20211115_B-Harper

Hello,
We appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule to hear our concerns
about the Piedmont Lithium Project in Northwestern Gaston County. This is a
community we live in, work in, and enjoy daily. My name is Brian Harper. I live at
1953 Hephzibah Church Road and own a business at 2015 Hephzibah Church Road.
The following are not my words —this is a quote from the Joumal of Geology and
Geophysics:
"Blasting technique may be considered as the most economical method
used for fragmenting rock masses. Nonetheless, only 20-30% of the used
energy is served for rock fragmenting and displacing, while the rest is
wasted in the form of ground vibration, air blast, noise, and flying rock. Both
ground vibration and air blast are a matter of great concern, as they would
result in damage to the existing surface structures and nuisances to the
inhabitants in the vicinity of the mine..."1
As you know, Piedmont Lithium has proposed using this blasting method in their
daily operations.
Blasting is a means to an end. For Piedmont Lithium, it means being able to break
up chunks of earth to depths up to 500 feet to extract spodumene. This is their
dream. To desecrate and demolish our beautiful land in Northwestern Gaston
County.
Let me tell you how it will affect my dream.
My wife and I own a manufacturing company in the proposed mining vicinity. We
manufacture gears, sprockets, and power transmission components. Our parts are
machined to very close tolerances. We utilize CNC technology to machine the
blanks, and hobbing technology to generate the tooth profile. These operations
cannot be achieved with the presence of any ground vibration. This is not my
opinion; this is a fact. A fact that has been affirmed by Donny Hicks, Executive
Director of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission.
1 J Geol Geophys [Journal of Geology & Geophysics]
ISSN: 2381-8719 JGG, Volume 5, Issue 3

46
There are too many unknown variables involved in this massive project. For our
protection, we ask that there be an independent conclusive blast study of up to a
2-mile radius. We also need independent studies of the harmful effects to our
ground water, water table, wells, quality of water, and wildlife.
Please don't forget our wildlife. At any given time, we have the pleasure of
observing deer, turkey, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, turtles, foxes, and crayfish.
have even observed a majestic bald eagle. Each of these will be affected by this
invasive mine.
Your division of government was formed to ultimately protect the environment
and its citizens from harm. This is harmful. Please consider these statements and
concerns as a desperate plea to save our dream.
Thank you,
Brian Harper
i(i-
1953 Hephzibah Church Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
[phone]