acceptable to those who have a vested interest in the
Project. The initial outcome will consist of a conceptual plan that will be further detailed during operations closer
to closure. The Conceptual Closure Plan for KMM has been attached as an appendix to the supplemental report
and key elements of the plan have been summarized in the Supplemental Report.
2. Is an excavated or impounded body of water to be left as part of the reclamation?
Z YES I ]NO
If yes,illustrate the location of the body(s)of water on the reclamation map and provide a scaled cross-section(s)
through the proposed body(s)of water.The minimum water depth must be at least 4 feet,measured from the normal
low water table elevation,unless information is provided to indicate that a shallower water body will be productive and
beneficial at this site.
The open pit remaining after mining will gradually refill with groundwater and precipitation inflow until it reaches
the mine pit wall height and will begin to drain to Kings Creek.
The existing impoundment known as South Creek Reservoir will remain as currently configured.
The impoundment of WSB-1 will be reduced in size by lowering the embankment to the original elevation.
All other ponds, such as stormwater collection ponds, will be reclaimed by filling and regrading.
Will the body(s)of water be stocked with fish?
1-1 YES ZNO
If yes,specify species.
3. Describe provisions for safety to persons and to adjoining property in all completed excavations in rock including what
kind of permanent barricade will be left.Acceptable permanent barricades are appropriate fencing,large boulders
placed end-to-end,etc. Construction details and locations of all permanent barricades must be shown on the
reclamation map.
The post reclamation pit lake will require access restrictions for long-term safety. Exclusionary fencing will
remain in place to deter the public from accessing the open pit and other areas deemed unsafe at the time of
closure. More detail is provided in the attached supplemental report.
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4. Indicate the method(s)of reclamation of overburden,refuse,spoil banks or other such on-site mine waste areas,
including specifications for benching and sloping.Final cross-sections and locations forsuch areas must be provided
on the reclamation map.
Reclamation methods will essentially consist of the removal of all facilities, buildings, and RSF-X. Surface water
will be directed towards pre-Project flow paths and sediment ponds will be breached or removed. RSF-X will be
placed back in the open pit, which will hydrologically recharge from precipitation and groundwater inflows over
time. RSF-A will remain after closure with a slope of 2 horizontal to 1 vertical after final grading. It will be covered
with growth media and re-seeded like most other areas of the site. Depth of growth media varies by area
although is typically 1 to 2 feet. The closure process will be performed progressively during operations to test the
effectiveness of the proposed methods and types of activities, specifically cover and growth media, surface
water management, and revegetation performance.
Post-closure cross-sections are included as an appendix in the supplemental report.
5. A)Describe reclamation of processing facilities,stockpile areas,and on-site roadways.office facilities,workshops,crushers,
stockpiles,and warehouses will be temporary and removed from the site during closure.
Office facilities, workshops, crushers, stockpiles, and warehouses will be temporary and removed from the site
during closure. The processing plant and ancillary facilities will remain active until material processing has been
completed. Subsequently, the plant equipment will be cleaned, decontaminated, and removed from the Project.
The foundation will be demolished, removed, and reclaimed. Any remaining chemicals will be disposed of in
accordance with applicable regulations. Roadways will be closed by ripping compacted surfaces, regrading as
needed to promote proper surface drainage, covering the area with growth media where needed, and
revegetating.
B)Will any on-site roadways be left as part of the reclamation?
ZYES F]NO
If yes,identify such roadways on the reclamation map and provide details on permanent road and ditch line
stabilization.
Roads that are not needed for closure and post-closure uses such as water management/treatment, power
generation, security, and monitoring will be closed. This will be undertaken by ripping compacted surfaces,
regrading as needed to promote proper surface drainage, covering the area with growth media where needed,
and revegetating. Where possible, the larger roads that are retained will be resized for post-closure use by
regrading and ripping to a width that is appropriate for anticipated post-closure traffic.
6. Describe the method of control of contaminants and disposal of scrap metal,junk machinery,cables,or other such
waste products of mining. (Note definition of refuse in The Mining Act of 1971.)
