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[Gavel]

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>>chair: good evening and

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welcome to the AUGUST 8th, 2023

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work session of the gaston

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county board of county

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commissioners.

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My name is chad brown, I serve

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as CHAIRMAN Of the board, as

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well as the commissioner from

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the riverbend township.

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I would like to welcome our

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viewers, and thank spectrum and

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cable and at&t for making this

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possible for our citizens.

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For our television audience, I

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would like to present your

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gaston county commission

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beginning on my far right.

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>> allen fraley, cherryville

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township.

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>> I'm ronnie worley, south

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point township.

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>> good evening, I'm kathi

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cloninger representing the

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dallas township.

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>> bob hovis, crowders mountain

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township.

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>> good evening, tom keigher,

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gastonia township.

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>>

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>>.

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>>chair: thank you all.

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Before I begin, I would like to

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take a moment -- can you hear

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me?

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-- recognize a couple of

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people.

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First, our interim

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superintendent for gaston county

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schools, DR. Stephen laws, if

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you'll please come up and --

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you, too, come to the podium,

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you can speed speak for a

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second, he continues to say the

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word interim, but we are vastly

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trying to change that for him.

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But I wanted to say DR. Laws,

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thank you for your commitment to

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gaston county schools, you've

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been here for a number of years

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but one of the things that comes

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is I think every parent wants

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our kids safe in school and

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getting a quality education,

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you've agreed to do this until

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we can get someone, but I wanted

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to say personally thank you from

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this board, our board probably

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communicating thank you for

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coming to the dinner tonight.

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But one of the things that I

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want to challenge you with is

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don't quit.

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Whatever happens, you just keep

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going until they tell you you're

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done, but I wanted to say thank

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you for your commitment.

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I got to listen to you today and

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talk to you, if you guys don't

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think that things are changing

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vastly in the way we do things

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in the school system, DR. Laws

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has come in running and thank

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you, if you would like to a few

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words?

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>> I want to thank the board of

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commissioners and you, MR.

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CHAIRMAN, for inviting me

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tonight and to all of you

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citizens, we are excited about

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the school year, it starts next

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wednesday, coming in a hurry, we

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think we're ready and you're

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right, we have two primary

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responsibilities to keep our

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students safe, and our employees

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safe, and the other is to do

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what we say we will do.

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And we're going to have a great

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school year.

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And I am an interim.

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And the board is progressing on

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finding our new permanent

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superintendent and that should

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be going forward in the next

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couple of weeks, they'll get the

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results of the applicants and

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that's exciting for all of us,

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so I'm a gaston county native.

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I love gaston county.

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And we live here, and we're

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going to live here the rest of

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our lives so it's a great place

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to be.

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Thank you for having me.

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>>chair: thank you, sir.

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[Applause]

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I got a call, starting saying

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the reminder from the school,

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so.

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Thank you, again, and thank you

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for coming.

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The next -- I would like to

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introduce someone, he not here,

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but met a gentleman this

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morning, his name was mark hall

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and he was a at the dentist this

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morning and worried and you can

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see and so I told him I would

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shout him out on tv tonight if

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he would not be scared to go

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back and see the dentist, there

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it is, mark hall from gastonia.

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First item on the agenda is

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proclamations, commendations and

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awards and certificates.

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And I would like to read a

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little somebody, before I do, --

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--

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tom would like to play a little

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music for you.

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>> I don't know how that

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happened.

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>>chair: this is to commend

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gems rsh -- richard back there?

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Just give him -- I'll get --

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>> I'm just clicking on this

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work session.

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>>chair: but one of the things

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that we like to do here is have

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a -- we like to commend people

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for their work and the paramedic

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paramedics captain, leannda

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lowrance, christina cruse and

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andrew adams for their heroic

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actions on MAY 23rd, 2023, rend

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erd in the line of duty, which

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saved aid court service employee

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at the gastonia county

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courthouse, darlene lowrance.

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I'll read this, vincent, come up

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there a little closer, vincent.

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There you go.

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The gaston county board of

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commissioners hereby presents a

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certificate of commendation on

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this day, AUGUST 8th, 2023, to

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captain leannda lowrance,

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paramedic, christina cruse,

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paramedic, and andrew adams,

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paramedic, and the gaston county

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emergency medical services,

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gems, for your heroic actions on

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MAY 23rd, 2023, rendering in the

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line of duty, which saved the

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life of MS. Darlene lowrance, a

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court service employee in the

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gaston county who suffered a

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near fatal heart attack at work.

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The board further recognizes for

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your ready sxns commitment to

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serve on the frontline of

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healthcare emergencies, your

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service and dedication proudly

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reflects the highest ideals of

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the members of your team, and

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gaston county.

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And the paramedic os tv -- of

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the united states, the -- I've

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asked mark and his staff to come

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up and also I think corporal

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lowrance is going to come up and

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speak a little bit as well.

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On that.

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So cliff, if you want to come up

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and speak?

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Mark, if you have and jamie and

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the kids will come a little bit

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closer, that way everybody can

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see you guys and he has a

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special presentation for you.

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>> first, I want to give GOD all

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of the honor and glory for

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allowing us to be here tonight

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and do this.

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I want to start by thanking the

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county commissioner, chairman

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brown and DR. Eagle to honor

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these paramedics tonight, a

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special thanks to donna buff for

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putting this on tonight's

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agenda, I appreciate it from my

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heart.

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I would like to thank chief --

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for their outstanding efforts in

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saving lives, on MAY 23rd, 2023,

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while working in her office here

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in the courthouse, my wife went

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into cardiac arrest, due to the

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heroic efforts from everyone

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involved, my wife has a second

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chance at life.

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The three paramedics that were

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instrumental in saving her life,

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christina cruse, abdrew adams

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and captain leannda lowrance,

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who happens to be my

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sister-in-law.

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If I could, real brief, before

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we present the awards, there's a

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couple of things on my heart

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that stood out on this day that

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I would like to share.

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On MAY 23rd, when this occurred,

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gems was on the scene just in a

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matter of minutes.

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It was just GOD aligned so many

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things up that day, just

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unbelievable.

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And when I say they arrived, it

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was cruse and adams on scene

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first, to my recollection, they

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knew exactly what to do and they

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went to work doing it.

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Shortly after leannda came in,

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and she looked at me and saw me,

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and she went immediately to

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doing what she knows to do.

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Save lives.

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And after a couple of minutes

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in, she looked at me, and she

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stopped and she just stopped for

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a second and she said, oh, my

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GOD, I just realized who this

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is.

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And with tears running down her

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face, she continued to work.

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to save her life.

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Once she was able to be

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transported, in the ambulance, I

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rode up front with jamie

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mcconnell, who was so gracious

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and continued to say all the

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way, we're going to take care of

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her, she's going to be fine.

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Once we arrived in the er, all

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of the staff, gems staff

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continued to stay in the er and

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help and assist and make sure

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that I was taken care of.

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My son was there.

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To make sure he was taken care

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of.

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Moving forward, my wife was in a

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medically induced coma for five

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days.

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On the sixth day, she came out.

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They took her off the ventilator

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and she was getting stronger,

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the night she came out, the next

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day, we got a call in the room

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and cruse and adams were

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downstairs and asked could they

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come up and see her.

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And I said, by all means, they

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came up.

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And so they all greeted each

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other, and we stood around her

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bed, my son was present, and

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when they got ready to leave,

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adams said, do you mind if we

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pray?

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And I said absolutely.

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So we all held hands around her

285
00:09:21,654 --> 00:09:23,990
bed and he led us in one of the

286
00:09:23,990 --> 00:09:24,691
most beautiful prayers I've ever

287
00:09:24,691 --> 00:09:26,691
heard.

288
00:09:26,793 --> 00:09:28,728
To me, those things I mentioned

289
00:09:28,728 --> 00:09:31,331
are going above and beyond of

290
00:09:31,331 --> 00:09:33,600
just the regular call of duty.

291
00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:34,968
It touched me and my time while

292
00:09:34,968 --> 00:09:36,436
I was in the hospital I just

293
00:09:36,436 --> 00:09:38,171
said I had to do more than just

294
00:09:38,171 --> 00:09:40,171
say thank you.

295
00:09:41,275 --> 00:09:41,775
How do you say thank you to

296
00:09:41,775 --> 00:09:43,775
these folks?

297
00:09:44,477 --> 00:09:46,246
That saved her life?

298
00:09:46,246 --> 00:09:46,914
who gave us this opportunity to

299
00:09:46,914 --> 00:09:48,914
be here tonight?

300
00:09:49,383 --> 00:09:51,352
Just a few weeks ago, we

301
00:09:51,352 --> 00:09:51,652
celebrated our 28th wedding

302
00:09:51,652 --> 00:09:53,454
anniversary.

303
00:09:53,454 --> 00:09:56,570
And we wouldn't have celebrated

304
00:09:56,570 --> 00:09:56,457
it if it weren't for these three

305
00:09:56,457 --> 00:09:58,457
folks.

306
00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:01,329
I just want to present them

307
00:10:01,329 --> 00:10:04,299
award tonight, just to let them

308
00:10:04,299 --> 00:10:08,499
know from the bottom of both of

309
00:10:08,602 --> 00:10:10,305
our hearts what they mean to us.

310
00:10:10,305 --> 00:10:12,674
I'll read one of the plaques.

311
00:10:12,674 --> 00:10:12,908
And I'll let my wife present

312
00:10:12,908 --> 00:10:14,908
them.

313
00:10:15,477 --> 00:10:17,780
It says life saving award

314
00:10:17,780 --> 00:10:19,478
presented to paramedic christina

315
00:10:21,950 --> 00:10:23,719
cruse, in recognition of your

316
00:10:23,719 --> 00:10:25,988
courageous and life saving a in

317
00:10:25,988 --> 00:10:28,257
a medical emergency, on MAY

318
00:10:28,257 --> 00:10:29,658
23rd, 2023, your outstanding

319
00:10:29,658 --> 00:10:31,293
efforts gave someone another

320
00:10:31,293 --> 00:10:33,293
chance at life.

321
00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:37,300
Gaston county ems MAY 23rd,

322
00:10:39,902 --> 00:10:41,902
2023.

323
00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:04,560
[Applause]

324
00:11:05,730 --> 00:11:07,310
Thank you, again for allowing us

325
00:11:07,310 --> 00:11:09,310
to be here.

326
00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:10,534
>>chair: cliff, I wanted to say

327
00:11:10,534 --> 00:11:13,300
something that you said, not

328
00:11:13,300 --> 00:11:13,371
just your family, we're all

329
00:11:13,371 --> 00:11:15,371
family.

330
00:11:15,740 --> 00:11:16,406
You guys go above and beyond

331
00:11:16,406 --> 00:11:17,742
every day.

332
00:11:17,742 --> 00:11:19,344
We're especially grateful for

333
00:11:19,344 --> 00:11:20,478
that day, but we're also

334
00:11:20,478 --> 00:11:21,845
especially grateful for what you

335
00:11:21,845 --> 00:11:23,348
do for our community and what

336
00:11:23,348 --> 00:11:24,582
you do for our county, mark, you

337
00:11:24,582 --> 00:11:25,683
guys have put together one of

338
00:11:25,683 --> 00:11:28,830
the best programs around.

339
00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,189
And this is an example we get to

340
00:11:31,189 --> 00:11:32,958
see it on live tv today, but one

341
00:11:32,958 --> 00:11:34,293
thing it is, is this love for

342
00:11:34,293 --> 00:11:35,961
what you do, that we're very

343
00:11:35,961 --> 00:11:37,496
appreciative of what you do, and

344
00:11:37,496 --> 00:11:38,930
cliff, appreciate what you do

345
00:11:38,930 --> 00:11:40,766
and your wife as well for --

346
00:11:40,766 --> 00:11:43,680
that's a service, giving family

347
00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:44,336
and we're very proud of you

348
00:11:44,336 --> 00:11:46,720
guys, so thank you again.

349
00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:46,539
>> my pleasure.

350
00:11:46,539 --> 00:11:48,539
Thank you.

351
00:11:52,444 --> 00:11:54,790
[Applause]

352
00:11:54,790 --> 00:11:56,479
>>chair: the next recognition

353
00:11:56,883 --> 00:11:58,618
is for MR. Donny hicks, economic

354
00:11:58,618 --> 00:12:00,618
development director.

355
00:12:01,154 --> 00:12:03,156
Upon his receiving of the north

356
00:12:03,156 --> 00:12:05,156
carolina economic development

357
00:12:06,626 --> 00:12:08,626
association award.

358
00:12:09,596 --> 00:12:12,596
I'll let MR. Bob hovis,

359
00:12:14,435 --> 00:12:16,835
vice-chair present MR. Hicks.

360
00:12:18,372 --> 00:12:21,972
>> it's a distinct honor for me

361
00:12:22,543 --> 00:12:25,543
to recognize another of our

362
00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:28,800
exemplary gaston county staff.

363
00:12:29,784 --> 00:12:31,180
Donny hicks finished college in

364
00:12:31,180 --> 00:12:33,180
1983.

365
00:12:33,210 --> 00:12:35,421
Immediately upon graduation, he

366
00:12:35,957 --> 00:12:39,194
came to work for gaston county.

367
00:12:39,194 --> 00:12:42,630
Within a year, he was named

368
00:12:42,630 --> 00:12:44,165
director for the economic

369
00:12:44,165 --> 00:12:46,165
development commission.

370
00:12:47,135 --> 00:12:51,720
And I can't sit here and begin

371
00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,720
to tell you the accomplishments,

372
00:12:54,410 --> 00:12:56,678
the impact, the positive

373
00:12:56,678 --> 00:12:57,613
entities that he has brought to

374
00:12:57,613 --> 00:12:59,615
gaston county because we can't

375
00:12:59,615 --> 00:13:02,150
stay here all night.

376
00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:03,152
And I would only begin to start

377
00:13:03,152 --> 00:13:05,152
by midnight.

378
00:13:05,855 --> 00:13:08,157
We have been the beneficiary of

379
00:13:08,157 --> 00:13:11,157
a very dedicated employee who

380
00:13:13,930 --> 00:13:15,498
has worked tirelessly in strange

381
00:13:15,498 --> 00:13:18,401
circumstances from time to time,

382
00:13:18,401 --> 00:13:20,503
because when you get these

383
00:13:20,503 --> 00:13:22,503
multinational -- multicultural

384
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:24,574
businesses who are looking to

385
00:13:24,574 --> 00:13:27,144
relocate into the united states,

386
00:13:27,144 --> 00:13:29,213
let alone in the north carolina,

387
00:13:29,213 --> 00:13:31,247
it offers unique opportunities.

388
00:13:31,247 --> 00:13:32,160
And I think that is an

389
00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,160
understatement at best.

390
00:13:35,510 --> 00:13:35,953
But donny has navigated those

391
00:13:35,953 --> 00:13:38,689
waters, like he's sailed this

392
00:13:38,689 --> 00:13:40,689
ship 1,000 times.

393
00:13:40,991 --> 00:13:42,193
And I happen to be present at

394
00:13:42,193 --> 00:13:44,462
the north carolina association

395
00:13:44,462 --> 00:13:46,930
of the economic developers, the

396
00:13:46,930 --> 00:13:48,833
group that does that statewide,

397
00:13:48,833 --> 00:13:51,690
they had an annual meeting and i

398
00:13:51,690 --> 00:13:52,904
had happened to be in wilmington

399
00:13:52,904 --> 00:13:54,720
when he was presented the

400
00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:55,473
PRESIDENT's award.

401
00:13:55,473 --> 00:13:56,641
He's twice won the developer of

402
00:13:56,641 --> 00:13:57,342
the year award.

403
00:13:57,342 --> 00:13:59,342
For the state.

404
00:14:00,212 --> 00:14:03,812
But this year, he was the

405
00:14:03,848 --> 00:14:05,848
PRESIDENT's award recipient.

406
00:14:05,951 --> 00:14:07,586
With that, that is a recognition

407
00:14:07,586 --> 00:14:09,654
of his peers, others that do the

408
00:14:09,654 --> 00:14:11,423
same thing across the state,

409
00:14:11,423 --> 00:14:13,359
that donny does, people that

410
00:14:13,359 --> 00:14:15,428
donny does battle with, from

411
00:14:15,428 --> 00:14:16,962
time to time, and I use that

412
00:14:16,962 --> 00:14:18,197
word battle in parentheses,

413
00:14:18,197 --> 00:14:19,899
because I don't think there's

414
00:14:19,899 --> 00:14:21,933
any bloodshed, although, some

415
00:14:21,933 --> 00:14:23,636
would probably like to shed

416
00:14:23,636 --> 00:14:25,538
donny's blood, because he's beat

417
00:14:25,538 --> 00:14:25,939
them out on so many different

418
00:14:25,939 --> 00:14:27,939
things.

419
00:14:28,708 --> 00:14:29,910
But this man is so incredibly

420
00:14:29,910 --> 00:14:32,479
humble, I was glad when I found

421
00:14:32,479 --> 00:14:33,880
out about it, actually the night

422
00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:34,813
before, I made the decision that

423
00:14:34,813 --> 00:14:36,983
I was -- somebody from our staff

424
00:14:36,983 --> 00:14:39,486
and our board was going to be

425
00:14:39,486 --> 00:14:41,855
present with MR. Hicks when he

426
00:14:41,855 --> 00:14:43,724
received this very pristine yous

427
00:14:43,724 --> 00:14:45,392
award, so I told my wife, dear,

428
00:14:45,392 --> 00:14:46,393
I can't wash dishes tomorrow,

429
00:14:46,393 --> 00:14:49,329
I've got to go to wilmington and

430
00:14:49,329 --> 00:14:51,310
she looked at me with this

431
00:14:51,310 --> 00:14:53,401
puzzled face and said, okay,

432
00:14:53,401 --> 00:14:53,667
because she knew it was

433
00:14:53,667 --> 00:14:54,934
something.

434
00:14:54,934 --> 00:14:56,370
And never looked back, but I was

435
00:14:56,370 --> 00:14:57,605
very honored to be there and be

436
00:14:57,605 --> 00:14:58,639
a part of that.

437
00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:00,741
But I wanted gaston county to

438
00:15:00,741 --> 00:15:01,642
know and the rest of this board

439
00:15:01,642 --> 00:15:03,444
to express their appreciation

440
00:15:03,444 --> 00:15:04,913
for all of the hard work that

441
00:15:04,913 --> 00:15:06,281
donny hicks has done, all of the

442
00:15:06,281 --> 00:15:08,549
things that he's brought to us

443
00:15:08,549 --> 00:15:09,817
to diversify our tax base, and

444
00:15:09,817 --> 00:15:12,787
put us back to where in the last

445
00:15:12,787 --> 00:15:15,590
two years, we're just about

446
00:15:15,590 --> 00:15:18,393
where we were before the textile

447
00:15:18,393 --> 00:15:19,962
recession, and all of the text

448
00:15:19,962 --> 00:15:21,830
tile business left gaston

449
00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:24,330
county, the big sucking sound

450
00:15:24,330 --> 00:15:24,532
that ross pe ro used to talk

451
00:15:24,532 --> 00:15:25,834
about it.

