20211118_L-Cunningham

From:
Leanne Cunningham
To:
NCMiningProgram
Subject:
[External] Piedmont Lithium mining permit
Date:
Thursday, November 18, 2021 7:19:53 PM
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Dear Mr. Parr:
I am writing in opposition to the proposed Piedmont Lithium open pit mining operation.
My family has owned land that is on the edge of this proposed mine and will be directly impacted by the creation of this mine.
Water is Life. This mine threatens the groundwater of the Gaston/Lincoln County area. When the groundwater is polluted and
is no longer potable, we will be in the same shape as Pennsylvania after tracking. Surface water will also be impacted and
will affect the fish and wildlife of Beaverdam Creek and in turn the South Fork of the Catawba River. In fact, the impacts of
mining lithium have been proven to extend 150 miles downstream of lithium mining operations in Nevada. Air pollution
from the mine will drive up asthma rates along with other health problems that can occur from the toxic airborne minerals that
occur naturally with the lithium. The prevailing winds will carry the dust to more populated areas in Gaston County.
So when lithium plays out in 20 years what will we have to show for it? Some people will have jobs for a while but not a
substantial number of jobs. In elementary school at Tryon School we endured blasting every day, sometimes several times
daily. It caught us off guard and for a small child, it was terrifying. This was viewed as progress. Before I was even out of
college the company pulled out to go to a country that was more profitable while legally leaving a mess. After all of the
destruction, pollution, and noise, Bessemer City suffered the loss of this industry and the `good' jobs they provided. This loss
was compounded by the loss of jobs when the textile mills moved overseas. We know that the end result of a mine is a
SuperFund Site located at the abandoned Lithium Mine in Bessemer City. The workers ended up unemployed. Was it worth
destroying the land and leaving a pit of poison marinating in the bottom of the abandoned mine? Are you willing to grant a
permit for this level of destruction? I respectfully ask that you deny this request for a permit.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Leanne Carpenter Cunningham
Lincolnton and Black Mountain, NC