There are no current plans or facilities in the Project plan to dispose of mining waste products other than refuse
in the form of waste rock(which will be managed onsite in RSF-A) and sand tailings (which will be managed at
the Archdale TSF site under a separate mining permit). PAG rock will be managed in RSF-X during operations
and moved to the mine pit for permanent disposal after closure, where it will be covered with water.
The mining process does not use chemical extractive techniques, and therefore there is no sludge or other
waste product generated that has the potential to release contaminants from the process. Sludges/brines from
the treatment plant, or any other waste generated onsite, will be managed appropriately in accordance with the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and North Carolina regulations.
More detail is provided in the attached supplemental report and associated engineering reports.
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 121
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
7. Describe your plan for revegetation or other surface treatment of the affected areas.This plan must include
recommendations for year-round seeding,including the time of seeding and the amount and type of seed,fertilizer,
lime and mulch per acre.The recommendations must include general seeding instructions for both permanent and
temporary revegetation. Revegetation utilizing only tree plantings is not acceptable.Recommendations can be sought
from:
a. Authorized representatives of the local Soil and Water Conservation District;
b. Authorized representatives of the NC Forest Service,Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
c. Authorized county representatives of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service,specialists and
research faculty with the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Forest Resources at North Carolina
State University;
d. North Carolina licensed landscape architects;
e. Private consulting foresters referred by the NC Forest Service,Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services;
f. N.C.Erosion and Sedimentation Control Planning and Design Manual;
g. N.C.Surface Mining Manual:A Guide for Permitting,Operation and Reclamation;
h. Others as may be approved by the Department.
Lime Rate of Application(tons/acre): 2,000 Ibs/acre if no soil test is taken. If soil is tested, lime will be applied
per the soils report.
Fertilizer Analysis and Rate of Application(Ibs/acre): Fertilizer application is not proposed at this time.
Seed type(s)and rate(s)of application included year-round seeding schedule(Ibs/acre):
NOTE: Include legumes
SEED TYPES SEEDING DATES SEEDING RATES
NC Steep Slope Mix (ERNMX-3 45 Ibs/acre
Native Habitat Strip Mine Mix (E 20 Ibs/acre
Native Steep Slope/annual rye ( Feb 15-Aug 15 60 Ibs/acre
Native Steep Slope/grain rye (E Aug 15-Feb 16 75 Ibs/acre
Mulch Type,Rate of Application(Ibs/acre),and Method of Anchoring:
Other Vegetative Cover(s)Type(s)and Rate(s)of Application Including Seeding Schedule(Ibs/acre,trees/
acre,spacing of trees/shrubs,etc.):
Temporary cover species, application dates and rate for erosion control would include:
• Brown Top Millet: February 15 to August 15, 20 pounds per acre
• Annual Rye Grain: August 15 to February 15, 30 pounds per acre
Revegetation and/or reforestation plan approved by:
Signature Date
Print Name
Title
Agency
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 122
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
E.DETERMINATION OF AFFECTED ACREAGE AND BOND
Albemarle has submitted a blanket bond in the amount of$1 million to DEMLR.
The following bond calculation worksheet is to be used to establish an appropriate bond(based upon a range of$500 to$5,000
per affected acre)for each permitted mine site based upon the acreage approved by the Department to be affected during the
life of the mining permit.Please insert the approximate acreage, for each aspect of the mining operation, that you intend to affect
during the life of this mining permit(in addition,please insert the appropriate reclamation cost/acre for each category from the
Schedule of Reclamation Costs provided with this application form)OR you can defer to the Department to calculate your bond
for you based upon your maps and standard reclamation costs:
CATEGORY AFFECTED RECLAMATION RECLAMATION
ACREAGE COST/ACRE COST
Tailings/Sediment Ponds Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
Stockpiles Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
Waste Piles Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
Processing Area/Haul Roads Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
Mine Excavation Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
Other Ac. X $ /Ac. = $ 0.00
TOTAL AFFECTED AC.: 0.00 Ac.