452
00:15:25,834 --> 00:15:28,700
We took it on the chin and had

453
00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:28,704
it on the chin, and we've

454
00:15:28,704 --> 00:15:29,905
recovered and we're doing so

455
00:15:29,905 --> 00:15:32,410
much better, but this man right

456
00:15:32,410 --> 00:15:34,109
here as created 90% of that, we

457
00:15:34,109 --> 00:15:35,811
have given a little money and

458
00:15:35,811 --> 00:15:37,313
incentives along with the state

459
00:15:37,313 --> 00:15:39,480
to help some of this happen but

460
00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:40,415
most of it has been on his

461
00:15:40,415 --> 00:15:41,184
shoulders and his staff's

462
00:15:41,184 --> 00:15:44,184
shoulders and we appreciate all

463
00:15:45,922 --> 00:15:47,657
that he's done and I wanted to

464
00:15:47,657 --> 00:15:50,570
recognize him before the

465
00:15:50,727 --> 00:15:51,361
television awed you knows

466
00:15:51,361 --> 00:15:53,361
-- audience and

467
00:15:53,764 --> 00:15:55,332
you're welcome to toot your hon,

468
00:15:55,332 --> 00:15:55,498
you won't, but you're welcome

469
00:15:55,498 --> 00:15:56,833
to.

470
00:15:56,833 --> 00:15:58,702
>> 930 members and they gave it

471
00:15:58,702 --> 00:16:00,136
to me, that's a pretty sad

472
00:16:00,136 --> 00:16:01,505
statement in a way.

473
00:16:01,505 --> 00:16:03,107
But what commissioner hovis

474
00:16:03,107 --> 00:16:04,708
didn't tell you was the people

475
00:16:04,708 --> 00:16:06,610
that got different awards before

476
00:16:06,610 --> 00:16:08,279
me made some very pointed and

477
00:16:08,279 --> 00:16:10,470
negative comments about county

478
00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:10,481
commissioners, which I didn't

479
00:16:10,481 --> 00:16:12,481
partake in.

480
00:16:12,950 --> 00:16:13,885
But it really showed me how

481
00:16:13,885 --> 00:16:15,286
lucky I was to walk into a

482
00:16:15,286 --> 00:16:16,420
system like we have here, we're

483
00:16:16,420 --> 00:16:18,420
very well supported.

484
00:16:18,756 --> 00:16:20,457
Supported financially, and we

485
00:16:20,457 --> 00:16:22,226
have had a major hill to climb

486
00:16:22,226 --> 00:16:23,828
to get where we're at today and

487
00:16:23,828 --> 00:16:26,131
especially I think that's

488
00:16:26,131 --> 00:16:28,166
recognized in the aaa bond

489
00:16:28,166 --> 00:16:29,601
rating, we've done things

490
00:16:29,601 --> 00:16:31,436
differently, there's a lot that

491
00:16:31,436 --> 00:16:32,104
-- I got the award for an

492
00:16:32,104 --> 00:16:33,238
individual but the collection of

493
00:16:33,238 --> 00:16:34,606
work and the body of work that

494
00:16:34,606 --> 00:16:34,806
the county has done for a long

495
00:16:34,806 --> 00:16:36,140
time.

496
00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:37,276
And if you go back and look at

497
00:16:37,276 --> 00:16:39,745
where we started, when I came

498
00:16:39,745 --> 00:16:40,446
here, there was no zone, we had

499
00:16:40,446 --> 00:16:42,348
relatively limited water and

500
00:16:42,348 --> 00:16:42,648
sewer capacity, almost no

501
00:16:42,648 --> 00:16:44,500
extensions.

502
00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:45,317
And we have done a lot of work.

503
00:16:45,317 --> 00:16:48,187
And I think that's reflected in

504
00:16:48,187 --> 00:16:49,188
that award, but it's also a

505
00:16:49,188 --> 00:16:51,290
reflection of the consistency in

506
00:16:51,290 --> 00:16:52,625
our approach that we've had.

507
00:16:52,625 --> 00:16:53,859
Consistent investment in it.

508
00:16:53,859 --> 00:16:54,894
Having good county commissioners

509
00:16:54,894 --> 00:16:55,495
that believed in what we're

510
00:16:55,495 --> 00:16:56,729
going to do.

511
00:16:56,729 --> 00:16:58,331
And thought that we could make

512
00:16:58,331 --> 00:16:59,298
this comeback and get to where

513
00:16:59,298 --> 00:17:00,567
we wanted to be.

514
00:17:00,567 --> 00:17:02,235
And that's a great gift to me

515
00:17:02,235 --> 00:17:04,270
and to everyone in this county.

516
00:17:04,270 --> 00:17:06,273
A lot of communities have fits

517
00:17:06,273 --> 00:17:07,874
and starts, and they take

518
00:17:07,874 --> 00:17:10,770
directions and they lose

519
00:17:10,770 --> 00:17:11,244
momentum, we've never lost that

520
00:17:11,244 --> 00:17:12,378
momentum, we've had it

521
00:17:12,378 --> 00:17:14,378
consistently t commissioners

522
00:17:14,414 --> 00:17:15,315
have given us a lot of support.

523
00:17:15,315 --> 00:17:18,315
Four county managers have given

524
00:17:18,318 --> 00:17:19,920
us a lot of support and

525
00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,288
authority, and autonomy to do

526
00:17:21,288 --> 00:17:23,570
what we needed to do.

527
00:17:23,570 --> 00:17:24,392
I've had the luxury of waking up

528
00:17:24,392 --> 00:17:25,926
every morning for 39 years and

529
00:17:25,926 --> 00:17:27,361
not ever really wanting to be

530
00:17:27,361 --> 00:17:29,663
anywhere else but here, and

531
00:17:29,663 --> 00:17:30,531
that's a true gift, so thank

532
00:17:30,531 --> 00:17:30,832
you.

533
00:17:30,832 --> 00:17:32,832
[Applause]

534
00:17:33,201 --> 00:17:34,301
>>chair: donny?

535
00:17:34,301 --> 00:17:36,301
Donny?

536
00:17:36,570 --> 00:17:38,873
You can take your recognition.

537
00:17:38,873 --> 00:17:40,942
>> and I will add one note, MR.

538
00:17:40,942 --> 00:17:43,780
CHAIRMAN, if I can.

539
00:17:43,780 --> 00:17:45,680
Gaston county was the only

540
00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,800
county represented at this

541
00:17:48,830 --> 00:17:48,417
auspicious occasion by a county

542
00:17:48,417 --> 00:17:49,451
commissioner.

543
00:17:49,451 --> 00:17:51,819
That tells you something.

544
00:17:51,819 --> 00:17:52,988
That tells you something.

545
00:17:52,988 --> 00:17:55,257
And that's -- we're here to

546
00:17:55,257 --> 00:17:55,457
support you donny, and we mean

547
00:17:55,457 --> 00:17:55,891
that.

548
00:17:55,891 --> 00:17:57,891
thank you.

549
00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:00,629
>>chair: donny, I wanted to say

550
00:18:00,629 --> 00:18:03,629
something before it got too

551
00:18:04,660 --> 00:18:05,735
mushy for you, don't think this

552
00:18:05,735 --> 00:18:06,769
is easy for you.

553
00:18:06,769 --> 00:18:10,369
For the people who don't know

554
00:18:10,573 --> 00:18:12,508
what donny does, he goes out

555
00:18:12,508 --> 00:18:14,908
with companies, they're wanting

556
00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,440
to come and expand their

557
00:18:18,281 --> 00:18:20,617
companies, overseas or inside of

558
00:18:20,617 --> 00:18:23,617
the inside the united states

559
00:18:23,954 --> 00:18:26,723
domestically to come into gaston

560
00:18:26,723 --> 00:18:29,693
county, donny oversees that to

561
00:18:29,693 --> 00:18:31,361
have the I's dotted and the t's

562
00:18:31,361 --> 00:18:33,897
crossed, these are given by code

563
00:18:33,897 --> 00:18:37,497
names so the governor can have

564
00:18:37,801 --> 00:18:39,503
the splash of saying what the

565
00:18:39,503 --> 00:18:41,104
company is.

566
00:18:41,104 --> 00:18:42,607
And I think that's wrong.

567
00:18:42,607 --> 00:18:44,941
I think that donny should be

568
00:18:44,941 --> 00:18:46,511
able to say those things because

569
00:18:46,511 --> 00:18:48,112
I'm going the tell a story on

570
00:18:48,112 --> 00:18:51,150
donny, last year, a couple of

571
00:18:51,150 --> 00:18:52,550
year as ago, you guys ride down

572
00:18:52,550 --> 00:18:54,550
dallas cherryville highway,

573
00:18:55,820 --> 00:18:57,889
you'll see a company called gnt.

574
00:18:57,889 --> 00:18:59,624
Gnt was met with some issues

575
00:18:59,624 --> 00:19:03,950
here, not by us, by the state.

576
00:19:03,950 --> 00:19:04,730
And we had to do a about face

577
00:19:04,730 --> 00:19:06,310
right there that night, we

578
00:19:06,310 --> 00:19:07,432
changed out by next morning, we

579
00:19:07,432 --> 00:19:08,567
had them over there, they're in

580
00:19:08,567 --> 00:19:09,134
gaston county, had their

581
00:19:09,134 --> 00:19:10,202
headquarters here.

582
00:19:10,202 --> 00:19:12,400
And they're expanding.

583
00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:12,904
And that's because of donny and

584
00:19:12,904 --> 00:19:14,904
his team.

585
00:19:14,907 --> 00:19:16,675
And when I mean they're making

586
00:19:16,675 --> 00:19:20,275
an about face, you change asking

587
00:19:21,247 --> 00:19:23,282
and going to work as a police

588
00:19:23,282 --> 00:19:23,549
officer and the milkman

589
00:19:23,549 --> 00:19:24,250
tomorrow.

590
00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:26,250
A total change.

591
00:19:26,352 --> 00:19:27,386
That's the examples that we see.

592
00:19:27,386 --> 00:19:28,540
If you think about

593
00:19:28,540 --> 00:19:30,454
infrastructure, you think about

594
00:19:31,958 --> 00:19:35,558
all of the things that go

595
00:19:36,262 --> 00:19:38,464
alongwater, sewer and land and

596
00:19:38,464 --> 00:19:39,733
find large parcels.

597
00:19:39,733 --> 00:19:41,335
Donny, you're well deserved of

598
00:19:41,335 --> 00:19:42,803
that award and I'm just very

599
00:19:42,803 --> 00:19:44,805
thankful that you work for us.

600
00:19:44,805 --> 00:19:47,740
But you're not done.

601
00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:48,308
So I expect something in two

602
00:19:48,308 --> 00:19:48,609
weeks, you get --

603
00:19:48,609 --> 00:19:49,243
[Laughter]

604
00:19:49,243 --> 00:19:51,643
I'm going to -- .

605
00:19:52,813 --> 00:19:53,113
>> more time than I need.

606
00:19:53,113 --> 00:19:53,781
[Laughter]

607
00:19:53,781 --> 00:19:55,683
>>chair: I like it.

608
00:19:55,683 --> 00:19:56,650
Thank you, donny.

609
00:19:56,650 --> 00:19:58,650
>> thank you.

610
00:20:01,355 --> 00:20:03,224
[Applause]

611
00:20:03,224 --> 00:20:05,593
>>chair: and I guarantee, we

612
00:20:05,593 --> 00:20:07,595
will have an award -- something

613
00:20:07,595 --> 00:20:09,130
come out in the next two week,

614
00:20:09,130 --> 00:20:09,931
y'all listen up.

615
00:20:09,931 --> 00:20:10,765
Certificate of appreciation is a

616
00:20:10,765 --> 00:20:13,765
great pleasure for the gaston

617
00:20:14,169 --> 00:20:15,771
county commissioners to honor

618
00:20:15,771 --> 00:20:17,940
citizens who have given of their

619
00:20:17,940 --> 00:20:19,507
time, talent and skills and

620
00:20:19,507 --> 00:20:21,760
energy and service to an a point

621
00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:22,277
tee of one of the many boards

622
00:20:22,277 --> 00:20:23,545
and commissions, this type of

623
00:20:23,545 --> 00:20:24,613
service is the foundation of

624
00:20:24,613 --> 00:20:25,447
citizen involvement in our

625
00:20:25,447 --> 00:20:27,349
county government and helping

626
00:20:27,349 --> 00:20:27,916
shape the future of gaston

627
00:20:27,916 --> 00:20:29,585
county's community.

628
00:20:29,585 --> 00:20:31,687
We gratefully acknowledge the

629
00:20:31,687 --> 00:20:33,222
work of the following

630
00:20:33,222 --> 00:20:34,757
individuals and certificates of

631
00:20:34,757 --> 00:20:35,190
appreciation have been garded on

632
00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:37,190
to them.

633
00:20:38,127 --> 00:20:39,595
DR. Edward smith, adult care

634
00:20:39,595 --> 00:20:41,595
community advisory committee.

635
00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:44,934
Vincent ginski, gary washington,

636
00:20:44,934 --> 00:20:47,334
JR., and transportation advisory

637
00:20:50,774 --> 00:20:51,574
board.

638
00:20:51,574 --> 00:20:53,644
This will be a quick little

639
00:20:53,644 --> 00:20:56,440
update for everybody, anybody

640
00:20:56,912 --> 00:20:58,147
who is not speaking on anything

641
00:20:58,147 --> 00:20:59,716
to do with the piedmont lithium

642
00:20:59,716 --> 00:21:00,750
issue tonight, you will have the

643
00:21:00,750 --> 00:21:02,119
opportunity now, is there

644
00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:02,386
anybody on that list?

645
00:21:02,386 --> 00:21:04,386
Okay.

646
00:21:05,155 --> 00:21:08,625
So we'll go ahead and skip that

647
00:21:08,625 --> 00:21:09,727
portion for citizens comments on

648
00:21:09,727 --> 00:21:12,127
anything other than that.

649
00:21:13,764 --> 00:21:14,999
Moving on to the presentation.

650
00:21:14,999 --> 00:21:17,401
You will have a chance to speak,

651
00:21:17,401 --> 00:21:19,700
just that was on totally

652
00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:21,172
something different, we're going

653
00:21:21,172 --> 00:21:22,707
to have that.

654
00:21:22,707 --> 00:21:24,442
Also, I want to make sure that

655
00:21:24,442 --> 00:21:27,178
we are the quorum tonight, mrez

656
00:21:27,178 --> 00:21:28,546
do not clap, do not gesture, do

657
00:21:28,546 --> 00:21:29,848
not do anything, let each side

658
00:21:29,848 --> 00:21:30,882
or whoever wants to speak, let

659
00:21:30,882 --> 00:21:31,716
them have their turn, so

660
00:21:31,716 --> 00:21:33,840
everybody can hear.

661
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:34,520
There's going to be a lot of

662
00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:34,686
questions tonight, especially

663
00:21:34,686 --> 00:21:36,686
from our board.

664
00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:39,658
And so I ask you to please bear

665
00:21:39,658 --> 00:21:41,600
with me, and the people up here,

666
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:42,661
so we can hear tonight and that

667
00:21:42,661 --> 00:21:43,162
way we can get all of this

668
00:21:43,162 --> 00:21:45,130
together.

669
00:21:45,130 --> 00:21:48,467
But I will now go to the next

670
00:21:48,467 --> 00:21:50,770
agenda item, piedmont lithium

671
00:21:50,770 --> 00:21:51,837
presentation, MS. Erin sanders,

672
00:21:51,837 --> 00:21:53,406
senior vice PRESIDENT, corporate

673
00:21:53,406 --> 00:21:55,700
communications and investor

674
00:21:55,700 --> 00:21:55,608
relations along with malissa

675
00:21:55,608 --> 00:21:57,877
gordon, vice PRESIDENT Of

676
00:21:57,877 --> 00:21:58,478
government affairs.

677
00:21:58,478 --> 00:21:59,178
Ladies?

678
00:21:59,178 --> 00:22:01,178
>> thank you.

679
00:22:02,982 --> 00:22:05,150
Good evening, CHAIRMAN Brown,

680
00:22:05,150 --> 00:22:07,150
fellow commissioners, county

681
00:22:07,420 --> 00:22:09,220
manager, DR. Eagle, county

682
00:22:09,220 --> 00:22:10,230
attorney MR. Stetzer and other

683
00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:12,230
staff members.

684
00:22:12,159 --> 00:22:15,159
I'm erin sanders, CHAIRMAN Brown

685
00:22:16,300 --> 00:22:17,965
just mentioned but I will make a

686
00:22:17,965 --> 00:22:20,365
correction, monique parker will

687
00:22:20,467 --> 00:22:21,869
be presenting with me and she'll

688
00:22:21,869 --> 00:22:23,869
introduce herself shortly.

689
00:22:23,938 --> 00:22:25,539
We appreciate the opportunity to

690
00:22:25,539 --> 00:22:27,141
speak with you tonight.

691
00:22:27,141 --> 00:22:29,143
It's been almost two years since

692
00:22:29,143 --> 00:22:29,777
we've had the chance to appear

693
00:22:29,777 --> 00:22:31,777
before you.

694
00:22:32,213 --> 00:22:32,413
But a lot has happeneded in two

695
00:22:32,413 --> 00:22:34,413
years.

696
00:22:34,949 --> 00:22:36,584
I think for all of us.

697
00:22:36,584 --> 00:22:37,719
I believe that piedmont lithium

698
00:22:37,719 --> 00:22:41,319
is a different company than the

699
00:22:41,623 --> 00:22:42,691
one that appeared before you in

700
00:22:42,691 --> 00:22:44,391
2021.

701
00:22:44,391 --> 00:22:45,794
And a different company than

702
00:22:45,794 --> 00:22:47,963
maybe many of you have met in

703
00:22:47,963 --> 00:22:49,963
the years prior.

704
00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,634
Today, piedmont lithium is a $1

705
00:22:53,634 --> 00:22:55,504
billion market cap company,

706
00:22:55,504 --> 00:22:57,406
publicly traded on nasdaq with

707
00:22:57,406 --> 00:22:59,108
projects in canada, ghana,

708
00:22:59,108 --> 00:22:59,408
tennessee, and here in north

709
00:22:59,408 --> 00:23:01,408
carolina.

710
00:23:02,770 --> 00:23:03,812
And we are proud to be

711
00:23:03,812 --> 00:23:05,581
headquartered here in gaston

712
00:23:05,581 --> 00:23:07,515
county.

713
00:23:07,515 --> 00:23:09,510
We celebrated a significant

714
00:23:09,510 --> 00:23:11,510
milestone last week.

715
00:23:12,155 --> 00:23:14,223
As our joint venture in quebec

716
00:23:14,223 --> 00:23:16,225
made its first shipment of

717
00:23:16,225 --> 00:23:18,625
lithium product marking our

718
00:23:18,895 --> 00:23:21,895
shift from lithium developer to

719
00:23:22,766 --> 00:23:23,300
a lithium producer and a revenue

720
00:23:23,300 --> 00:23:25,300
generating company.

721
00:23:25,768 --> 00:23:27,270
Piedmont now has a leadership

722
00:23:27,270 --> 00:23:28,605
team that together has extensive

723
00:23:28,605 --> 00:23:31,500
experience in the mining

724
00:23:31,542 --> 00:23:33,643
industry, the lithium industry,

725
00:23:33,643 --> 00:23:34,677
and in manufacturing the

726
00:23:34,677 --> 00:23:36,677
environment, and community

727
00:23:37,214 --> 00:23:38,415
engagement on projects such as

728
00:23:38,415 --> 00:23:40,415
these.

