20211027_Operator_Notice_36-35

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
BRIAN WRENN
Director
(`PrtifiPrl Mnil
Return Receipt Requested
7016 2140 0000 4367 7253
Mr. Patrick Brindle
Piedmont Lithium Carolina, Inc
32N Main Street, Suite 100
Belmont, NC 28012
RE: Carolina Lithium Project
Public Hearing
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Brindle:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 1, 2021
The Director of the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources has determined that significant public interest
surrounds your above referenced application for a mining permit. He has authorized a public hearing to be held on
the matter. Enclosed is a copy of the hearing notice for your review.
Enclosures
cc: Mr. Zahid Khan
Your continued cooperation is appreciated.
Sincerely.
Adam Parr, PE
Assistant State Mining Engineer
Dgwra�or G+YarauiWwr\
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Energy. Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1612 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
919.707.9200

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF ENERGY, MINERAL, AND LAND RESOURCES
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality concerning Piedmont Lithium Carolinas, Inc.'s application for Mining Permit No. 3 6-3 5 (Pending)
for a lithium mining operation located off SR 1622 (Hephzibah Church Rd.), SR 1438 (St. Marks Church
Rd.), and SR 1624 (Whitesides Rd.), near the town of Cherryville, in Gaston County.
AUTHORITY:
NC General Statute (N.C.G.S.) §74-51 and NCAC Title 15, Chapter 5
Subchapter 513, Section .0011
PLACE, TIME, DATE:
Due to significant public interest the Division of Energy, Mineral, and
Land Resources (DEMLR) will host an "In Person" hearing as well as a
virtual overflow hearing via WebEx. If registrants are not able to speak
during the "In Person" hearing, they will be asked to provide comments in
writing or to attend the virtual hearing.
IN PERSON:
Date and Time:
Information Session: Monday, November 15, 5:30 p.m.
Hearing: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location:
Gaston County Courthouse
325 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
ONLINE:
Date and Time: Thursday, November 18, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Participants can join the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
Cisco WebEx Link:
https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/j.php?MTID=m l6a9c3c2
54010c443da070654695f6df
Meeting Password: NCMining (62646464 from phones)
Meeting Number (Access Code): 2429 910 6211
Cisco WebEx by Phone: [phone] US TOLL
Meeting number (access code): 242 991 06211
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Internet access is not required to participate in the meeting. To comment
by phone, when your name is called, press *3 so the moderator can identify
and open your line. Once you have made your comment, please press *3
to end your comment.
PURPOSE:
To receive comments related to the application for a mining permit for a lithium mining operation located
off SR 1622 (Hephzibah Church Rd.), SR 1438 (St. Marks Church Rd.), and SR 1624 (Whitesides Rd.),
near the town of Cherryville, in Gaston County.
Comments shall be limited to those that relate directly to the seven (7) denial criteria listed under N.C.G.S.
§74-51 of The Mining Act of 1971 that the Department considers in making its decision to grant or deny a
new mining permit application or a modification to an existing mining permit. These criteria are as follows:
The Department may deny such permit upon finding:
That any requirement of this Article or any rule promulgated hereunder will be
violated by the proposed operation;
2. That the operation will have unduly adverse effects on potable ground water
supplies, wildlife, or fresh water, estuarine, or marine fisheries;
That the operation will violate standards of air quality, surface water quality, or
ground water quality which have been promulgated by the Department;
4. That the operation will constitute a direct and substantial physical hazard to public
health and safety or to a neighboring dwelling house, school, church, hospital,
commercial or industrial building, public road or other public property, excluding
matters relating to use of a public road;
5. That the operation will have a significantly adverse effect on the purposes of a
publicly -owned park, forest or recreation area;
6. That previous experience with similar operations indicates a substantial possibility
that the operation will result in substantial deposits of sediment in stream beds or
lakes, landslides, or acid water pollution; or
7. That the applicant or any parent, subsidiary, or other affiliate of the applicant or
parent has not been in substantial compliance with this Article, rules adopted under
this Article, or other laws or rules of this State for the protection of the environment
or has not corrected all violations that the applicant or any parent, subsidiary, or
other affiliate of the applicant or parent may have committed under this Article or
rules adopted under this Article and that result in:
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a. Revocation of his permit,
b. Forfeiture of part or all of his bond or other security,
c. Conviction of a misdemeanor under N.C.G.S. §74-64, or
d. Any other court order issued under N.C.G.S. §74-64, or
e. Final assessment of a civil penalty under N.C.G.S. §74-64.
In the absence of any findings set out above or if adverse effects are mitigated by the applicant as determined
necessary by the Department, a permit shall be granted.
COMMENT PROCEDURE:
All persons interested in this matter are invited to attend. The hearing will be conducted in the following
manner:
1. Explanation of the action for which the permit is required by the hearing officer.
2. Explanation of the permit procedures as set forth in The Mining Act of 1971 by
the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources.
3. Description of the proposed mining operation as applied for by the applicant.
4. Public Comment — Comments, statements, data, and other information may be
submitted in writing prior to the hearing or may be presented orally at the hearing.
Persons desiring to speak must follow the procedure outlined below. So that all
persons desiring to speak may do so, lengthy statements may be limited at the
discretion of the hearing officer. Oral presentations must not exceed the time limit
established by the hearing officer. Any oral presentation that exceeds three (3)
minutes must be submitted as directed by the hearing officer.
5. If you wish to speak at the public hearing (in person or virtual), you must register,
provide the required information, and follow instructions on ways to join the public
hearing. Registration must be completed by 12:00 PM on November 15, 2021. To
register, please visit the following link: https:Hforms.office.com/g/xjR07YaPa3 or
call 919-707-9207
6. If you have technical difficulties, an automated voicemail will be set up from
November 15, 2021, until November 26, 2021, to receive your verbal
comments: 919-707-9207 (Please state your name before commenting.)
7. Cross examination of persons presenting testimony will not be allowed; however,
the hearing officer may ask questions for clarification.
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8. (Optional) The applicant may make a short presentation at the end of the hearing
and may be available for individual/group discussion after the hearing is
adjourned.
9. The proceedings will remain open for a period of ten (10) days following the
hearing for additional written arguments or statements.
INFORMATION:
A copy of the mining permit application and corresponding maps are on file with the Mooresville Regional,
Raleigh Central Office, and online at our webpage, for the public's information and review prior to the date
of the public hearing. To submit comments or for additional information concerning this hearing contact
by writing or calling:
Adam Parr, PE
Assistant State Mining Engineer
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
Telephone: [phone]
Comments can be submitted via email to [e-mail] with the subject line
"Carolina Lithium Project".
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