TOTAL PERMITTED AC.: Ac.
Temporary&Permanent Sedimentation&Erosion Control Measures:
Divide the TOTAL AFFECTED AC.above into the following two categories:a)affected acres that drain into proposed/existing
excavation and/or b)affected acres that will be graded for positive drainage where measures will be needed to prevent offsite
sedimentation and sedimentation to onsite watercourses and wetlands.
a) Internal Drainage Ac.
b) Positive Drainage Ac. X $1,500.00 = $ 0.00
SUBTOTAL COST:$ 0.00
Inflation Factor:
SUBTOTAL COST LIFE OF MINING OPERATION OR LIFE INFLATION COST
OF LEASE(YEARS)
0.02 X $ 0.00 X = $ 0.00
Total Reclamation Bond Cost:
TOTAL RECLAMATION BOND COST= SUBTOTAL+INFLATION = $0.00
Round down to the nearest$100.00
NOTE:The reclamation bond cannot exceed$1 million per GS 74-54
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 123
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
SCHEDULE OF RECLAMATION COSTS
Based upon range of$500-$5,000 per affected acre
COMMODITY CODES:
SG Sand and/or Gravel DS Dimension Stone PF Pyrophyllite CL Clay/Shale
GS Gemstone FS Feldspar OL Olivine PE Peat
Borrow Borrow/fill dirt MI Mica KY Kyan ite/Silli man ite/Andalusite AU Gold
CS Crushed Stone LI Lithium PH Phosphate TI Titanium
OT Other
TYPE T/S PONDS STOCKPILES WASTE PILES P.AREA/H.R. MINE EXCAVATION
$5001ac.(L) $500/ac.(L)
SG,GS,Borrow $1800/ac. $2000/ac. $1800/ac.
1500(FI) 2000(PD)
CS,DS,FS,MI,Ll, 500(L) 500(L)
PF,OL, KY 1800 2000 2000
1500(FI) 2500(PD)
PH 1000(L) 2500 5000 5000 2000(L)
2500(FI) 5000(PD)
CL 1000(L) 2500 5000 5000 2000(L)
2500(FI) 3700(PD)
1000(L) 2000(L)
PE,AU,TI,OT 2500 3000 3500
2500(FI) 5000(PD)
(L)=Reclamation to a lake and revegetating side slopes
(FI)= Reclamation by filling in and revegetating
(PD)=Reclamation by grading for positive drainage&revegetating
AS PER NCAC 15A 513.0003,IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE BOND AMOUNT DETERMINED BY THE BOND CALCULATION
WORKSHEET,YOU MAY SUBMIT AN ESTIMATE OF RECLAMATION COSTS FROM A THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR.
SAID ESTIMATE MUST BE PROVIDED WITHIN 30 DAYS TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: Mining Program, 1612 Mail
Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1612
ALL ESTIMATES MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING,AS A MINIMUM:
• FINAL GRADING COSTS PER ACRE
• LIME AND FERTILIZER COSTS PER ACRE
• YEAR-ROUND SEEDING MIXTURE COSTS PER ACRE(FROM APPROVED REVEGETATION PLAN IN
APPLICATION/PERMIT DOCUMENT)
• MULCH AND ANCHORING COSTS PER ACRE
• ANY OTHER RECLAMATION COSTS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE APPROVED RECLAMATION PLAN FOR
THE SITE IN QUESTION
YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF THE DIRECTOR'S FINAL BOND DETERMINATION.