729
00:23:40,484 --> 00:23:43,484
But perhaps most importantly, we

730
00:23:44,210 --> 00:23:44,221
have done extensive work since

731
00:23:44,221 --> 00:23:46,221
2021.

732
00:23:47,124 --> 00:23:49,127
To further develop and refine

733
00:23:49,127 --> 00:23:51,395
our project plans for our

734
00:23:51,395 --> 00:23:52,730
proposed carolina lithium

735
00:23:52,730 --> 00:23:54,299
project.

736
00:23:54,299 --> 00:23:56,699
Including a significant testing

737
00:23:56,968 --> 00:23:59,370
and studies and meetings with

738
00:23:59,370 --> 00:24:01,437
the county staff, about

739
00:24:01,539 --> 00:24:04,710
utilities and how we plan to

740
00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:06,211
mitigate the impact on neighbors

741
00:24:06,211 --> 00:24:07,980
and the environment.

742
00:24:07,980 --> 00:24:08,313
We've also met with countless

743
00:24:08,313 --> 00:24:10,182
neighbors.

744
00:24:10,182 --> 00:24:10,415
Whether over their kitchen

745
00:24:10,415 --> 00:24:12,840
tables.

746
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:14,484
In our cherryville office.

747
00:24:15,388 --> 00:24:17,523
Or out in the community.

748
00:24:17,523 --> 00:24:18,657
talking about concerns and

749
00:24:18,657 --> 00:24:19,859
answering their questions.

750
00:24:19,859 --> 00:24:22,128
We recognize that there were a

751
00:24:22,128 --> 00:24:25,128
lot of questions that we

752
00:24:25,797 --> 00:24:27,797
couldn't answer in 2021.

753
00:24:28,968 --> 00:24:30,970
And perhaps that we didn't

754
00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:32,305
communicate properly.

755
00:24:32,305 --> 00:24:34,305
Prior to that.

756
00:24:34,507 --> 00:24:35,642
We've been working hard to

757
00:24:35,642 --> 00:24:37,642
correct those errors.

758
00:24:37,744 --> 00:24:40,213
And to help prove it, we will be

759
00:24:40,213 --> 00:24:42,449
a good steward and a responsible

760
00:24:42,449 --> 00:24:43,717
steward of this project and

761
00:24:43,717 --> 00:24:45,717
within this community.

762
00:24:45,953 --> 00:24:47,540
We hope to answer as many

763
00:24:47,540 --> 00:24:49,454
questions as possible tonight.

764
00:24:50,190 --> 00:24:51,725
To mitigate your concerns, and

765
00:24:51,725 --> 00:24:52,993
potentially hopefully to open

766
00:24:52,993 --> 00:24:53,961
the door to more dialogue.

767
00:24:53,961 --> 00:24:56,297
That's our goal tonight.

768
00:24:56,297 --> 00:24:58,697
And we appreciate the

769
00:25:00,101 --> 00:25:01,801
opportunity.

770
00:25:01,801 --> 00:25:02,436
So let me begin with our

771
00:25:02,436 --> 00:25:04,436
proposed project.

772
00:25:04,906 --> 00:25:07,375
Carolina lithium is what we call

773
00:25:07,375 --> 00:25:09,375
it.

774
00:25:09,878 --> 00:25:11,546
It's designed to create nearly

775
00:25:11,546 --> 00:25:13,615
double the current U.S.

776
00:25:13,615 --> 00:25:15,160
Production of battery grade

777
00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,180
lithium, all coming from just

778
00:25:17,180 --> 00:25:19,200
down the road right now, in

779
00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,355
bessemer city and kings

780
00:25:20,355 --> 00:25:22,791
mountain. But it is desperately

781
00:25:22,791 --> 00:25:24,460
needed by the U.S. Electric

782
00:25:24,460 --> 00:25:25,761
vehicle supply chain.

783
00:25:25,761 --> 00:25:28,161
Combined with our tennessee

784
00:25:28,731 --> 00:25:29,698
project, which is now permitted,

785
00:25:29,698 --> 00:25:32,268
this would make piedmont lithium

786
00:25:32,268 --> 00:25:34,300
one of the key producers of

787
00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:34,336
american-made battery grade

788
00:25:34,336 --> 00:25:36,336
lithium.

789
00:25:37,773 --> 00:25:38,507
We are designing the project on

790
00:25:38,507 --> 00:25:40,507
1548 acres.

791
00:25:42,111 --> 00:25:44,447
To be one of the world's most

792
00:25:44,447 --> 00:25:44,747
sustainable lithium hydroxide

793
00:25:44,747 --> 00:25:46,747
operations.

794
00:25:47,116 --> 00:25:49,116
Using modern technology,

795
00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,119
practices and systems.

796
00:25:51,554 --> 00:25:53,790
And we only contract another

797
00:25:53,790 --> 00:25:55,525
2000 acres will help to provide

798
00:25:55,525 --> 00:25:57,360
buffer around the project site.

799
00:25:57,360 --> 00:25:59,760
We are targeting construction

800
00:26:00,998 --> 00:26:02,466
for 2025 and first production in

801
00:26:02,466 --> 00:26:04,800
27, of course, subject to

802
00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:05,569
permitting approvals and

803
00:26:05,569 --> 00:26:07,569
financing.

804
00:26:07,771 --> 00:26:10,107
And as we are currently two

805
00:26:10,107 --> 00:26:10,908
years away from potential

806
00:26:10,908 --> 00:26:12,643
construction, we are still

807
00:26:12,643 --> 00:26:12,842
developing and refining our

808
00:26:12,842 --> 00:26:14,842
plan.

809
00:26:14,979 --> 00:26:16,314
So we MAY need to update and

810
00:26:16,314 --> 00:26:17,381
develop further specifics over

811
00:26:17,381 --> 00:26:19,150
the next two years.

812
00:26:19,150 --> 00:26:20,251
But we want to answer as many

813
00:26:20,251 --> 00:26:23,251
questions as possible with the

814
00:26:25,590 --> 00:26:28,360
information that we have today.

815
00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:30,762
I think it's helpful to talk

816
00:26:30,762 --> 00:26:31,630
about quickly the three primary

817
00:26:31,630 --> 00:26:33,732
parts of the operation.

818
00:26:33,732 --> 00:26:36,268
As we see on the right hand

819
00:26:36,268 --> 00:26:39,710
corner of this map, the first

820
00:26:39,710 --> 00:26:40,305
thing we do, it will do is

821
00:26:40,305 --> 00:26:42,641
excavate the ore, that's the

822
00:26:42,641 --> 00:26:43,242
rock containing the lithium,

823
00:26:43,242 --> 00:26:45,242
call ed

824
00:26:46,780 --> 00:26:49,582
called hodge mean and move it

825
00:26:49,582 --> 00:26:52,582
and an enclosed conveyor some

826
00:26:53,586 --> 00:26:55,921
where the rock is crushed and

827
00:26:55,921 --> 00:26:58,391
the by-products of quarts, and

828
00:26:58,391 --> 00:26:59,492
mikeca are separated out.

829
00:26:59,492 --> 00:27:01,892
And then that crushed

830
00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:03,960
concentrate will be conveyed to

831
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,164
a conversion facility that's

832
00:27:05,164 --> 00:27:07,133
number 3 on the map to be

833
00:27:07,133 --> 00:27:08,340
processed into lithium

834
00:27:08,340 --> 00:27:10,340
hydroxide.

835
00:27:12,172 --> 00:27:15,740
Or lithium salt, the battery

836
00:27:15,740 --> 00:27:18,212
grade lithium that will sell to

837
00:27:18,212 --> 00:27:19,980
auto makers or battery

838
00:27:19,980 --> 00:27:21,882
manufacturers.

839
00:27:21,882 --> 00:27:22,683
Now, people ask us fairly often,

840
00:27:22,683 --> 00:27:24,683
why here?

841
00:27:26,620 --> 00:27:28,823
Is this an important resource?

842
00:27:28,823 --> 00:27:30,823
It absolutely is.

843
00:27:32,125 --> 00:27:34,729
The belt is a geological wonder,

844
00:27:34,729 --> 00:27:37,964
there is nothing like this known

845
00:27:37,964 --> 00:27:39,801
currently in the U.S.

846
00:27:39,801 --> 00:27:42,704
It is the most resource in the

847
00:27:42,704 --> 00:27:44,339
U.S. In terms of rise -- size

848
00:27:44,339 --> 00:27:45,473
and infrastructure, it runs from

849
00:27:45,473 --> 00:27:48,473
virginia to south carolina but

850
00:27:49,110 --> 00:27:50,112
its wider portions is linking

851
00:27:50,112 --> 00:27:50,345
gaston county and cleveland

852
00:27:50,345 --> 00:27:52,345
county.

853
00:27:52,881 --> 00:27:53,582
Many of you know the history of

854
00:27:53,582 --> 00:27:55,383
the belt.

855
00:27:55,383 --> 00:27:57,953
That it once provided nearly all

856
00:27:57,953 --> 00:28:00,722
of the world's lithium supply.

857
00:28:00,722 --> 00:28:00,990
But then the U.S. Sent business

858
00:28:00,990 --> 00:28:02,490
overseas.

859
00:28:02,490 --> 00:28:04,490
To other countries.

860
00:28:05,895 --> 00:28:07,997
And that is why today, china

861
00:28:07,997 --> 00:28:10,397
produces 80% of the battery

862
00:28:11,868 --> 00:28:14,137
grade lithium in the world.

863
00:28:14,137 --> 00:28:16,640
But as we look to bring these

864
00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,308
resources and jobs back to the

865
00:28:19,308 --> 00:28:21,711
U.S., these resources in the

866
00:28:21,711 --> 00:28:23,346
belt are extremely important.

867
00:28:23,346 --> 00:28:24,814
This belt is believed to

868
00:28:24,814 --> 00:28:27,214
potentially contain more than

869
00:28:28,510 --> 00:28:29,786
three times the current known

870
00:28:29,786 --> 00:28:32,355
resources in the united states.

871
00:28:32,355 --> 00:28:35,355
And our geologists believe it's

872
00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:37,361
only been 20% commercially

873
00:28:37,361 --> 00:28:38,462
explored.

874
00:28:38,462 --> 00:28:41,265
So that's why it's important to

875
00:28:41,265 --> 00:28:43,533
us and to the U.S. Supply chain.

876
00:28:43,533 --> 00:28:45,770
But we also believe that this

877
00:28:45,770 --> 00:28:47,638
project could be an important

878
00:28:47,638 --> 00:28:49,172
contributor to the economic

879
00:28:49,172 --> 00:28:49,540
health and the prosperity to

880
00:28:49,540 --> 00:28:50,741
gaston county.

881
00:28:50,741 --> 00:28:53,544
We're planning to invest more

882
00:28:53,544 --> 00:28:54,579
than $1.2 billion into building

883
00:28:54,579 --> 00:28:56,579
the project.

884
00:28:56,981 --> 00:28:58,583
And the construction will create

885
00:28:58,583 --> 00:29:00,583
200 new jobs.

886
00:29:00,752 --> 00:29:03,321
We will utilize a host of

887
00:29:03,321 --> 00:29:04,489
vendors and suppliers as many

888
00:29:04,489 --> 00:29:06,489
local as possible.

889
00:29:06,491 --> 00:29:09,861
And we know that in addition to

890
00:29:09,861 --> 00:29:11,300
those suppliers and vendor,

891
00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:13,300
potentially customers, that

892
00:29:14,132 --> 00:29:15,601
there will be a need for hotels,

893
00:29:15,601 --> 00:29:17,601
restaurants, commercial space,

894
00:29:17,602 --> 00:29:20,105
retail shops, on and on.

895
00:29:20,105 --> 00:29:23,142
And once we're up and running,

896
00:29:23,142 --> 00:29:24,276
we expect to employ 428

897
00:29:24,276 --> 00:29:26,276
employees directly.

898
00:29:27,847 --> 00:29:28,114
at a compensation that averages

899
00:29:28,114 --> 00:29:30,114
$82,000.

900
00:29:30,383 --> 00:29:32,485
And we're aiming to hire as many

901
00:29:32,485 --> 00:29:32,752
local community members as

902
00:29:32,752 --> 00:29:34,752
possible.

903
00:29:35,487 --> 00:29:36,856
And that is why we will partner

904
00:29:36,856 --> 00:29:39,526
with gaston college and the

905
00:29:39,526 --> 00:29:41,194
school system to set up training

906
00:29:41,194 --> 00:29:43,194
programs.

907
00:29:44,498 --> 00:29:46,600
Beyond the 428 direct jobs, we

908
00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,000
believe we'll create 1,000 jobs

909
00:29:49,603 --> 00:29:52,439
in this community related to the

910
00:29:52,439 --> 00:29:54,775
ripple effect of the project.

911
00:29:54,775 --> 00:29:57,775
And according to our fiscal

912
00:29:58,312 --> 00:29:59,780
impact study, $45 million in

913
00:29:59,780 --> 00:30:02,316
fiscal revenue to gaston county

914
00:30:02,316 --> 00:30:05,286
in the first five years.

915
00:30:05,286 --> 00:30:08,886
And a total impact of nearly $4

916
00:30:12,627 --> 00:30:14,362
billion in the first five years.

917
00:30:14,362 --> 00:30:16,865
Now, I think the important thing

918
00:30:16,865 --> 00:30:18,600
today, we're going to answer a

919
00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,802
lot of questions and monique

920
00:30:20,802 --> 00:30:21,836
will talk about the details of

921
00:30:21,836 --> 00:30:23,739
water, and air and traffic, and

922
00:30:23,739 --> 00:30:25,841
all of those things.

923
00:30:25,841 --> 00:30:27,375
But I think what's important

924
00:30:27,375 --> 00:30:29,945
right now is that over the past

925
00:30:29,945 --> 00:30:31,647
two years, of working with the

926
00:30:31,647 --> 00:30:34,647
staff, we're determined to make

927
00:30:34,950 --> 00:30:36,950
four key commitments.

928
00:30:37,186 --> 00:30:39,186
Commitments to neighbor

929
00:30:39,255 --> 00:30:41,255
assurances, water line

930
00:30:41,891 --> 00:30:43,292
extension, reclamation and

931
00:30:43,292 --> 00:30:45,270
community funding.

932
00:30:45,270 --> 00:30:47,270
So neighbor assurances.

933
00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,199
We plan to put a financial

934
00:30:50,199 --> 00:30:51,668
instrument in place that will

935
00:30:51,668 --> 00:30:53,870
allow a property owner, if

936
00:30:53,870 --> 00:30:56,473
they're unable to sell their

937
00:30:56,473 --> 00:30:57,773
home or property, because of the

938
00:30:57,773 --> 00:30:59,976
project, and a reasonable amount

939
00:30:59,976 --> 00:31:02,579
of time, fair market value.

940
00:31:02,579 --> 00:31:04,781
We will assist financially.

941
00:31:04,781 --> 00:31:05,815
And that's a commitment we're

942
00:31:05,815 --> 00:31:07,617
willing to make.

943
00:31:07,617 --> 00:31:08,919
We also know there's concerns

944
00:31:08,919 --> 00:31:10,487
about wells.

945
00:31:10,487 --> 00:31:13,224
And monique will talk about that

946
00:31:13,224 --> 00:31:14,692
more specifically, but if a well

947
00:31:14,692 --> 00:31:16,260
runs dry on one of our

948
00:31:16,260 --> 00:31:18,260
neighbor's properties,

949
00:31:18,295 --> 00:31:20,531
properties, due to the project,

950
00:31:20,531 --> 00:31:23,601
we will either drill a new well,

951
00:31:23,601 --> 00:31:25,503
drill a deeper well, connect the

952
00:31:25,503 --> 00:31:27,105
home to municipal water, and in

953
00:31:27,105 --> 00:31:27,555
the meantime, we'll supply

954
00:31:27,555 --> 00:31:29,555
water.

955
00:31:30,598 --> 00:31:31,760
But we will also make a payment

956
00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,760
to that homeowner.

957
00:31:33,712 --> 00:31:35,847
That can help pay for water

958
00:31:35,847 --> 00:31:38,247
bills and for their

959
00:31:38,450 --> 00:31:40,450
inconvenience.

960
00:31:40,686 --> 00:31:43,860
The water line extension.

961
00:31:43,689 --> 00:31:44,122
We need municipal water for our

962
00:31:44,122 --> 00:31:46,122
project.

963
00:31:46,859 --> 00:31:49,929
So we have already agreed to

964
00:31:49,929 --> 00:31:51,664
fund the engineering study.

965
00:31:51,664 --> 00:31:54,664
We will also fund the

966
00:31:57,203 --> 00:31:59,500
construction of the water lines.

967
00:31:59,500 --> 00:32:01,140
And that extension will not only

968
00:32:01,140 --> 00:32:03,409
help our project but it will be

969
00:32:03,409 --> 00:32:03,710
available to neighbors and to

970
00:32:03,710 --> 00:32:05,478
businesses.

971
00:32:05,478 --> 00:32:06,346
And including those in the

972
00:32:06,346 --> 00:32:08,346
future.

973
00:32:08,380 --> 00:32:09,482
And we would like to help

974
00:32:09,482 --> 00:32:11,918
establish a program that would

975
00:32:11,918 --> 00:32:14,820
allow the neighbors to opt in if

976
00:32:14,820 --> 00:32:15,922
they would prefer to connect to

977
00:32:15,922 --> 00:32:17,658
municipal water and those

978
00:32:17,658 --> 00:32:20,127
details will all be determined

979
00:32:20,127 --> 00:32:21,295
in the community development

980
00:32:21,295 --> 00:32:23,263
agreement.

981
00:32:23,263 --> 00:32:25,532
As far as reclamation, we've had

982
00:32:25,532 --> 00:32:27,968
a lot of questions about how

983
00:32:27,968 --> 00:32:29,702
we're going to reclaim the land

984
00:32:29,702 --> 00:32:32,102
that we work on.

985
00:32:33,207 --> 00:32:35,243
We know that the state has $1

986
00:32:35,243 --> 00:32:37,612
million maximum surety bond,

987
00:32:37,612 --> 00:32:38,379
we're willing to put out a much

988
00:32:38,379 --> 00:32:40,379
larger surety bond.

989
00:32:40,548 --> 00:32:42,917
To help make sure that that the

990
00:32:42,917 --> 00:32:44,917
long-term reclamation takes

991
00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,920
place, both for the mining pits

992
00:32:53,195 --> 00:32:55,631
and for the conversion facility.

993
00:32:55,631 --> 00:32:57,733
And last but not least, our

994
00:32:57,733 --> 00:32:58,534
community shared-value

995
00:32:58,534 --> 00:33:00,200
commitment.

996
00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,271
Piedmont lithium is committed to

997
00:33:02,271 --> 00:33:03,304
sharing value with communities

998
00:33:03,304 --> 00:33:05,704
that we work in.

999
00:33:07,643 --> 00:33:08,978
So we will be putting together a

1000
00:33:08,978 --> 00:33:10,780
commitment that will be an

1001
00:33:10,780 --> 00:33:13,449
annual payment to gaston county

1002
00:33:13,449 --> 00:33:14,417
to help fund and support

1003
00:33:14,417 --> 00:33:16,686
well-being in this community.

1004
00:33:16,686 --> 00:33:17,887
All of the details of these

1005
00:33:17,887 --> 00:33:20,287
commitments will be determined

1006
00:33:20,924 --> 00:33:21,623
as we move forward with the

1007
00:33:21,623 --> 00:33:23,623
community's development

1008
00:33:27,531 --> 00:33:29,531
agreement.