Revised September 21, 2021 P a g e 124
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
F.NOTIFICATION OF ADJOINING LANDOWNERS
The"Notice"form,or a facsimile thereof,attached to this application must be sent certified or registered mail,return receipt
requested,to:
(1)the chief administrative officer of each county and municipality in which any part of the permitted area is located as
indicated on the mine map(s);
(2)all owners of record,both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit boundary;if an
adjoining tract is owned or leased by the applicant or is owned by the lessor of the mine tract,all owners of record of
tracts adjoining these tracts must be notified(that are within 1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary)as indicated on
the mine map(s);and
(3)all owners of record, both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit boundary
which lie directly across and are contiguous to any highway,creek,stream,river,or other watercourse,railroad track,
or utility or other public right-of-way. If an adjoining tract is owned or leased by the applicant or is owned by the lessor
of the mine tract,all owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts must be notified(that are within 1,000 feet of the
mining permit boundary)as indicated on the mine map(s)."Highway"means a road that has four lanes of travel or less
and is not designated as an Interstate Highway.
The only exception to the above method of giving notice is if another means of notice is approved in advance by the Director,
Division of Energy, Mineral,and Land Resources.
A copy of a tax map(or other alternative acceptable to the Department)must be mailed with the completed"Notice"form(the
proposed overall permit boundaries and the names and locations of all owners of record of lands adjoining said
boundaries must be clearly denoted on the tax map).
The"Affidavit of Notification"attached to this application must be completed,notarized and submitted to the Department,with the
remainder of the completed application form before the application will be considered complete.
NOTES:
THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED FOR ALL APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MINING PERMITS AND ALL MODIFICATIONS
OF A MINING PERMIT TO ADD LAND TO THE PERMITTED AREA,AS REQUIRED BY NCGS 74-50(b1).
SEE THE NEXT TWO PAGES FOR THE"NOTICE"FORM AND THE"AFFIDAVIT OF NOTIFICATION"
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 125
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
NOTICE
Pursuant to provisions G.S.74-50(b1)of The Mining Act of 1971,Notice is hereby given that
Albemarle U.S., Inc. has applied on 09/20/2024 to the Division of Energy,
(Applicant Name) (Date)
Mineral,and Land Resources,North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, 1612 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North
Carolina 27699-1612,for(check one):
1-1 a new surface mining permit,
❑X a modification of an existing surface mining permit to add land to the permitted area;or
a modification of an existing surface mining permit to add land to the permitted area with no disturbance in
the area proposed. Please note that future modification(s)may be submitted by the applicant to allow
disturbance within this area without re-notification of adjoining landowners.
The applicant proposes to mine spodumene ore on 1555.89 acres located 4.30
(Minerals,Ore) (Number) (Number)
miles Southwest of Kings Mountain, NC off/near road U.S. Highway 29
(Direction) (Nearest town) (Number, Name)
in Cleveland County.
*SEE ATTACHED MAP FOR PROPOSED PERMIT BOUNDARIES AND CORRESPONDING ADJOINING LANDOWNER
NAMES AND LOCATIONS*
In accordance with G.S.74-50(b1),the mine operator is required to make a reasonable effort,satisfactory to the Department,to notify all
owners of record,both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit boundary;if an adjoining tract is owned or
leased by the applicant or is owned by the lessor of the mine tract,all owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts must be notified(that are
within 1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary).In addition,the mine operator must also notify the chief administrative officer of the county or
municipality in which any part of the permitted area is located. Any person may file written comment(s)to the Department at the above address
within thirty(30)days of the issuance of this Notice or the filing of the application for a permit,whichever is later. Should the Department
determine that a significant public interest exists relative to G.S.74-51,a public hearing will be held within 60 days of the end of the 30-day
comment period specified above.
A copy of the permit application materials is on file and available for public review during normal business hours at the above listed address as
well as at the appropriate regional office.For information regarding the specifics of the proposed mining activity,please contact the
applicant at the following telephone number (704)734-2775
For information on the mining permit application review process,please contact the Mining Program staff at(919)707-9220. Please note that
the Department will consider any relevant written comments/documentation within the provisions of the Mining Act of 1971 throughout the
application review process until a final decision is made on the application.