1009
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:30,767
Okay.

1010
00:33:30,767 --> 00:33:31,535
Okay.

1011
00:33:31,535 --> 00:33:33,871
>> so I would like to go into

1012
00:33:33,871 --> 00:33:36,730
some of the stuff that we've

1013
00:33:36,730 --> 00:33:36,373
done from the environmental --

1014
00:33:36,373 --> 00:33:38,373
yes, sir.

1015
00:33:38,742 --> 00:33:40,110
My name is monique parker, I'm

1016
00:33:40,110 --> 00:33:41,144
senior vice PRESIDENT Of safety

1017
00:33:41,144 --> 00:33:41,544
environmental and health for

1018
00:33:41,544 --> 00:33:43,544
piedmont lithium.

1019
00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:46,383
One of the things that I wanted

1020
00:33:46,383 --> 00:33:48,190
to start with is, you know, when

1021
00:33:48,190 --> 00:33:48,886
I first came out of college, I

1022
00:33:48,886 --> 00:33:50,387
moved to gaston county.

1023
00:33:50,387 --> 00:33:50,721
My son was born in gaston

1024
00:33:50,721 --> 00:33:52,422
county.

1025
00:33:52,422 --> 00:33:53,691
So coming back to be able to

1026
00:33:53,691 --> 00:33:54,692
support this project is

1027
00:33:54,692 --> 00:33:56,940
extremely important to me.

1028
00:33:56,940 --> 00:33:57,362
I've done safety environmental

1029
00:33:57,362 --> 00:33:58,396
and health for the last 20

1030
00:33:58,396 --> 00:34:00,231
years, and I've done things

1031
00:34:00,231 --> 00:34:02,133
globally for the last 15.

1032
00:34:02,133 --> 00:34:04,469
And then the last almost 10

1033
00:34:04,469 --> 00:34:04,703
years worked in the lithium

1034
00:34:04,703 --> 00:34:06,703
market.

1035
00:34:06,738 --> 00:34:08,607
So again, when I joined, this

1036
00:34:08,607 --> 00:34:10,800
was near and dear to my heart to

1037
00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:11,410
one to come back to where I

1038
00:34:11,410 --> 00:34:12,945
started my career and also, to

1039
00:34:12,945 --> 00:34:14,680
be able to help build a project

1040
00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:16,482
that's going to be sustainable

1041
00:34:16,482 --> 00:34:17,490
for the economy and globally for

1042
00:34:17,490 --> 00:34:19,490
the world.

1043
00:34:19,485 --> 00:34:20,152
One of the things that I feel is

1044
00:34:20,152 --> 00:34:21,720
important and we want to share

1045
00:34:21,720 --> 00:34:22,922
tonight is all of the work that

1046
00:34:22,922 --> 00:34:24,923
we've done as erin mentioned

1047
00:34:24,923 --> 00:34:26,292
over the last two years to help

1048
00:34:26,292 --> 00:34:27,560
us understand better the

1049
00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:29,495
environmental impact and studies

1050
00:34:29,495 --> 00:34:31,863
and other things, so this is a

1051
00:34:31,863 --> 00:34:33,700
very extensive list of studies

1052
00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:33,899
that we've completed, since

1053
00:34:33,899 --> 00:34:35,899
2019.

1054
00:34:36,135 --> 00:34:37,937
And numerous tests on our

1055
00:34:37,937 --> 00:34:39,472
products on our impact, having

1056
00:34:39,472 --> 00:34:40,774
agency communications and

1057
00:34:40,774 --> 00:34:41,241
providing that information

1058
00:34:41,241 --> 00:34:43,241
publicly.

1059
00:34:43,677 --> 00:34:45,513
We have a ton of binders over

1060
00:34:45,513 --> 00:34:48,480
here about five thick binders

1061
00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:49,950
with all of these studies and

1062
00:34:49,950 --> 00:34:52,418
we'll also make these same

1063
00:34:52,418 --> 00:34:54,880
available at the cherryville

1064
00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:55,122
office, on main street, at the

1065
00:34:55,122 --> 00:34:56,656
gastonia public library and

1066
00:34:56,656 --> 00:34:59,293
also, we'll have a version

1067
00:34:59,293 --> 00:35:00,761
online so that everyone can see

1068
00:35:00,761 --> 00:35:02,830
any and any study that we've

1069
00:35:02,830 --> 00:35:04,165
completed and the details of

1070
00:35:04,165 --> 00:35:06,165
those studies.

1071
00:35:06,267 --> 00:35:07,602
Now, we've been provided with

1072
00:35:07,602 --> 00:35:08,770
question that we know have come

1073
00:35:08,770 --> 00:35:10,672
from various locations and so

1074
00:35:10,672 --> 00:35:11,840
I'm going to go through and try

1075
00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:12,774
to answer each one of those

1076
00:35:12,774 --> 00:35:14,609
questions and obviously, if

1077
00:35:14,609 --> 00:35:15,677
there are more that come, we're

1078
00:35:15,677 --> 00:35:17,645
happy to answer those following.

1079
00:35:17,645 --> 00:35:18,847
The first question we have is,

1080
00:35:18,847 --> 00:35:21,716
how will piedmont use municipal

1081
00:35:21,716 --> 00:35:22,984
water at carolina lithium?

1082
00:35:22,984 --> 00:35:25,220
As erin mentioned, we have to

1083
00:35:25,220 --> 00:35:28,190
have water, we have to have

1084
00:35:28,190 --> 00:35:29,240
municipal water for the lithium

1085
00:35:29,240 --> 00:35:29,892
hydroxide conversion plant,

1086
00:35:29,892 --> 00:35:31,326
because of the purity of the

1087
00:35:31,326 --> 00:35:33,596
water is extremely important.

1088
00:35:33,596 --> 00:35:34,663
So this picture here, the

1089
00:35:34,663 --> 00:35:35,730
circular process to show how

1090
00:35:35,730 --> 00:35:37,766
that water will be integrated

1091
00:35:37,766 --> 00:35:39,235
into our site, and how we will

1092
00:35:39,235 --> 00:35:40,870
discharge that water.

1093
00:35:40,870 --> 00:35:42,572
And as you can see, at the

1094
00:35:42,572 --> 00:35:44,674
beginning on the left-hand side,

1095
00:35:44,674 --> 00:35:46,642
this water will be supplied from

1096
00:35:46,642 --> 00:35:49,642
cherryville with a backup from

1097
00:35:49,846 --> 00:35:52,846
two rivers intooshgs, into a

1098
00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:54,217
circular process, a people and

1099
00:35:54,217 --> 00:35:55,185
process and fire prospective.

1100
00:35:55,185 --> 00:35:56,952
Fire, short and sweet to the

1101
00:35:56,952 --> 00:35:59,389
point, we bring that water in

1102
00:35:59,389 --> 00:36:00,590
and we fill our fire tank, that

1103
00:36:00,590 --> 00:36:01,858
will be there for emergency

1104
00:36:01,858 --> 00:36:03,600
response and other activities

1105
00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,195
that I'll go into later.

1106
00:36:05,195 --> 00:36:06,697
When we look at people,

1107
00:36:06,697 --> 00:36:08,699
obviously, we have to have

1108
00:36:08,699 --> 00:36:10,699
restroom, showers, drinking

1109
00:36:11,168 --> 00:36:13,904
water t list goes on in regards

1110
00:36:13,904 --> 00:36:14,671
to municipal water and then our

1111
00:36:14,671 --> 00:36:16,671
manufacturing process.

1112
00:36:19,477 --> 00:36:20,711
As I noted our lithium hydroxide

1113
00:36:20,711 --> 00:36:22,800
conversion plant needs water,

1114
00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:23,881
once we use the water in that

1115
00:36:23,881 --> 00:36:24,648
process, we will have an on site

1116
00:36:24,648 --> 00:36:25,817
waste water treatment facility

1117
00:36:25,817 --> 00:36:29,417
that will treat that water, and

1118
00:36:29,654 --> 00:36:32,570
then, we will send it to a waste

1119
00:36:32,570 --> 00:36:33,190
water pump station will it be

1120
00:36:33,190 --> 00:36:34,626
combined with the sewer water,

1121
00:36:34,626 --> 00:36:35,894
that will then be discharged

1122
00:36:35,894 --> 00:36:38,294
back to two rivers.

1123
00:36:38,629 --> 00:36:40,132
So one of the key points is, any

1124
00:36:40,132 --> 00:36:41,867
processed water from this

1125
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:42,701
process, will go back into a

1126
00:36:42,701 --> 00:36:43,835
waste water treatment system

1127
00:36:43,835 --> 00:36:45,469
through our sewer lines.

1128
00:36:45,469 --> 00:36:47,390
I want to make a point there,

1129
00:36:47,390 --> 00:36:48,841
there's no discharge to streams,

1130
00:36:48,841 --> 00:36:50,676
and water ways, from our

1131
00:36:50,676 --> 00:36:51,777
processed water, I think that's

1132
00:36:51,777 --> 00:36:54,880
a very important part to make.

1133
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:56,148
And one of the reasons why we

1134
00:36:56,148 --> 00:36:59,850
want to invest in including

1135
00:36:59,850 --> 00:37:00,453
water and sewer lines to our

1136
00:37:00,453 --> 00:37:01,788
property to support this effort.

1137
00:37:01,788 --> 00:37:03,355
The next question is.

1138
00:37:03,355 --> 00:37:05,291
How will the project impact the

1139
00:37:05,291 --> 00:37:07,494
water quality in wells,

1140
00:37:07,494 --> 00:37:07,961
groundwater and rivers and

1141
00:37:07,961 --> 00:37:09,329
streams?

1142
00:37:09,329 --> 00:37:10,330
So we've done extensive tests

1143
00:37:10,330 --> 00:37:11,297
that we've already showed and

1144
00:37:11,297 --> 00:37:13,166
talked about a little bit.

1145
00:37:13,166 --> 00:37:14,201
But one of things that we have

1146
00:37:14,201 --> 00:37:16,690
learnd is we will not materially

1147
00:37:16,690 --> 00:37:16,370
change the composition of the

1148
00:37:16,370 --> 00:37:17,437
groundwater.

1149
00:37:17,437 --> 00:37:18,605
So what does that really mean

1150
00:37:18,605 --> 00:37:20,307
and how do we say that?

1151
00:37:20,307 --> 00:37:21,742
One of the things I want to make

1152
00:37:21,742 --> 00:37:23,143
sure when I say we won't

1153
00:37:23,143 --> 00:37:25,846
materially change it, that means

1154
00:37:25,846 --> 00:37:26,180
we're not going to contaminate

1155
00:37:26,180 --> 00:37:28,180
wells.

1156
00:37:28,314 --> 00:37:29,283
I know that that's been, you

1157
00:37:29,283 --> 00:37:30,717
know, a question or a thought

1158
00:37:30,717 --> 00:37:32,586
that we continually get, how are

1159
00:37:32,586 --> 00:37:34,989
we going to impact the wells?

1160
00:37:34,989 --> 00:37:35,856
But based on the studies, we

1161
00:37:35,856 --> 00:37:36,824
should not have any

1162
00:37:36,824 --> 00:37:39,224
contamination to the wells.

1163
00:37:39,460 --> 00:37:39,660
And I mean, I think everyone

1164
00:37:39,660 --> 00:37:40,628
knows.

1165
00:37:40,628 --> 00:37:42,396
There's stringent regulations

1166
00:37:42,396 --> 00:37:44,299
that we have to meet in order to

1167
00:37:44,299 --> 00:37:45,667
even have our process and our

1168
00:37:45,667 --> 00:37:46,868
operations, we're going to do

1169
00:37:46,868 --> 00:37:49,268
extebsive monitoring and testing

1170
00:37:49,404 --> 00:37:49,604
throughout the operations of our

1171
00:37:49,604 --> 00:37:51,106
plant.

1172
00:37:51,106 --> 00:37:52,107
I'll show in a little bit of a

1173
00:37:52,107 --> 00:37:53,241
different pictorial that shows

1174
00:37:53,241 --> 00:37:55,577
how we're using the groundwater

1175
00:37:55,577 --> 00:37:56,477
and we're going to recycle that,

1176
00:37:56,477 --> 00:37:57,579
because when we open up the

1177
00:37:57,579 --> 00:38:00,349
mine, groundwater will come into

1178
00:38:00,349 --> 00:38:01,250
the pits and there's a recycled

1179
00:38:01,250 --> 00:38:03,650
process that we'll use.

1180
00:38:03,718 --> 00:38:05,120
We also have the two rivers that

1181
00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:07,223
I mentioned that all of our

1182
00:38:07,223 --> 00:38:09,458
process will go to.

1183
00:38:09,458 --> 00:38:12,127
And then one thing that I want

1184
00:38:12,127 --> 00:38:14,931
to make sure that we fine, a lot

1185
00:38:14,931 --> 00:38:16,732
of the mining operations have

1186
00:38:16,732 --> 00:38:17,967
ponds, the waste water that gets

1187
00:38:17,967 --> 00:38:19,969
stored in a pond and there's

1188
00:38:19,969 --> 00:38:22,105
failures associated with that.

1189
00:38:22,105 --> 00:38:23,473
Our project has no pond.

1190
00:38:23,473 --> 00:38:25,442
So that is something that we

1191
00:38:25,442 --> 00:38:27,844
will not have, and we'll talk

1192
00:38:27,844 --> 00:38:29,112
about how we'll do reclamation

1193
00:38:29,112 --> 00:38:33,160
and how -- where our waste will

1194
00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:34,217
go and how we will treat it.

1195
00:38:34,217 --> 00:38:36,850
The next question.

1196
00:38:36,850 --> 00:38:36,887
How will the project impact

1197
00:38:36,887 --> 00:38:38,922
local wells and water

1198
00:38:38,922 --> 00:38:40,157
availability for residents and

1199
00:38:40,157 --> 00:38:42,157
local businesses?

1200
00:38:42,626 --> 00:38:43,961
As I mentioned, studies indicate

1201
00:38:43,961 --> 00:38:45,563
there will be no widespread

1202
00:38:45,563 --> 00:38:46,831
drying up of wells.

1203
00:38:46,831 --> 00:38:48,265
I say we wouldn't contaminate

1204
00:38:48,265 --> 00:38:49,767
the wells but this is talking

1205
00:38:49,767 --> 00:38:51,802
about how are we going to impact

1206
00:38:51,802 --> 00:38:53,571
them from the quantity of water

1207
00:38:53,571 --> 00:38:55,106
that they're going to get?

1208
00:38:55,106 --> 00:38:56,407
We've done these studies and one

1209
00:38:56,407 --> 00:38:57,875
of the analogy

1210
00:38:57,875 --> 00:38:59,244
ies I want to give

1211
00:38:59,244 --> 00:39:01,379
is some people think that the

1212
00:39:01,379 --> 00:39:01,713
water table is like a bath

1213
00:39:01,713 --> 00:39:02,780
bathtub.

1214
00:39:02,780 --> 00:39:03,715
So you have this water table

1215
00:39:03,715 --> 00:39:05,830
sitting there and just waiting

1216
00:39:05,830 --> 00:39:05,617
for wells to come and pump out

1217
00:39:05,617 --> 00:39:07,385
of it.

1218
00:39:07,385 --> 00:39:09,421
But the reality of it is, you

1219
00:39:09,421 --> 00:39:11,256
know, when you have a bathtub

1220
00:39:11,256 --> 00:39:12,758
and you open up the drains and

1221
00:39:12,758 --> 00:39:14,660
all of that water flows out.

1222
00:39:14,660 --> 00:39:15,460
That's not what the water table

1223
00:39:15,460 --> 00:39:17,460
really is.

1224
00:39:18,430 --> 00:39:19,832
The water table sits in a layer

1225
00:39:19,832 --> 00:39:22,000
above hard rock and even the

1226
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:22,200
material that we're going to

1227
00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:23,703
mine.

1228
00:39:23,703 --> 00:39:23,903
And therefore, that's how it

1229
00:39:23,903 --> 00:39:25,237
works.

1230
00:39:25,237 --> 00:39:26,572
And I'm going to show a

1231
00:39:26,572 --> 00:39:27,473
pictorial that gets into a

1232
00:39:27,473 --> 00:39:29,609
little bit more detail to be

1233
00:39:29,609 --> 00:39:31,811
able to see that pick toirly.

1234
00:39:31,811 --> 00:39:32,512
But I'll get back to the wells

1235
00:39:32,512 --> 00:39:34,512
and water availability.

1236
00:39:34,881 --> 00:39:36,316
Through the studies, there's

1237
00:39:36,316 --> 00:39:38,384
maybe ten parcels that are

1238
00:39:38,384 --> 00:39:39,986
nonpiedmont owned that could be

1239
00:39:39,986 --> 00:39:40,420
impacted by draw down of our

1240
00:39:40,420 --> 00:39:42,420
mining operation.

1241
00:39:43,290 --> 00:39:44,925
And so, with that, we've already

1242
00:39:44,925 --> 00:39:47,527
had the well mitigation plan,

1243
00:39:47,527 --> 00:39:48,929
which erin went into details of

1244
00:39:48,929 --> 00:39:50,163
how we will mitigate any wells

1245
00:39:50,163 --> 00:39:51,198
that are impacted but we also

1246
00:39:51,198 --> 00:39:52,466
have one of the solutions, which

1247
00:39:52,466 --> 00:39:54,101
is the extension of the water

1248
00:39:54,101 --> 00:39:54,301
and sewer lines to come to that

1249
00:39:54,301 --> 00:39:56,700
area.

1250
00:39:56,700 --> 00:39:58,372
So when we talk about wells

1251
00:39:58,372 --> 00:39:59,974
being impacted, and groundwater,

1252
00:39:59,974 --> 00:40:01,275
we feel we've put a good plan in

1253
00:40:01,275 --> 00:40:02,777
place to be able to understand

1254
00:40:02,777 --> 00:40:05,445
and support what that looks like

1255
00:40:05,445 --> 00:40:07,348
and ready to immediately

1256
00:40:07,348 --> 00:40:09,348
respond.

1257
00:40:09,750 --> 00:40:11,190
So fresh water, I mentioned,

1258
00:40:11,190 --> 00:40:11,319
what are we doing with

1259
00:40:11,319 --> 00:40:13,319
groundwater?

1260
00:40:14,155 --> 00:40:14,856
And I talked about the bathtub

1261
00:40:14,856 --> 00:40:15,256
analogy, with where the

1262
00:40:15,256 --> 00:40:16,391
groundwater is.

1263
00:40:16,391 --> 00:40:18,526
We open a mine.

1264
00:40:18,526 --> 00:40:18,893
That water is going to flow into

1265
00:40:18,893 --> 00:40:20,893
our pit.

1266
00:40:21,196 --> 00:40:23,310
Once it comes into our pits, we

1267
00:40:23,310 --> 00:40:25,700
will pump that water out, and it

1268
00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:26,568
will go into what we call

1269
00:40:26,568 --> 00:40:27,669
sedimentation pond.

1270
00:40:27,669 --> 00:40:29,370
Those sedimentation ponds are

1271
00:40:29,370 --> 00:40:32,374
there to rest, and allow us to

1272
00:40:32,374 --> 00:40:35,440
treat, and if we need to, we

1273
00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:36,545
will also -- ills I'm sorry,

1274
00:40:36,545 --> 00:40:36,745
rest, test and treat if we have

1275
00:40:36,745 --> 00:40:37,946
to.

1276
00:40:37,946 --> 00:40:39,181
Once it's in those ponds, we

1277
00:40:39,181 --> 00:40:41,250
plan to reuse that water.

1278
00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:43,520
So we're going to have a need

1279
00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,520
for water for dust suppression

1280
00:40:46,455 --> 00:40:48,240
and for our chemical and for our

1281
00:40:48,240 --> 00:40:50,424
concentrator plant, that's the

1282
00:40:50,460 --> 00:40:52,195
number two that we showed in the

1283
00:40:52,195 --> 00:40:52,361
pictorial of mining concentrate

1284
00:40:52,361 --> 00:40:53,463
tor.

1285
00:40:53,463 --> 00:40:56,165
We don't need the same quality

1286
00:40:56,165 --> 00:40:56,965
of water for the concentrator

1287
00:40:56,965 --> 00:40:58,301
prathss so that groundwater will

1288
00:40:58,301 --> 00:40:59,302
be able to source the water

1289
00:40:59,302 --> 00:40:59,736
that's necessary for that

1290
00:40:59,736 --> 00:41:01,104
process.

1291
00:41:01,104 --> 00:41:02,906
And any residual water that's

1292
00:41:02,906 --> 00:41:04,607
left in those sedimentation

1293
00:41:04,607 --> 00:41:06,842
ponds would then be discharged

1294
00:41:06,842 --> 00:41:07,770
to the streams and water ways

1295
00:41:07,770 --> 00:41:08,244
nearby.

1296
00:41:08,244 --> 00:41:10,246
But again, remember, we're going

1297
00:41:10,246 --> 00:41:12,716
to be testing and we will treat

1298
00:41:12,716 --> 00:41:13,117
if necessary, prior to those

1299
00:41:13,117 --> 00:41:15,117
discharges.

1300
00:41:15,419 --> 00:41:16,620
Now, once the water leaves our

1301
00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:18,990
concentrator plant, similar to

1302
00:41:18,990 --> 00:41:21,580
our chemical plant, we are also

1303
00:41:21,580 --> 00:41:22,726
going to pretreat on site any

1304
00:41:22,726 --> 00:41:24,462
processed water that comes from

1305
00:41:24,462 --> 00:41:25,930
that concentrator plant.

1306
00:41:25,930 --> 00:41:27,665
That processed water will then

1307
00:41:27,665 --> 00:41:29,533
be pumped to two rivers to the

1308
00:41:29,533 --> 00:41:31,402
waste water treatment system.

1309
00:41:31,402 --> 00:41:32,971
So that circular process starts

1310
00:41:32,971 --> 00:41:34,940
with groundwater, but ends from

1311
00:41:34,940 --> 00:41:37,800
a processing perspective, at the

1312
00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:37,275
two rivers for waste water

1313
00:41:37,275 --> 00:41:38,510
treatment.

1314
00:41:38,510 --> 00:41:41,780
On top of our pretreatment that

1315
00:41:41,780 --> 00:41:44,160
we're going to do on site.

1316
00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:45,350
So I mentioned sedimentation

1317
00:41:45,350 --> 00:41:47,520
ponds in the previous slide.

1318
00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:48,854
We have what we call

1319
00:41:48,854 --> 00:41:50,220
sedimentation basins and

1320
00:41:50,220 --> 00:41:52,220
sedimentation ponds.

1321
00:41:52,910 --> 00:41:53,592
And sometimes those can be used

1322
00:41:53,592 --> 00:41:54,593
interchangeablely, but they're

1323
00:41:54,593 --> 00:41:56,495
actually very different.

1324
00:41:56,495 --> 00:41:58,598
Our sedimentation basins are

1325
00:41:58,598 --> 00:41:58,898
what we use for basically

1326
00:41:58,898 --> 00:42:00,898
stormwater.

1327
00:42:01,501 --> 00:42:01,734
Our erosion and sedimentation

1328
00:42:01,734 --> 00:42:03,734
control.

1329
00:42:03,803 --> 00:42:05,738
So the stormwater actually goes

1330
00:42:05,738 --> 00:42:07,730
into those basin, we will then

1331
00:42:07,730 --> 00:42:08,541
test, as that water is going in

1332
00:42:08,541 --> 00:42:10,510
and before it goes out to

1333
00:42:10,510 --> 00:42:12,479
understand and treat, if

1334
00:42:12,479 --> 00:42:14,748
necessary, before release, and

1335
00:42:14,748 --> 00:42:16,316
that's the water, again, solely

1336
00:42:16,316 --> 00:42:17,551
stormwater from the site.

1337
00:42:17,551 --> 00:42:19,920
Now, our sedimentation pond,

1338
00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:20,988
that's the ponds that we use for

1339
00:42:20,988 --> 00:42:22,222
groundwater and stormwater.

1340
00:42:22,222 --> 00:42:23,423
From a combination of

1341
00:42:23,423 --> 00:42:23,857
understanding what that looks

1342
00:42:23,857 --> 00:42:25,857
like.

1343
00:42:26,794 --> 00:42:28,950
That's the same water that we'll

1344
00:42:28,950 --> 00:42:29,196
reuse at our concentrator plant

1345
00:42:29,196 --> 00:42:30,264
and the dust suppression and

1346
00:42:30,264 --> 00:42:32,800
then any water that's left would

1347
00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:34,340
be discharged into streams.

1348
00:42:34,340 --> 00:42:35,903
both of these discharges are

1349
00:42:35,903 --> 00:42:37,338
going to be covered under a

1350
00:42:37,338 --> 00:42:38,239
permit through the mpds system

1351
00:42:38,239 --> 00:42:38,573
with the state of north

1352
00:42:38,573 --> 00:42:40,740
carolina.

1353
00:42:40,740 --> 00:42:40,742
So we will have good

1354
00:42:40,742 --> 00:42:42,276
understanding of what's going

1355
00:42:42,276 --> 00:42:43,678
into these areas, and what's

1356
00:42:43,678 --> 00:42:45,846
going out of and make sure we

1357
00:42:45,846 --> 00:42:47,846
have stringent requirements

1358
00:42:49,684 --> 00:42:50,452
around them.

1359
00:42:50,452 --> 00:42:51,553
Arsenic, I know we've heard

1360
00:42:51,553 --> 00:42:54,553
many, many times about arsenic

1361
00:42:54,956 --> 00:42:57,392
and so the question is, well

1362
00:42:57,392 --> 00:42:58,926
will carolina lithium create or

1363
00:42:58,926 --> 00:42:59,227
release arsenic into the local

1364
00:42:59,227 --> 00:43:01,227
groundwater?

1365
00:43:01,697 --> 00:43:04,990
I think that there's a

1366
00:43:04,990 --> 00:43:05,566
misconception that arsenic is

1367
00:43:05,566 --> 00:43:07,937
used in lithium mines that, is

1368
00:43:07,937 --> 00:43:10,640
not true, we do not create,

1369
00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:10,906
release or use arsenic from our

1370
00:43:10,906 --> 00:43:12,274
operation.

1371
00:43:12,274 --> 00:43:13,442
When I talk about that,

1372
00:43:13,442 --> 00:43:15,945
obviously, I think many people

1373
00:43:15,945 --> 00:43:17,445
are very aware there's naturally

1374
00:43:17,445 --> 00:43:18,881
occurring arsenic in the

1375
00:43:18,881 --> 00:43:21,450
groundwater around us in gaston

1376
00:43:21,450 --> 00:43:21,718
county and other neighboring

1377
00:43:21,718 --> 00:43:23,718
counties.

1378
00:43:23,786 --> 00:43:25,221
That naturely occurring arsenic

1379
00:43:25,221 --> 00:43:27,591
comes from the rock, the soil,

1380
00:43:27,591 --> 00:43:30,160
and the groundwater due to

1381
00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:30,960
volcanic rock activity in that

1382
00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:32,229
region.

1383
00:43:32,229 --> 00:43:33,396
So it's not there because we're

1384
00:43:33,396 --> 00:43:35,265
mining it, because obviously we

1385
00:43:35,265 --> 00:43:38,865
haven't mined yet, but it is

1386
00:43:39,203 --> 00:43:41,371
there just naturely due to the

1387
00:43:41,371 --> 00:43:41,571
-- anomaly of the geology that's

1388
00:43:41,571 --> 00:43:43,206
there.

1389
00:43:43,206 --> 00:43:45,342
This helps me explain the thing

1390
00:43:45,342 --> 00:43:47,210
I was talking about earlier.

1391
00:43:47,210 --> 00:43:49,146
As you can see here we have the

1392
00:43:49,146 --> 00:43:52,183
water tables, the blue line that

1393
00:43:52,183 --> 00:43:55,783
is there, and below is the

1394
00:43:56,321 --> 00:43:56,853
volcanic rock and hosts the

1395
00:43:56,853 --> 00:43:58,756
spodumene ore.

1396
00:43:58,756 --> 00:44:00,758
It is below the water table.

1397
00:44:00,758 --> 00:44:02,893
We're going to be removing that

1398
00:44:02,893 --> 00:44:03,927
material and then pump or

1399
00:44:03,927 --> 00:44:05,363
dewater al of that water from

1400
00:44:05,363 --> 00:44:07,399
the mine or the pit area into

1401
00:44:07,399 --> 00:44:07,665
the sedimentation ponds that I

1402
00:44:07,665 --> 00:44:09,340
discussed.

1403
00:44:09,340 --> 00:44:10,680
So therefore, water can't drain

1404
00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:12,170
back into the water table.

1405
00:44:12,170 --> 00:44:14,139
Once it comets out, it's not

1406
00:44:14,139 --> 00:44:15,440
going to go back in, one of the

1407
00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:16,841
analogies that was given to me

1408
00:44:16,841 --> 00:44:17,976
is, you know, water likes the

1409
00:44:17,976 --> 00:44:19,778
path of least resistance, so

1410
00:44:19,778 --> 00:44:21,714
when it comes out, it's not

1411
00:44:21,714 --> 00:44:22,814
going to go into those tiny kref

1412
00:44:22,814 --> 00:44:24,283
sass that it came from, it's

1413
00:44:24,283 --> 00:44:24,784
going to go to where the large

1414
00:44:24,784 --> 00:44:26,784
spaces are.

1415
00:44:27,153 --> 00:44:30,890
And the that's why it comes into

1416
00:44:30,890 --> 00:44:31,791
the pit.

1417
00:44:31,791 --> 00:44:34,393
How will waste be disposed and

1418
00:44:34,393 --> 00:44:35,862
will it be hazardous?

1419
00:44:35,862 --> 00:44:36,996
I'm going to go through the

1420
00:44:36,996 --> 00:44:38,730
various waste, the first is like

1421
00:44:38,730 --> 00:44:39,899
any other plant, just normal

1422
00:44:39,899 --> 00:44:40,567
dumpster waste from our offices

1423
00:44:40,567 --> 00:44:42,335
and other areas.

1424
00:44:42,335 --> 00:44:44,370
Those things will go to a land

1425
00:44:44,370 --> 00:44:46,139
fill and be disposed of

1426
00:44:46,139 --> 00:44:46,340
properly, we will have a lab on

1427
00:44:46,340 --> 00:44:48,340
site.

1428
00:44:48,775 --> 00:44:50,143
That lab will have chemicals

1429
00:44:50,143 --> 00:44:51,878
that would be deemed hazardous

1430
00:44:51,878 --> 00:44:53,580
once we dispose of them.

1431
00:44:53,580 --> 00:44:54,915
There will be small amounts of

1432
00:44:54,915 --> 00:44:57,840
hazardous waste that come from

1433
00:44:57,840 --> 00:44:57,384
the site, primarily from the lab

1434
00:44:57,384 --> 00:44:58,485
operations.

1435
00:44:58,485 --> 00:45:00,485
Our conversion tailings.

1436
00:45:00,721 --> 00:45:02,655
So again, our conversion is that

1437
00:45:02,655 --> 00:45:04,391
lithium hydroxide plant, there

1438
00:45:04,391 --> 00:45:06,260
are waste and we call them

1439
00:45:06,260 --> 00:45:06,560
tailings that come from that

1440
00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:08,329
operation.

1441
00:45:08,329 --> 00:45:09,330
And those tellings MAY have some

1442
00:45:09,330 --> 00:45:10,764
beneficial reuse that we're

1443
00:45:10,764 --> 00:45:12,133
currently exploring and looking

1444
00:45:12,133 --> 00:45:14,133
for aggregate recycled.

1445
00:45:14,268 --> 00:45:16,104
But in the interim, they will be

1446
00:45:16,104 --> 00:45:18,473
disposed of off site, at a

1447
00:45:18,473 --> 00:45:18,740
properly permitted disposal

1448
00:45:18,740 --> 00:45:20,308
location.

1449
00:45:20,308 --> 00:45:22,176
And the last two pieces of waste

1450
00:45:22,176 --> 00:45:22,644
we have are what we call waste

1451
00:45:22,644 --> 00:45:24,790
rock.

1452
00:45:24,790 --> 00:45:26,614
Which is the rock that doesn't

1453
00:45:26,614 --> 00:45:28,717
have lithium or any of our

1454
00:45:28,717 --> 00:45:31,117
by-product materials in them.

1455
00:45:32,387 --> 00:45:33,654
That rock will going into the

1456
00:45:33,654 --> 00:45:36,358
comingling process to go back

1457
00:45:36,358 --> 00:45:39,958
into the pit, when I talked

1458
00:45:40,963 --> 00:45:42,264
about reclamation and erin was

1459
00:45:42,264 --> 00:45:44,600
mentioned the reclamation pond.

1460
00:45:44,600 --> 00:45:46,669
We will refill that pit with our

1461
00:45:46,669 --> 00:45:48,270
waste rock and our concentrator

1462
00:45:48,270 --> 00:45:49,839
tailings that is a very fine

1463
00:45:49,839 --> 00:45:50,840
sapped that comes from that --

1464
00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:51,474
sand that comes from that

1465
00:45:51,474 --> 00:45:52,709
operation.

1466
00:45:52,709 --> 00:45:53,375
Neither one of these are

1467
00:45:53,375 --> 00:45:53,576
hazardous, that material will go

1468
00:45:53,576 --> 00:45:55,278
back.

1469
00:45:55,278 --> 00:45:56,679
And again, I think it's poshlt,

1470
00:45:56,679 --> 00:45:58,140
you know, I talked about a

1471
00:45:58,140 --> 00:46:00,140
tailings pond earlier.

1472
00:46:00,684 --> 00:46:02,485
We won't have those tailings

1473
00:46:02,485 --> 00:46:02,919
ponds on our properties to host

1474
00:46:02,919 --> 00:46:04,919
this material.

1475
00:46:05,188 --> 00:46:08,158
It one is not hazardous, and

1476
00:46:08,158 --> 00:46:10,627
two, we have for reuse from a

1477
00:46:10,627 --> 00:46:11,929
reclamation perspective.

1478
00:46:11,929 --> 00:46:15,529
How will the project impact the

1479
00:46:16,233 --> 00:46:18,169
air quality in the area?

1480
00:46:18,169 --> 00:46:19,703
One of the things that's most

1481
00:46:19,703 --> 00:46:22,703
important to understand is there

1482
00:46:24,192 --> 00:46:24,258
will be no change to the air

1483
00:46:24,258 --> 00:46:24,342
quality that currently exists

1484
00:46:24,342 --> 00:46:25,209
differently from our property

1485
00:46:25,209 --> 00:46:26,744
boundaries today.

1486
00:46:26,744 --> 00:46:28,346
So the air that people are

1487
00:46:28,346 --> 00:46:29,547
breathing in that area is the

1488
00:46:29,547 --> 00:46:30,982
same air they're going to

1489
00:46:30,982 --> 00:46:31,182
breathe once to operations are

1490
00:46:31,182 --> 00:46:32,650
there.

1491
00:46:32,650 --> 00:46:33,551
We've done testing and modeling

1492
00:46:33,551 --> 00:46:34,986
to understand what is going to

1493
00:46:34,986 --> 00:46:35,920
come from our operations, and

1494
00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:37,355
looking at the controls we're

1495
00:46:37,355 --> 00:46:39,124
going to have in place, and

1496
00:46:39,124 --> 00:46:40,892
looking at our permit boundaries

1497
00:46:40,892 --> 00:46:41,920
to understand the extent of

1498
00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:43,920
that.

1499
00:46:43,661 --> 00:46:45,264
We have a lot of emission and

1500
00:46:45,264 --> 00:46:46,970
control equipment, we do

1501
00:46:46,970 --> 00:46:47,566
monitoring and testing, and

1502
00:46:47,566 --> 00:46:49,401
right now, we're in the process

1503
00:46:49,401 --> 00:46:51,236
of working with department of

1504
00:46:51,236 --> 00:46:54,172
air quality daq to obtain our

1505
00:46:54,172 --> 00:46:58,243
air permit to be able to run our

1506
00:46:58,243 --> 00:46:59,679
operations.

1507
00:46:59,679 --> 00:47:02,679
Will piedmont leave behind large

1508
00:47:03,490 --> 00:47:04,817
open pits?

1509
00:47:04,817 --> 00:47:06,853
The quick answer to that is no,

1510
00:47:06,853 --> 00:47:07,921
there will be one pit that will

1511
00:47:07,921 --> 00:47:11,424
remain open that we'll fill with

1512
00:47:11,424 --> 00:47:12,458
water, but again, as I've

1513
00:47:12,458 --> 00:47:14,458
mentioned previously, we're

1514
00:47:14,561 --> 00:47:15,862
going to be doing progressive

1515
00:47:15,862 --> 00:47:17,430
reclamation and back fill, we

1516
00:47:17,430 --> 00:47:18,498
will have one pit open at a

1517
00:47:18,498 --> 00:47:19,599
time, as I mentioned and then

1518
00:47:19,599 --> 00:47:22,202
the north pit, which you'll see

1519
00:47:22,202 --> 00:47:23,936
in this picture, noted 4 for

1520
00:47:23,936 --> 00:47:24,171
those that can see, will remain

1521
00:47:24,171 --> 00:47:26,171
open.

1522
00:47:26,807 --> 00:47:29,110
And we plan to own that area in

1523
00:47:29,110 --> 00:47:30,945
perpetuity, so we will always

1524
00:47:30,945 --> 00:47:31,879
understand what's there, what's

1525
00:47:31,879 --> 00:47:32,746
the quantity and quality there

1526
00:47:32,746 --> 00:47:35,249
and how we will control it.

1527
00:47:35,249 --> 00:47:37,617
One of the things that I think

1528
00:47:37,617 --> 00:47:39,754
is important is that from a

1529
00:47:39,754 --> 00:47:42,154
reclamation perspective, we want

1530
00:47:42,523 --> 00:47:44,959
to be able to free use this land

1531
00:47:44,959 --> 00:47:46,959
once it's done.

1532
00:47:47,729 --> 00:47:50,765
How loud and how long will each

1533
00:47:50,765 --> 00:47:52,000
blast be?

1534
00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:53,735
Modern blasts last seconds.

1535
00:47:53,735 --> 00:47:56,400
So I know in the past, there's a

1536
00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:56,338
lot of history of mining in this

1537
00:47:56,338 --> 00:47:57,506
area.