Christopher Danauskas
348 Holiday Inn Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Contact: John Kuhn, Albemarle U.S., Inc.
Addressee/Owner of Record's Name and Address Name of Applicant.Include Contact Person&Company Name,if Applicable
348 Holiday Inn Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Date of Issuance of this Notice/Mailed to Addressee/Owner of Record Address of Applicant
Add Page
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 126
NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
AFFIDAVIT OF NOTIFICATION
I, John Kuhn ,an applicant,or an agent,or employee of an applicant,for a
new Mining Permit,or a modification of an existing Mining Permit to add land to the permitted area,from the N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality, being first duly sworn,do hereby attest that the following are all known owners of record,both public and
private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining permit boundary(including,where an adjoining tract is owned or leased
by the applicant or is owned by the lessor of the mine tract,all owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts,that are within
1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary)and that notice of the pending application has been caused to be mailed,by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested,to said owners of record at their addresses shown below,such notice being given on a
form provided by the Department:
Adjoining Landowner Name Address
See Supplemental Report,Appendix S:Landowner Notifications
Attach additional list if necessary.
I do also attest that the following individual is the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality in which any part of the
permitted area is located and that notice of the pending application has been caused to be mailed, by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested,to said office at the following address:
David Cotton,County Manager Cleveland County PO Box 1210,Shelby,North Carolina 28151
Chief Administrative Officer Name Address
(i.e.:City Manager,County Manager,Mayor,etc.)
The above attestation was made by me while under oath to provide proof satisfactory to the Department that a reasonable effort
has been made to notify all known owners of record,both public and private,of all tracts of land that are adjoining the mining
permit boundary(including,where an adjoining tract is owned or leased by the applicant or is owned by the lessor of the mine
tract,all owners of record of tracts adjoining these tracts,that are within 1,000 feet of the mining permit boundary)and the chief
administrative officer of the county or municipality in which any part of the permitted area is located in compliance with N.C.G.S.
74-50(b1)and 15A NCAC 5B.0004(d). I understand that it is the responsibility of the applicant to retain the receipts of mailing
showing that the above notices were caused to be mailed and to provide them to the Department upon request.
Signature of Applicant or Agent Date
If person executing Affidavit is an agent or employee of an applicant,provide the following information:
Name of Applicant Christopher Danauskas
Title of person executing Affidavit
I, a Notary Public of the County of
State of North Carolina,do hereby certify that appeared before me this
day and under oath acknowledged that the above Affidavit was made by him/her.
Witness my hand and notarial seal,this day of 20
Notary: My commission expires:
Revised September 21,2021 P a g e 127
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NORTH CAROLINA MINING State of North Carolina 1612 Mail Service Center
PERMIT APPLICATION Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh,NC 27699-1612
Division of Energy,Mineral,and Land Resources (919)707-9220
G.LAND ENTRY AGREEMENT
We hereby grant to the Department or its appointed representatives the right of entry and travel upon our lands or operation
during regular business hours for the purpose of making necessary field inspections or investigations as may be reasonably
required in the administration of the Mining Act of 1971 pursuant to G.S.74-56.
We further grant to the Department or its appointed representatives the right to make whatever entries on the land as may be
reasonably necessary and to take whatever actions as may be reasonably necessary in order to carry out reclamation which the
operator has failed to complete in the event a bond forfeiture is ordered pursuant to G.S.74-59.
LANDOWNER: APPLICANT:
Signature Signature*
Print Name Christopher Danauskas Print Name Christopher Danauskas
Title(if applicable) Site Director Title Site Director
Company(if applicable) Albemarle U.S.Inc. Company Albemarle U.S. Inc.
Address 348 Holiday Inn Drive
Kings Mountain,NC 28086 Mine Name Kings Mountain Mine
Telephone 704-734-2711
Telephone (704)734-2711 Date Signed
Date Signed
*Signature must be the same as the individual who signed Page 1 of this application.
One original and five(5)copies of the completed application,six(6)copies of all location maps,mine maps and
reclamation maps,and the appropriate processing fee in the form a check or money order payable to the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality must be sent to the Raleigh Central Office at the address listed on the front cover
of this application form.
Inquiries regarding the status of the review of this application should be directed to the Mining Program staff at(919)707-9220.
Revised September 21,2021 28
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