1538
00:47:57,506 --> 00:47:59,608
And there's stories we've heard

1539
00:47:59,608 --> 00:48:00,943
of when the blasts go off,

1540
00:48:00,943 --> 00:48:04,213
people having to go under deck

1541
00:48:04,213 --> 00:48:05,581
and those types of things,

1542
00:48:05,581 --> 00:48:07,820
today's modern technology does

1543
00:48:07,820 --> 00:48:08,316
that give that same result so

1544
00:48:08,316 --> 00:48:09,818
they last seconds. There's a

1545
00:48:09,818 --> 00:48:12,188
lot of federal regulatory

1546
00:48:12,188 --> 00:48:14,724
standards set in place and based

1547
00:48:14,724 --> 00:48:16,525
on studies over 40 years,

1548
00:48:16,525 --> 00:48:17,660
there's proof to show that if

1549
00:48:17,660 --> 00:48:19,595
blasting is done within these

1550
00:48:19,595 --> 00:48:21,595
federal regulatory standards,

1551
00:48:22,298 --> 00:48:23,166
there's no structural damage.

1552
00:48:23,166 --> 00:48:25,468
Obviously, you know, those

1553
00:48:25,468 --> 00:48:26,803
studies not done by us, because

1554
00:48:26,803 --> 00:48:28,538
we haven't been around for 40

1555
00:48:28,538 --> 00:48:29,773
years are evidence of what can

1556
00:48:29,773 --> 00:48:31,410
happen as long as you're

1557
00:48:31,410 --> 00:48:32,800
following in the guidelines.

1558
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:33,243
When we talk about blasts

1559
00:48:33,243 --> 00:48:34,511
there's two things that we

1560
00:48:34,511 --> 00:48:35,879
normally hear, or get asked

1561
00:48:35,879 --> 00:48:37,681
about, structure and nuisance.

1562
00:48:37,681 --> 00:48:39,282
So I've mentioned structure.

1563
00:48:39,282 --> 00:48:40,918
And how that 40 year study and

1564
00:48:40,918 --> 00:48:42,553
we're going to less than 50%

1565
00:48:42,553 --> 00:48:44,254
below those federal standards.

1566
00:48:44,254 --> 00:48:46,890
But then there's nuisance, what

1567
00:48:46,890 --> 00:48:47,124
happens around the nuisance with

1568
00:48:47,124 --> 00:48:48,459
blasts?

1569
00:48:48,459 --> 00:48:49,660
There's a lot of factors in what

1570
00:48:49,660 --> 00:48:50,828
people are going to feel.

1571
00:48:50,828 --> 00:48:52,763
The factors come from the

1572
00:48:52,763 --> 00:48:53,970
direction that the blast is

1573
00:48:53,970 --> 00:48:54,640
coming.

1574
00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:54,765
What's the weather conditions

1575
00:48:54,765 --> 00:48:56,765
for that day?

1576
00:48:56,801 --> 00:48:57,670
How far are they from the

1577
00:48:57,670 --> 00:48:58,902
blasting?

1578
00:48:58,902 --> 00:49:01,505
Where are they located, indoors

1579
00:49:01,505 --> 00:49:03,505
or outdoors?

1580
00:49:04,141 --> 00:49:06,440
What we know based on studies is

1581
00:49:06,440 --> 00:49:07,512
those 2,000 feet from the blast

1582
00:49:07,512 --> 00:49:08,130
MAY have a wind or vibration

1583
00:49:08,130 --> 00:49:09,681
that they feel.

1584
00:49:09,681 --> 00:49:11,316
And the farther away you get

1585
00:49:11,316 --> 00:49:13,584
from that, the quickly it

1586
00:49:13,584 --> 00:49:14,886
rapidly diminishes that impact.

1587
00:49:14,886 --> 00:49:17,322
So I think that's important and

1588
00:49:17,322 --> 00:49:20,492
we have again many studies in

1589
00:49:20,492 --> 00:49:20,926
our book to show what that looks

1590
00:49:20,926 --> 00:49:22,494
like.

1591
00:49:22,494 --> 00:49:24,620
We're often asked how often and

1592
00:49:24,620 --> 00:49:25,397
will blasting occur?

1593
00:49:25,397 --> 00:49:26,932
Initially, we plan to start

1594
00:49:26,932 --> 00:49:28,501
blasting once a day, no more

1595
00:49:28,501 --> 00:49:30,690
than twice a day.

1596
00:49:30,690 --> 00:49:30,702
But there are also some

1597
00:49:30,702 --> 00:49:32,702
scheduling requirements that

1598
00:49:32,838 --> 00:49:33,390
will determine what that looks

1599
00:49:33,390 --> 00:49:34,774
like.

1600
00:49:34,774 --> 00:49:37,877
Due to the ordinance that was

1601
00:49:37,877 --> 00:49:39,779
put in place in 2021, we know we

1602
00:49:39,779 --> 00:49:41,881
can't blast one hour after --

1603
00:49:41,881 --> 00:49:43,817
until one hour after sunrise.

1604
00:49:43,817 --> 00:49:45,151
And we must stop one hour before

1605
00:49:45,151 --> 00:49:47,553
sunset, so that's a very short

1606
00:49:47,553 --> 00:49:49,222
window, depending on the season.

1607
00:49:49,222 --> 00:49:50,123
Of when blasting can occur into

1608
00:49:50,123 --> 00:49:52,123
that time frame.

1609
00:49:52,224 --> 00:49:53,930
And you'll note, no sundays and

1610
00:49:53,930 --> 00:49:54,928
certain holidays that have

1611
00:49:54,928 --> 00:49:57,928
already been defined, we will

1612
00:49:59,660 --> 00:50:01,466
follow those rules stringently.

1613
00:50:01,535 --> 00:50:02,202
If lithium high -- is lithium

1614
00:50:02,202 --> 00:50:04,202
hydroxide flammable?

1615
00:50:04,372 --> 00:50:06,400
I can say from a standpoint of

1616
00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:07,341
the chemistry of it, the answer

1617
00:50:07,341 --> 00:50:09,341
is no.

1618
00:50:11,579 --> 00:50:12,847
Lithium the high docks --

1619
00:50:12,847 --> 00:50:14,649
hydroxide is not flammable.

1620
00:50:14,649 --> 00:50:16,649
There's understanding, recently

1621
00:50:16,684 --> 00:50:19,870
lithium fires in the area, those

1622
00:50:19,870 --> 00:50:20,955
are were lithium metals, we will

1623
00:50:20,955 --> 00:50:22,223
not have them on the site, we

1624
00:50:22,223 --> 00:50:24,292
will not produce, manufacture

1625
00:50:24,292 --> 00:50:27,696
anything to do with lithium met

1626
00:50:27,696 --> 00:50:28,463
cals so we don't have that same

1627
00:50:28,463 --> 00:50:29,464
flamability profile.

1628
00:50:29,464 --> 00:50:29,698
It doesn't occur naturally in

1629
00:50:29,698 --> 00:50:31,333
nature.

1630
00:50:31,333 --> 00:50:33,936
So it's not like when you mine

1631
00:50:33,936 --> 00:50:36,936
it, you unsource lithium metal,

1632
00:50:37,206 --> 00:50:38,700
we unsource spodumene that host

1633
00:50:38,700 --> 00:50:38,207
lithium, that same risk isn't

1634
00:50:38,207 --> 00:50:40,109
there.

1635
00:50:40,109 --> 00:50:42,545
And as I mentioned and as erin

1636
00:50:42,545 --> 00:50:44,945
said earlier, lithium hydroxide

1637
00:50:45,481 --> 00:50:46,548
is a salt so the flamability

1638
00:50:46,548 --> 00:50:48,117
factors and the chemistry of it

1639
00:50:48,117 --> 00:50:49,685
don't allow it to do that.

1640
00:50:49,685 --> 00:50:51,254
The product that we produce will

1641
00:50:51,254 --> 00:50:52,955
go into batteries, we do not

1642
00:50:52,955 --> 00:50:54,190
produce batteries.

1643
00:50:54,190 --> 00:50:56,590
We produce the salt.

1644
00:50:56,592 --> 00:50:57,494
And then we sell it to battery

1645
00:50:57,494 --> 00:50:58,361
manufacturers or car

1646
00:50:58,361 --> 00:50:59,162
manufacturers that then put it

1647
00:50:59,162 --> 00:51:01,162
into batteries.

1648
00:51:01,931 --> 00:51:05,368
so there will be no batteries on

1649
00:51:05,368 --> 00:51:06,136
our property.

1650
00:51:06,136 --> 00:51:07,237
What is piedmont emergency

1651
00:51:07,237 --> 00:51:08,671
response plan?

1652
00:51:08,671 --> 00:51:10,706
As I mentioned earlier, we'll

1653
00:51:10,706 --> 00:51:12,142
have a fire tank.

1654
00:51:12,142 --> 00:51:13,543
We are a company that is

1655
00:51:13,543 --> 00:51:14,745
currently working on developing

1656
00:51:14,745 --> 00:51:15,880
our process, developing what our

1657
00:51:15,880 --> 00:51:17,880
site looks like.

1658
00:51:18,147 --> 00:51:19,316
So we are also developing that

1659
00:51:19,316 --> 00:51:20,484
emergency response plan.

1660
00:51:20,484 --> 00:51:22,853
What are we going to do?

1661
00:51:22,853 --> 00:51:24,455
How are we going to do it?

1662
00:51:24,455 --> 00:51:25,122
We're going to be like any other

1663
00:51:25,122 --> 00:51:26,858
manufacturing plant and have

1664
00:51:26,858 --> 00:51:28,159
that plan in place, we're going

1665
00:51:28,159 --> 00:51:28,826
to work with the local fire

1666
00:51:28,826 --> 00:51:29,760
departments and work with the

1667
00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:30,928
local emergency planning

1668
00:51:30,928 --> 00:51:32,864
commission, and so we can make

1669
00:51:32,864 --> 00:51:34,310
sure that we're meeting

1670
00:51:34,310 --> 00:51:34,999
everybody's needs and we have

1671
00:51:34,999 --> 00:51:36,668
the right procedures in place

1672
00:51:36,668 --> 00:51:38,603
and we can support each other.

1673
00:51:38,603 --> 00:51:41,600
From a volunteer perspective in

1674
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:41,306
many cases or from an on site

1675
00:51:41,306 --> 00:51:42,908
perspective.

1676
00:51:42,908 --> 00:51:44,409
The protections we do have in

1677
00:51:44,409 --> 00:51:48,609
place as I mentioned is the fire

1678
00:51:50,249 --> 00:51:52,718
water tank, will be fully

1679
00:51:52,718 --> 00:51:53,951
sprinklered and fire hydrants

1680
00:51:53,951 --> 00:51:55,870
and visual and audible alarms to

1681
00:51:55,870 --> 00:51:57,656
make sure everyone knows what is

1682
00:51:57,656 --> 00:52:00,226
going on within the property.

1683
00:52:00,226 --> 00:52:02,561
What is the expected life span

1684
00:52:02,561 --> 00:52:04,430
of the carolina lithium project?

1685
00:52:04,430 --> 00:52:07,300
So I'm going to talk about the

1686
00:52:07,300 --> 00:52:07,567
mine and the lithium hydroxide

1687
00:52:07,567 --> 00:52:09,567
facility.

1688
00:52:10,203 --> 00:52:12,372
The lithium hydroxide facility

1689
00:52:12,372 --> 00:52:13,306
has a 30-year life, typical

1690
00:52:13,306 --> 00:52:15,706
manufacturing facilities put a

1691
00:52:16,109 --> 00:52:17,430
30 year life from a financial

1692
00:52:17,430 --> 00:52:19,430
perspective on their

1693
00:52:19,450 --> 00:52:19,446
manufacturing sites, we're no

1694
00:52:19,446 --> 00:52:21,446
different.

1695
00:52:22,480 --> 00:52:24,510
Now, the mine right now has an

1696
00:52:24,510 --> 00:52:25,552
11.5 year life span.

1697
00:52:25,552 --> 00:52:28,154
One of the reasons that that is,

1698
00:52:28,154 --> 00:52:30,356
is in order to define a mine,

1699
00:52:30,356 --> 00:52:32,292
you have to have what's called

1700
00:52:32,292 --> 00:52:34,292
technically available or

1701
00:52:35,896 --> 00:52:37,430
reserved -- ore reserves.

1702
00:52:37,430 --> 00:52:39,200
Base on what we know, it's 11

1703
00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:41,168
pat 5 years but as erin

1704
00:52:41,168 --> 00:52:43,204
mentioned, we know there's

1705
00:52:43,204 --> 00:52:44,605
double that amount of ore in the

1706
00:52:44,605 --> 00:52:47,274
ground versus what we have been

1707
00:52:47,274 --> 00:52:47,909
able to allocate for this 11.5

1708
00:52:47,909 --> 00:52:49,978
years, and because of that,

1709
00:52:49,978 --> 00:52:51,279
there is a potential that this

1710
00:52:51,279 --> 00:52:53,679
life span would extend.

1711
00:52:53,714 --> 00:52:55,483
But again, from a technical

1712
00:52:55,483 --> 00:52:56,517
legal perspective, ore reserves

1713
00:52:56,517 --> 00:52:58,453
have a very special definition,

1714
00:52:58,453 --> 00:53:01,156
which is why we had to give it

1715
00:53:01,156 --> 00:53:03,156
an 11.5 year life.

1716
00:53:03,458 --> 00:53:05,627
How will the facilities be

1717
00:53:05,627 --> 00:53:07,960
decommissioned at the end of

1718
00:53:07,960 --> 00:53:08,430
their useful life?

1719
00:53:08,430 --> 00:53:10,199
One of the things that I think

1720
00:53:10,199 --> 00:53:11,667
is important, we talked about

1721
00:53:11,667 --> 00:53:12,668
economic impact.

1722
00:53:12,668 --> 00:53:14,470
Once, you know, when and if this

1723
00:53:14,470 --> 00:53:16,438
plan is ready to be decommission

1724
00:53:16,438 --> 00:53:17,606
td, we will have a very skilled

1725
00:53:17,606 --> 00:53:18,240
workforce that will be able to

1726
00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:20,900
continue working in other

1727
00:53:20,900 --> 00:53:21,577
industries in the area, or go

1728
00:53:21,577 --> 00:53:22,545
other places.

1729
00:53:22,545 --> 00:53:23,413
Hopefully stay here because

1730
00:53:23,413 --> 00:53:25,848
obviously once you come to

1731
00:53:25,848 --> 00:53:27,250
gaston county, you never want to

1732
00:53:27,250 --> 00:53:29,250
leave.

1733
00:53:29,786 --> 00:53:31,888
But from a concentrator

1734
00:53:31,888 --> 00:53:33,490
perspective, we alled anticipate

1735
00:53:33,490 --> 00:53:35,525
removing that where the

1736
00:53:35,525 --> 00:53:37,461
concentrator plant is.

1737
00:53:37,461 --> 00:53:39,229
For the lithium hydroxide, that

1738
00:53:39,229 --> 00:53:41,365
could be repurposed if it cannot

1739
00:53:41,365 --> 00:53:42,499
be converted or repurposed, we

1740
00:53:42,499 --> 00:53:44,330
will have that surety bond in

1741
00:53:44,330 --> 00:53:45,970
place that, will ensure we have

1742
00:53:45,970 --> 00:53:48,970
the necessary funding to remove

1743
00:53:49,106 --> 00:53:51,575
and reclaim that land as

1744
00:53:51,575 --> 00:53:52,576
appropriate.

1745
00:53:52,576 --> 00:53:54,576
Property values.

1746
00:53:54,979 --> 00:53:56,547
What kind of impact does

1747
00:53:56,547 --> 00:53:57,849
piedmont expect to have on

1748
00:53:57,849 --> 00:53:59,383
nearby property values?

1749
00:53:59,383 --> 00:54:01,783
Research shows that properties

1750
00:54:03,870 --> 00:54:03,354
will not decrease but likely

1751
00:54:03,354 --> 00:54:04,822
increase.

1752
00:54:04,822 --> 00:54:07,525
So there's a phoenix center

1753
00:54:07,525 --> 00:54:07,659
study that underlines this point

1754
00:54:07,659 --> 00:54:08,930
--

1755
00:54:08,930 --> 00:54:10,930
>> one second.

1756
00:54:11,663 --> 00:54:13,364
We have already talked about

1757
00:54:13,364 --> 00:54:13,564
this.

1758
00:54:13,564 --> 00:54:14,266
Asked.

1759
00:54:14,266 --> 00:54:16,266
This is why.

1760
00:54:17,100 --> 00:54:17,836
I'm not going to allow it to

1761
00:54:17,836 --> 00:54:19,836
happen again.

1762
00:54:20,606 --> 00:54:23,408
I don't have -- you'll get your

1763
00:54:23,408 --> 00:54:23,909
time and we'll keep moving

1764
00:54:23,909 --> 00:54:24,275
forward.

1765
00:54:24,275 --> 00:54:26,211
[Inaudible].

1766
00:54:26,211 --> 00:54:27,112
>> I'm leaving.

1767
00:54:27,112 --> 00:54:27,980
>> bye.

1768
00:54:27,980 --> 00:54:28,481
>> make sure he's not coming

1769
00:54:28,481 --> 00:54:29,548
back in.

1770
00:54:29,548 --> 00:54:31,150
Go ahead, ma'am.

1771
00:54:31,150 --> 00:54:32,117
>> research by the phoenix

1772
00:54:32,117 --> 00:54:34,554
center under lies the point that

1773
00:54:34,554 --> 00:54:36,355
I just defined.

1774
00:54:36,355 --> 00:54:37,956
Results of higher economic use

1775
00:54:37,956 --> 00:54:39,659
of land is also seen when it

1776
00:54:39,659 --> 00:54:40,159
comes from the studies that have

1777
00:54:40,159 --> 00:54:42,159
been done.

1778
00:54:42,595 --> 00:54:44,531
As we talked about before, there

1779
00:54:44,531 --> 00:54:46,833
will be a fund available for

1780
00:54:46,833 --> 00:54:48,835
those that MAY be negatively

1781
00:54:48,835 --> 00:54:51,338
impacted that MAY not be able to

1782
00:54:51,338 --> 00:54:52,906
sell their homes or get a lower

1783
00:54:52,906 --> 00:54:54,740
property value, we're trying to

1784
00:54:54,740 --> 00:54:54,908
do everything possible to

1785
00:54:54,908 --> 00:54:55,475
support what we're stating in

1786
00:54:55,475 --> 00:54:56,376
that area.

1787
00:54:56,376 --> 00:54:57,877
I want to thank you all for your

1788
00:54:57,877 --> 00:54:58,745
time and attention, we

1789
00:54:58,745 --> 00:55:01,215
appreciate the opportunity to be

1790
00:55:01,215 --> 00:55:03,817
able to answer as many questions

1791
00:55:03,817 --> 00:55:06,921
that we were provided, we are

1792
00:55:06,921 --> 00:55:07,788
open and ready to take more, we

1793
00:55:07,788 --> 00:55:09,823
thank you for your time.

1794
00:55:09,823 --> 00:55:12,223
>>chair: thank you, ma'am.

1795
00:55:31,380 --> 00:55:33,380
[Applause]

1796
00:55:34,450 --> 00:55:35,170
>>chair: are there any

1797
00:55:35,170 --> 00:55:37,586
questions from the board of

1798
00:55:37,586 --> 00:55:38,620
commissioners on this matter?

1799
00:55:38,620 --> 00:55:40,620
Commissioner fraley?

1800
00:55:41,490 --> 00:55:41,768
>> I'll start with a couple, MR.

1801
00:55:41,768 --> 00:55:43,525
CHAIRMAN.

1802
00:55:43,525 --> 00:55:47,630
And MAY want to come back after

1803
00:55:47,630 --> 00:55:47,230
we move through the board here,

1804
00:55:47,230 --> 00:55:49,230
but.

1805
00:55:50,699 --> 00:55:52,168
I was a little shocked to see

1806
00:55:52,168 --> 00:55:55,104
11.5 years, I heard it was going

1807
00:55:55,104 --> 00:55:56,720
to be 11-25, that's more

1808
00:55:56,720 --> 00:55:59,720
concerning that it's only going

1809
00:55:59,275 --> 00:56:02,645
to be 11iers to disrupt all of

1810
00:56:02,645 --> 00:56:04,790
these people and their homes and

1811
00:56:04,790 --> 00:56:06,883
property and their water over

1812
00:56:06,883 --> 00:56:09,283
11-year project, but anyway.

1813
00:56:09,753 --> 00:56:10,787
Most of my questions tonight are

1814
00:56:10,787 --> 00:56:12,623
surrounding the water issue,

1815
00:56:12,623 --> 00:56:14,758
some of them you've covered.

1816
00:56:14,758 --> 00:56:16,293
Some of them you haven't.

1817
00:56:16,293 --> 00:56:17,327
But from the water collected

1818
00:56:17,327 --> 00:56:18,629
from the mine.

1819
00:56:18,629 --> 00:56:20,763
Exactly where does it go?

1820
00:56:20,763 --> 00:56:22,365
How is it treated?

1821
00:56:22,365 --> 00:56:24,735
And how is it discharged into

1822
00:56:24,735 --> 00:56:26,571
the streams and the water ways?

1823
00:56:26,571 --> 00:56:28,339
>> so as I mentioned before, the

1824
00:56:28,339 --> 00:56:29,640
water that's coming from the

1825
00:56:29,640 --> 00:56:31,342
mines, the bottom picture on

1826
00:56:31,342 --> 00:56:33,411
this screen, the sedimentation

1827
00:56:33,411 --> 00:56:35,213
pond, any water that goes into

1828
00:56:35,213 --> 00:56:37,382
the mine pit area will then be

1829
00:56:37,382 --> 00:56:39,284
pumped into the sedimentation

1830
00:56:39,284 --> 00:56:41,284
pont pond.

1831
00:56:42,200 --> 00:56:43,588
That water will be there, sit,

1832
00:56:43,588 --> 00:56:45,290
there, rest, test and treat.

1833
00:56:45,290 --> 00:56:47,793
We will treat it, but it will

1834
00:56:47,793 --> 00:56:50,462
also then be reused in our

1835
00:56:50,462 --> 00:56:51,530
chemical -- in our concentrator

1836
00:56:51,530 --> 00:56:53,232
plant for dust suppression.

1837
00:56:53,232 --> 00:56:55,100
Prior to any releasing of that

1838
00:56:55,100 --> 00:56:56,969
water to any water way, it will

1839
00:56:56,969 --> 00:56:59,338
go through that testing, and

1840
00:56:59,338 --> 00:57:00,239
then we have certain restriction

1841
00:57:00,239 --> 00:57:02,475
-- stringent requirements we

1842
00:57:02,475 --> 00:57:03,142
have to meet from a permitting

1843
00:57:03,142 --> 00:57:03,609
perspective before we can

1844
00:57:03,609 --> 00:57:04,911
release it.

1845
00:57:04,911 --> 00:57:06,645
>> what is it treated with?

1846
00:57:06,645 --> 00:57:07,680
>> it depends on what is in the

1847
00:57:07,680 --> 00:57:08,381
water.

1848
00:57:08,381 --> 00:57:09,749
obviously, you know, with this

1849
00:57:09,749 --> 00:57:09,949
being pry

1850
00:57:09,949 --> 00:57:11,949
imary

1851
00:57:12,752 --> 00:57:14,686
ily groundwater, we

1852
00:57:14,686 --> 00:57:16,656
anticipate there being arsenic

1853
00:57:16,656 --> 00:57:18,992
in the water, once we get it and

1854
00:57:18,992 --> 00:57:19,659
test it f the arsenic is there,

1855
00:57:19,659 --> 00:57:22,629
there's various methods that can

1856
00:57:22,629 --> 00:57:23,864
be used in order to treat it.

1857
00:57:23,864 --> 00:57:25,766
Sometimes it's the acid addition

1858
00:57:25,766 --> 00:57:27,434
in order to have a reaction and

1859
00:57:27,434 --> 00:57:28,969
settle out into a salt that we

1860
00:57:28,969 --> 00:57:29,903
will then collect and dispose.

1861
00:57:29,903 --> 00:57:31,772
But there are various methods

1862
00:57:31,772 --> 00:57:32,172
and we're exploring all of those

1863
00:57:32,172 --> 00:57:34,172
options.

1864
00:57:34,675 --> 00:57:36,310
So we can determine the best

1865
00:57:36,310 --> 00:57:38,212
able to respond, depending on

1866
00:57:38,212 --> 00:57:38,445
the concentration of the

1867
00:57:38,445 --> 00:57:40,114
arsenic.

1868
00:57:40,114 --> 00:57:42,490
>> I think it's important to

1869
00:57:42,490 --> 00:57:44,819
note that in those cases where

1870
00:57:44,819 --> 00:57:46,954
we might find elevated levels of

1871
00:57:46,954 --> 00:57:48,791
arsenic because it's naturally

1872
00:57:48,791 --> 00:57:50,158
occurring, and we rest it and

1873
00:57:50,158 --> 00:57:52,526
test and it treat it before

1874
00:57:52,526 --> 00:57:54,162
returning it, in those cases we

1875
00:57:54,162 --> 00:57:55,463
will be returning the water

1876
00:57:55,463 --> 00:57:56,831
better than when we found it,

1877
00:57:56,831 --> 00:57:58,831
so.

1878
00:57:59,467 --> 00:58:01,467
In those cases.

1879
00:58:03,438 --> 00:58:05,606
>> if you say so.

1880
00:58:05,606 --> 00:58:08,760
You talked of these discharge

1881
00:58:08,760 --> 00:58:10,476
ponds and sediment basins

1882
00:58:11,413 --> 00:58:13,820
designed for 20 five year flood

1883
00:58:13,820 --> 00:58:15,482
specification, isn't it likely

1884
00:58:16,180 --> 00:58:17,119
we will see one or more flood

1885
00:58:17,119 --> 00:58:17,453
events that would overwhelm your

1886
00:58:17,453 --> 00:58:19,453
design plan?

1887
00:58:21,657 --> 00:58:23,893
>> right now, as you mentioned,

1888
00:58:23,893 --> 00:58:25,294
designed to a 25 year flood

1889
00:58:25,294 --> 00:58:27,663
event, that's the requirements

1890
00:58:27,663 --> 00:58:30,100
and that's for the whole system.

1891
00:58:30,100 --> 00:58:31,134
The way ours are currently

1892
00:58:31,134 --> 00:58:33,534
designed, with the 25 year

1893
00:58:33,737 --> 00:58:34,970
event, we have the capacity for

1894
00:58:34,970 --> 00:58:36,239
five times the amount that's

1895
00:58:36,239 --> 00:58:36,606
anticipated for one of those

1896
00:58:36,606 --> 00:58:38,606
events.

1897
00:58:38,808 --> 00:58:40,770
So if we were to have extensive

1898
00:58:40,770 --> 00:58:41,144
flooding in the area, obviously,

1899
00:58:41,144 --> 00:58:42,646
there will be things that we

1900
00:58:42,646 --> 00:58:43,747
will be doing in order to

1901
00:58:43,747 --> 00:58:46,147
control and manage it.

1902
00:58:46,483 --> 00:58:48,519
But as a region, there will be a

1903
00:58:48,519 --> 00:58:50,200
lot of other opportunities that

1904
00:58:50,200 --> 00:58:51,322
would need to be maintaining not

1905
00:58:51,322 --> 00:58:53,524
only on our facility but in the

1906
00:58:53,524 --> 00:58:55,259
area to understand and be able

1907
00:58:55,259 --> 00:58:57,259
to manage that.

1908
00:58:57,328 --> 00:58:59,663
>> that would be a very scare

1909
00:58:59,663 --> 00:59:00,965
are and I concerning time if

1910
00:59:00,965 --> 00:59:02,965
that happened.

1911
00:59:03,134 --> 00:59:05,103
And, you know, governor cooper

1912
00:59:05,103 --> 00:59:07,238
said when you have two 500 year

1913
00:59:07,238 --> 00:59:09,641
floods within two years of each

1914
00:59:09,641 --> 00:59:11,876
other, it's pretty clear that

1915
00:59:11,876 --> 00:59:12,811
it's not a 500 year flood, so,

1916
00:59:12,811 --> 00:59:13,712
you know, there's a real

1917
00:59:13,712 --> 00:59:16,248
potential that we're going to

1918
00:59:16,248 --> 00:59:18,160
have to deal with that if this

1919
00:59:18,160 --> 00:59:21,186
comes and what the fallout is

1920
00:59:21,186 --> 00:59:24,656
going to be is very concerning.

1921
00:59:24,656 --> 00:59:25,557
You answered my next question.

1922
00:59:25,557 --> 00:59:26,458
Let's see.

1923
00:59:26,458 --> 00:59:28,994
What are the processes that

1924
00:59:28,994 --> 00:59:30,863
you're using to ensure that

1925
00:59:30,863 --> 00:59:32,164
suspended materials in the basin

1926
00:59:32,164 --> 00:59:33,800
don't escape?

1927
00:59:33,800 --> 00:59:35,801
>> so anything that's -- so

1928
00:59:35,801 --> 00:59:38,404
again, when we talk about the

1929
00:59:38,404 --> 00:59:40,673
rest and test, so we have to

1930
00:59:40,673 --> 00:59:42,675
have enough resting time for any

1931
00:59:42,675 --> 00:59:44,177
solids to rest out of the water

1932
00:59:44,177 --> 00:59:45,645
before it's discharged and so

1933
00:59:45,645 --> 00:59:47,580
those sedimentation basins are

1934
00:59:47,580 --> 00:59:48,448
designed to be able to allow

1935
00:59:48,448 --> 00:59:50,250
that rest period, which I

1936
00:59:50,250 --> 00:59:52,319
believe is three days.

1937
00:59:52,319 --> 00:59:55,288
Before that it can be discharged

1938
00:59:55,288 --> 00:59:57,690
into the water ways near them.

1939
00:59:57,690 --> 00:59:59,626
>> well, and, you know, some of

1940
00:59:59,626 --> 01:00:01,829
the words that I've heard, you

1941
01:00:01,829 --> 01:00:04,965
know, used that we expect, it's

1942
01:00:04,965 --> 01:00:07,401
our intention, we plan to, those

1943
01:00:07,401 --> 01:00:08,970
are -- those are worrying words

1944
01:00:08,970 --> 01:00:10,370
because they're not definite,

1945
01:00:10,370 --> 01:00:12,437
they're not giving definite

1946
01:00:13,700 --> 01:00:14,708
answer, we are intend to do

1947
01:00:14,708 --> 01:00:15,809
something and we're going to

1948
01:00:15,809 --> 01:00:18,809
try, we're going assist with

1949
01:00:20,214 --> 01:00:21,750
fund anding -- funding and

1950
01:00:21,750 --> 01:00:22,450
helping and we have to know

1951
01:00:22,450 --> 01:00:24,850
definite answers and what's

1952
01:00:25,320 --> 01:00:26,210
going to happen for sure, not

1953
01:00:26,210 --> 01:00:28,421
anticipating, because it's too

1954
01:00:29,570 --> 01:00:30,250
big of a deal, it's too big of a

1955
01:00:30,250 --> 01:00:31,593
project and it's, you know,

1956
01:00:31,593 --> 01:00:31,993
those things are a little

1957
01:00:31,993 --> 01:00:33,993
concerning, too.

1958
01:00:34,963 --> 01:00:36,231
But let me finish with a couple

1959
01:00:36,231 --> 01:00:38,330
of these other questions.

1960
01:00:38,330 --> 01:00:40,169
How many wells are within one

1961
01:00:40,169 --> 01:00:40,536
mile of the currently proposed

1962
01:00:40,536 --> 01:00:41,637
mine?

1963
01:00:41,637 --> 01:00:42,304
Do you know the answer to that.

1964
01:00:42,304 --> 01:00:42,504
>> I don't know the answer to

1965
01:00:42,504 --> 01:00:43,906
that.

1966
01:00:43,906 --> 01:00:45,708
But one of the reasons we don't

1967
01:00:45,708 --> 01:00:46,542
know the answer to that is many

1968
01:00:46,542 --> 01:00:46,842
wells aren't registered.

1969
01:00:46,842 --> 01:00:48,143
>> right.

1970
01:00:48,143 --> 01:00:49,577
>> so we don't know, unless we

1971
01:00:49,577 --> 01:00:50,846
go and knock on every neighbor's

1972
01:00:50,846 --> 01:00:53,349
door, that's the only way we'll

1973
01:00:53,349 --> 01:00:54,416
have a true accurate count of

1974
01:00:54,416 --> 01:00:56,416
that.

1975
01:00:57,200 --> 01:00:58,588
I can tell you with not right

1976
01:00:58,588 --> 01:01:00,456
now, but we do have the number

1977
01:01:00,456 --> 01:01:01,524
based on the wells that are

1978
01:01:01,524 --> 01:01:03,560
registered, I just don't have

1979
01:01:03,560 --> 01:01:03,760
that information ready available

1980
01:01:03,760 --> 01:01:05,362
today.

1981
01:01:05,362 --> 01:01:06,620
>> well, I would think over the

1982
01:01:06,620 --> 01:01:07,664
years that you've been working

1983
01:01:07,664 --> 01:01:09,566
on it, that would be a very

1984
01:01:09,566 --> 01:01:11,168
important thing to know, and to

1985
01:01:11,168 --> 01:01:12,903
be able to -- if you had to

1986
01:01:12,903 --> 01:01:14,737
knock on all of those neighbor's

1987
01:01:14,737 --> 01:01:15,772
doors and go to all of that

1988
01:01:15,772 --> 01:01:17,808
property, I think that should

1989
01:01:17,808 --> 01:01:18,108
have already been done,

1990
01:01:18,108 --> 01:01:19,510
personally.

1991
01:01:19,510 --> 01:01:19,976
>> so if I could respond to

1992
01:01:19,976 --> 01:01:21,545
that?

1993
01:01:21,545 --> 01:01:23,130
One of the things that we are

1994
01:01:23,130 --> 01:01:24,548
doing and one of the reasons why

1995
01:01:24,548 --> 01:01:27,518
we haven't connected that dot

1996
01:01:27,518 --> 01:01:28,853
for you yet, is because we are

1997
01:01:28,853 --> 01:01:30,187
doing a draw down study of that

1998
01:01:30,187 --> 01:01:31,289
area, working with the county

1999
01:01:31,289 --> 01:01:33,758
and their expert DR. Spurl,

2000
01:01:33,758 --> 01:01:35,593
we're looking at what impact our

2001
01:01:35,593 --> 01:01:37,262
mining operations will have, and

2002
01:01:37,262 --> 01:01:39,597
so we want -- obviously, when

2003
01:01:39,597 --> 01:01:41,232
you say one mile of our project,

2004
01:01:41,232 --> 01:01:42,734
mining only happens on a very

2005
01:01:42,734 --> 01:01:43,934
small portion of the overall

2006
01:01:43,934 --> 01:01:45,637
1500 acres.

2007
01:01:45,637 --> 01:01:47,372
And the so the draw down impact,

2008
01:01:47,372 --> 01:01:48,573
if any, will happen on that

2009
01:01:48,573 --> 01:01:49,241
portion of the mining

2010
01:01:49,241 --> 01:01:50,609
operations.

2011
01:01:50,609 --> 01:01:53,609
And we're working through to

2012
01:01:53,946 --> 01:01:56,248
validate that study so that we

2013
01:01:56,248 --> 01:01:57,315
can then do the door to door

2014
01:01:57,315 --> 01:01:58,751
knocking to understand the

2015
01:01:58,751 --> 01:01:59,952
long-term impact ts.

2016
01:01:59,952 --> 01:02:02,388
>> well, since you were not sure

2017
01:02:02,388 --> 01:02:06,125
of that answer, the next one I

2018
01:02:06,125 --> 01:02:08,125
can skip.

2019
01:02:08,561 --> 01:02:11,300
And you kind of went over the

2020
01:02:11,300 --> 01:02:11,798
possible impacts.

2021
01:02:11,798 --> 01:02:13,733
Discussed water lines --

2022
01:02:13,733 --> 01:02:15,268
discussed the water lines for

2023
01:02:15,268 --> 01:02:17,203
homes, what about the people

2024
01:02:17,203 --> 01:02:17,971
that do not want to be put on

2025
01:02:17,971 --> 01:02:19,673
municipal water?

2026
01:02:19,673 --> 01:02:21,841
You talked about digging deeper

2027
01:02:21,841 --> 01:02:23,276
wells, and doing that, but I

2028
01:02:23,276 --> 01:02:25,278
mean, I don't know that you can

2029
01:02:25,278 --> 01:02:26,346
out run, you know, a mine, I

2030
01:02:26,346 --> 01:02:27,848
mean, you just keep going deeper

2031
01:02:27,848 --> 01:02:29,382
and deeper and deeper, how deep

2032
01:02:29,382 --> 01:02:30,751
is the mine going to be and how

2033
01:02:30,751 --> 01:02:32,820
far can you actually go down

2034
01:02:32,820 --> 01:02:34,820
with new wells?

2035
01:02:37,992 --> 01:02:40,795
>> the water drawdown study that

2036
01:02:40,795 --> 01:02:42,363
monique referred to, preliminary

2037
01:02:42,363 --> 01:02:44,763
results show that only 10

2038
01:02:45,660 --> 01:02:48,660
properties will be impacted with

2039
01:02:48,803 --> 01:02:50,204
a draw down over 12 inches.

2040
01:02:50,204 --> 01:02:52,204
We don't know.

2041
01:02:52,306 --> 01:02:55,210
So there is not expected --

2042
01:02:55,210 --> 01:02:57,412
based on these tests which

2043
01:02:57,412 --> 01:02:59,247
DR. Sprul will comment on and

2044
01:02:59,247 --> 01:03:02,500
confirm, there's not expected to

2045
01:03:02,500 --> 01:03:02,551
be widespread drying up of these

2046
01:03:02,551 --> 01:03:03,652
wells, so.

2047
01:03:03,652 --> 01:03:04,520
>> not expected.

2048
01:03:04,520 --> 01:03:05,419
>> yes.

2049
01:03:05,419 --> 01:03:06,688
>> yeah.

2050
01:03:06,688 --> 01:03:07,322
>> and I'll comment, on your

2051
01:03:07,322 --> 01:03:09,322
question about that.

2052
01:03:10,259 --> 01:03:11,493
As a publicly traded company,

2053
01:03:11,493 --> 01:03:13,729
and my general counsel is

2054
01:03:13,729 --> 01:03:15,331
sitting here, we are legally

2055
01:03:15,331 --> 01:03:18,200
obligated to say expected to.

2056
01:03:18,200 --> 01:03:18,400
Should, we're not allowed to say

2057
01:03:18,400 --> 01:03:20,400
will.

2058
01:03:20,803 --> 01:03:22,704
Or has until we've done it.

2059
01:03:22,704 --> 01:03:24,307
So please understand that's the

2060
01:03:24,307 --> 01:03:26,942
language that we are required to

2061
01:03:26,942 --> 01:03:27,310
use as a publicly traded

2062
01:03:27,310 --> 01:03:29,310
company.

2063
01:03:29,612 --> 01:03:31,514
There's a lot of people out

2064
01:03:31,514 --> 01:03:32,982
there who like to see people for

2065
01:03:32,982 --> 01:03:34,982
saying it incorrectly.

2066
01:03:35,418 --> 01:03:38,455
So we would work with each of

2067
01:03:38,455 --> 01:03:40,791
those homeowner ifs their wells

2068
01:03:40,791 --> 01:03:42,559
were impacted, and we're talking

2069
01:03:42,559 --> 01:03:44,860
about 12 inches or more, so we

2070
01:03:44,860 --> 01:03:45,529
would take each of those cases

2071
01:03:45,529 --> 01:03:47,529
individually.

2072
01:03:47,731 --> 01:03:50,131
And work with them.

2073
01:03:50,401 --> 01:03:51,969
>> okay.

2074
01:03:51,969 --> 01:03:54,205
If there has to be a water line

2075
01:03:54,205 --> 01:03:57,805
built, how long after a well

2076
01:03:58,209 --> 01:03:59,477
would go dry or was contaminated

2077
01:03:59,477 --> 01:04:01,178
contaminated, which you said

2078
01:04:01,178 --> 01:04:03,140
that wouldn't happen, would a

2079
01:04:03,140 --> 01:04:03,414
person be able to get connected

2080
01:04:03,414 --> 01:04:05,182
to a water line?

2081
01:04:05,182 --> 01:04:06,751
>> I mean, to be able to say how

2082
01:04:06,751 --> 01:04:08,253
long, so right now, based on the

2083
01:04:08,253 --> 01:04:09,821
design of the engineering study

2084
01:04:09,821 --> 01:04:11,189
that's being done, we will have

2085
01:04:11,189 --> 01:04:12,624
a ring around our property.

2086
01:04:12,624 --> 01:04:14,526
And then there will be -- what

2087
01:04:14,526 --> 01:04:14,993
we're calling rural spurs that

2088
01:04:14,993 --> 01:04:16,993
come from that.

2089
01:04:17,395 --> 01:04:18,530
So depending on the location of

2090
01:04:18,530 --> 01:04:19,765
where that house is, would

2091
01:04:19,765 --> 01:04:20,198
really determine how long it

2092
01:04:20,198 --> 01:04:22,198
would take.

2093
01:04:22,466 --> 01:04:24,269
Once we were notified of the

2094
01:04:24,269 --> 01:04:26,710
issue, we would immediately

2095
01:04:26,710 --> 01:04:28,674
provide and make sure they have

2096
01:04:28,674 --> 01:04:30,709
water valuable to available to

2097
01:04:30,709 --> 01:04:31,943
them, so there would be no

2098
01:04:31,943 --> 01:04:33,445
interruption of clean water to

2099
01:04:33,445 --> 01:04:35,140
them x once we understand that

2100
01:04:35,140 --> 01:04:35,947
and understand where the closest

2101
01:04:35,947 --> 01:04:37,149
connection is, we will

2102
01:04:37,149 --> 01:04:38,351
immediately start the process.

2103
01:04:38,351 --> 01:04:39,852
Again, it's going be very case

2104
01:04:39,852 --> 01:04:41,154
by case, depending to understand

2105
01:04:41,154 --> 01:04:44,900
how long it will take.

2106
01:04:44,900 --> 01:04:46,125
Because it just depends on how

2107
01:04:46,125 --> 01:04:46,793
close they are to one of the

2108
01:04:46,793 --> 01:04:48,661
spurs that we will.

2109
01:04:48,661 --> 01:04:50,397
>> when you say available clean

2110
01:04:50,397 --> 01:04:51,364
water, taking bottled water to

2111
01:04:51,364 --> 01:04:51,832
their house or what are you

2112
01:04:51,832 --> 01:04:53,832
talking about.

2113
01:04:53,900 --> 01:04:55,602
>> it could be a water truck, it

2114
01:04:55,602 --> 01:04:57,204
could be a water tank that sit

2115
01:04:57,204 --> 01:04:58,939
there is, but it will be some

2116
01:04:58,939 --> 01:05:01,475
type of water, we're not going

2117
01:05:01,475 --> 01:05:04,912
to be bringing in, you know, I

2118
01:05:04,912 --> 01:05:06,714
don't know the right term, but

2119
01:05:06,714 --> 01:05:08,482
40 bottles of water to their

2120
01:05:08,482 --> 01:05:09,917
home, it will be a more

2121
01:05:09,917 --> 01:05:10,684
substantial way in order to

2122
01:05:10,684 --> 01:05:12,253
maintain their water.

2123
01:05:12,253 --> 01:05:13,870
>> you know, we had a deal with

2124
01:05:13,870 --> 01:05:14,421
the coal ash situation and there

2125
01:05:14,421 --> 01:05:15,489
were people for years that

2126
01:05:15,489 --> 01:05:18,259
actually had to have bottled

2127
01:05:18,259 --> 01:05:19,494
water taken to their house until

2128
01:05:19,494 --> 01:05:21,494
that was corrected.

2129
01:05:21,529 --> 01:05:23,197
And I don't want to see any of

2130
01:05:23,197 --> 01:05:23,831
our citizens put in that

2131
01:05:23,831 --> 01:05:25,265
position again.

2132
01:05:25,265 --> 01:05:26,401
How would you like to wake up

2133
01:05:26,401 --> 01:05:28,436
one morning and your well is dry

2134
01:05:28,436 --> 01:05:29,704
and you don't have any water

2135
01:05:29,704 --> 01:05:31,940
available to you, and at least

2136
01:05:31,940 --> 01:05:33,208
they were -- they had water,

2137
01:05:33,208 --> 01:05:35,110
they just couldn't drink it.

2138
01:05:35,110 --> 01:05:35,387
This case, if it's gone, it's

2139
01:05:35,387 --> 01:05:37,379
gone.

2140
01:05:37,379 --> 01:05:38,460
And if there's not water to

2141
01:05:38,460 --> 01:05:39,882
them, then, you know, that's

2142
01:05:39,882 --> 01:05:40,149
going to be a really bad

2143
01:05:40,149 --> 01:05:40,816
situation.

2144
01:05:40,816 --> 01:05:42,918
>> one thing that I would like

2145
01:05:42,918 --> 01:05:44,687
to note, we are going to have

2146
01:05:44,687 --> 01:05:44,953
monitoring wells around our

2147
01:05:44,953 --> 01:05:46,953
property.

2148
01:05:47,756 --> 01:05:49,759
so if wells are starting to lose

2149
01:05:49,759 --> 01:05:51,160
volume, we are going to know

2150
01:05:51,160 --> 01:05:52,627
before they would know, just

2151
01:05:52,627 --> 01:05:53,796
from a proximity to the location

2152
01:05:53,796 --> 01:05:55,796
of our operations.

2153
01:05:56,980 --> 01:05:58,601
So those wells around our

2154
01:05:58,601 --> 01:05:59,302
property are for monitoring

2155
01:05:59,302 --> 01:06:01,638
purposes to understand the depth

2156
01:06:01,638 --> 01:06:03,839
of the water and we will

2157
01:06:03,839 --> 01:06:05,341
understand the draw down before

2158
01:06:05,341 --> 01:06:06,810
it extends past our property.

2159
01:06:06,810 --> 01:06:07,544
>> you made the statement that

2160
01:06:07,544 --> 01:06:08,978
your process wouldn't

2161
01:06:08,978 --> 01:06:11,978
contaminate any wells, but let's

2162
01:06:12,582 --> 01:06:13,650
say 11.5 years and the project

2163
01:06:13,650 --> 01:06:15,650
is over with.

2164
01:06:16,552 --> 01:06:19,890
And water starts coming back up

2165
01:06:19,890 --> 01:06:21,191
into the mine or the pit or

2166
01:06:21,191 --> 01:06:22,992
whatever and it starts flowing

2167
01:06:22,992 --> 01:06:24,895
back into the rock, the water,

2168
01:06:24,895 --> 01:06:27,531
the, you know, the potentially,

2169
01:06:27,531 --> 01:06:28,432
would that not be contaminated

2170
01:06:28,432 --> 01:06:29,300
water at that point?

2171
01:06:29,300 --> 01:06:30,835
When you're long gone and

2172
01:06:30,835 --> 01:06:32,570
everybody has moved away but

2173
01:06:32,570 --> 01:06:34,172
everybody here is still dealing

2174
01:06:34,172 --> 01:06:36,741
with it, what's the potential of

2175
01:06:36,741 --> 01:06:38,420
those mines being contaminated

2176
01:06:38,420 --> 01:06:40,278
way down the road?

2177
01:06:40,278 --> 01:06:41,580
15, 20 years down the road?

2178
01:06:41,580 --> 01:06:43,580
>> I apologize.

2179
01:06:44,150 --> 01:06:45,583
So as I mentioned previously,

2180
01:06:45,583 --> 01:06:46,751
water goes the path of least

2181
01:06:46,751 --> 01:06:49,870
resistance so in the pictorial I

2182
01:06:49,870 --> 01:06:50,555
have or the graphic on the

2183
01:06:50,555 --> 01:06:52,324
screen, now, once that pit is

2184
01:06:52,324 --> 01:06:53,592
open and even if it starts

2185
01:06:53,592 --> 01:06:55,727
filling with water, if it were

2186
01:06:55,727 --> 01:06:58,197
to get to the water table, water

2187
01:06:58,197 --> 01:07:01,197
doesn't flow backwards into the

2188
01:07:01,834 --> 01:07:03,102
water table, because the decree

2189
01:07:03,102 --> 01:07:04,360
kref vas it comes from is so

2190
01:07:04,360 --> 01:07:05,804
small, based on what the

2191
01:07:05,804 --> 01:07:06,906
engineers have told me, that

2192
01:07:06,906 --> 01:07:09,306
deal with hydrology constantly,

2193
01:07:09,675 --> 01:07:11,210
not my field of study, they said

2194
01:07:11,210 --> 01:07:12,812
it's just not possible,

2195
01:07:12,812 --> 01:07:13,913
technically possible for that to

2196
01:07:13,913 --> 01:07:15,982
happen, to back flow in.

2197
01:07:15,982 --> 01:07:17,217
But what I will tell you, the

2198
01:07:17,217 --> 01:07:18,551
water that's in those pits, is

2199
01:07:18,551 --> 01:07:21,187
going to be the same groundwater

2200
01:07:21,187 --> 01:07:21,388
that those wells are pumping

2201
01:07:21,388 --> 01:07:22,656
from.

2202
01:07:22,656 --> 01:07:24,624
It's just going to be in one

2203
01:07:24,624 --> 01:07:27,193
central location, versus in that

2204
01:07:27,193 --> 01:07:27,393
water table that's sitting

2205
01:07:27,393 --> 01:07:29,393
there.

2206
01:07:29,595 --> 01:07:31,331
>> I know in lincoln county now,

2207
01:07:31,331 --> 01:07:34,268
there was an old lithium mine

2208
01:07:34,268 --> 01:07:35,202
there, and a lot of the

2209
01:07:35,202 --> 01:07:37,400
residents and citizens are

2210
01:07:37,400 --> 01:07:38,138
finding that the wells they're

2211
01:07:38,138 --> 01:07:40,538
operating now are contaminated

2212
01:07:41,208 --> 01:07:42,475
with high levels, unacceptable

2213
01:07:42,475 --> 01:07:44,178
levels of arsenic and I believe

2214
01:07:44,178 --> 01:07:45,146
that was in the 50s so fast

2215
01:07:45,146 --> 01:07:46,313
forward and that's what we're

2216
01:07:46,313 --> 01:07:48,215
dealing with, and we don't want

2217
01:07:48,215 --> 01:07:49,117
to put, you know, our children,

2218
01:07:49,117 --> 01:07:51,118
or grand children in that

2219
01:07:51,118 --> 01:07:53,254
position to be dealing with that

2220
01:07:53,254 --> 01:07:55,155
on this land that's been owned

2221
01:07:55,155 --> 01:07:55,456
by these people for some

2222
01:07:55,456 --> 01:07:57,258
generations.

2223
01:07:57,258 --> 01:07:57,492
And been paying taxes for a long

2224
01:07:57,492 --> 01:07:58,792
time.

2225
01:07:58,792 --> 01:08:01,290
And, you know, when you live in

2226
01:08:01,290 --> 01:08:02,731
a rural area, like we do,

2227
01:08:02,731 --> 01:08:04,700
that's, you know, you live there

2228
01:08:04,700 --> 01:08:06,468
for the reasons that you don't

2229
01:08:06,468 --> 01:08:07,770
want the deal with the stuff

2230
01:08:07,770 --> 01:08:09,237
that this mine is going bring,

2231
01:08:09,237 --> 01:08:10,872
it's very important that we get

2232
01:08:10,872 --> 01:08:13,308
all of these questions answered

2233
01:08:13,308 --> 01:08:15,308
and answered properly.

2234
01:08:15,911 --> 01:08:16,178
I'll yield for right now, MR.

2235
01:08:16,178 --> 01:08:17,546
CHAIRMAN.

2236
01:08:17,546 --> 01:08:18,447
>>chair: thank you.

2237
01:08:18,447 --> 01:08:20,447
Commissioner worley?

2238
01:08:21,450 --> 01:08:23,386
>> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.

2239
01:08:23,386 --> 01:08:26,222
You mentioned in the answers to

2240
01:08:26,222 --> 01:08:27,123
commissioner fraley, about 1500

2241
01:08:27,123 --> 01:08:27,657
acres.

2242
01:08:27,657 --> 01:08:29,657
The mine.

2243
01:08:30,226 --> 01:08:31,461
And I've had the maps.

2244
01:08:31,461 --> 01:08:33,963
That the primary mine is

2245
01:08:33,963 --> 01:08:35,164
approximately 1500 acres, but

2246
01:08:35,164 --> 01:08:35,965
piedmont now controls over twice

2247
01:08:35,965 --> 01:08:36,566
that many.

2248
01:08:36,566 --> 01:08:38,100
>> uh-huh.

2249
01:08:38,100 --> 01:08:38,868
>> about 3600 acres.

2250
01:08:38,868 --> 01:08:40,868
>> yes, sir.

2251
01:08:41,104 --> 01:08:43,504
>> and including several that

2252
01:08:43,573 --> 01:08:46,176
are noncontiguous tracts, is it

2253
01:08:46,176 --> 01:08:48,312
your intention to acquire all of

2254
01:08:48,312 --> 01:08:50,347
the land between the mine and

2255
01:08:50,347 --> 01:08:52,820
the disconnected tracts?

2256
01:08:52,820 --> 01:08:53,684
>> so the tracts that we own as

2257
01:08:53,684 --> 01:08:54,752
you mentioned that are not

2258
01:08:54,752 --> 01:08:56,620
connected, those were acquired

2259
01:08:56,620 --> 01:08:58,389
in order to do exploration

2260
01:08:58,389 --> 01:08:59,523
drilling, so as we mentioned

2261
01:08:59,523 --> 01:09:01,792
before, right now, within our

2262
01:09:01,792 --> 01:09:03,761
mine permit boundaries, we

2263
01:09:03,761 --> 01:09:05,930
understand that there's twice as

2264
01:09:05,930 --> 01:09:07,965
much of the spodumene that we

2265
01:09:07,965 --> 01:09:10,680
can call reserves, that give us

2266
01:09:10,680 --> 01:09:11,436
that 11.5 year life, now as we

2267
01:09:11,436 --> 01:09:13,204
continue mining operations and

2268
01:09:13,204 --> 01:09:13,838
we grow, we would like to

2269
01:09:13,838 --> 01:09:15,540
explore further.

2270
01:09:15,540 --> 01:09:17,509
Where that goes, and how that

2271
01:09:17,509 --> 01:09:18,475
goes, I can't speak to today

2272
01:09:18,475 --> 01:09:21,475
because right now we're working

2273
01:09:22,480 --> 01:09:24,315
on the 11.5 year mine but we

2274
01:09:24,315 --> 01:09:24,950
want to exend the life of our

2275
01:09:24,950 --> 01:09:25,851
operations, I don't know if

2276
01:09:25,851 --> 01:09:27,190
there's anything that you would

2277
01:09:27,190 --> 01:09:27,419
like to add, erin.

2278
01:09:27,419 --> 01:09:29,188
>> no.

2279
01:09:29,188 --> 01:09:30,155
>> well, that does bring me to

2280
01:09:30,155 --> 01:09:30,823
the next question.

2281
01:09:30,823 --> 01:09:32,823
That's I had.

2282
01:09:33,292 --> 01:09:35,940
Are you actively looking to

2283
01:09:35,940 --> 01:09:36,195
expand beyond this 3600 acres

2284
01:09:36,195 --> 01:09:37,530
that you now control?

2285
01:09:37,530 --> 01:09:38,965
So that's as yes, right.

2286
01:09:38,965 --> 01:09:41,434
>> currently, we are not doing

2287
01:09:41,434 --> 01:09:45,340
any exmroer ration work in --

2288
01:09:45,571 --> 01:09:47,373
exploration work in the area.

2289
01:09:47,373 --> 01:09:50,420
>> so it's not the bottom line

2290
01:09:50,420 --> 01:09:52,512
that you want to buy all of the

2291
01:09:52,512 --> 01:09:54,480
land in the ten spodumene build

2292
01:09:54,480 --> 01:09:56,383
that you possibly can, that's --

2293
01:09:56,383 --> 01:09:58,952
could you say yes or no to that.

2294
01:09:58,952 --> 01:10:01,455
>> not currently at this time,

2295
01:10:01,455 --> 01:10:02,790
we have plenty of -- as we've

2296
01:10:02,790 --> 01:10:05,859
said, the ore reserves that we

2297
01:10:05,859 --> 01:10:07,930
have defined are 11.5 years, we

2298
01:10:07,930 --> 01:10:10,693
believe we have twice that just

2299
01:10:11,980 --> 01:10:12,600
within the project boundary.

2300
01:10:12,600 --> 01:10:15,169
So, you know, we -- we continue

2301
01:10:15,169 --> 01:10:17,571
to look actually all over the

2302
01:10:17,571 --> 01:10:19,473
world for further spodumene

2303
01:10:19,473 --> 01:10:21,873
resources. Because as we

2304
01:10:21,976 --> 01:10:24,376
mentioned earlier, 80 percent of

2305
01:10:25,813 --> 01:10:28,213
the processed lithium, lithium

2306
01:10:29,184 --> 01:10:31,553
hydroxide is made by china,

2307
01:10:31,553 --> 01:10:32,654
we're looking for spodumene to

2308
01:10:32,654 --> 01:10:34,222
support the U.S. Supply chain.

2309
01:10:34,222 --> 01:10:35,791
As far as here, we're not

2310
01:10:35,791 --> 01:10:36,458
actively pursuing anything

2311
01:10:36,458 --> 01:10:37,292
further.

2312
01:10:37,292 --> 01:10:39,292
To my knowledge.

2313
01:10:40,620 --> 01:10:42,462
>> not out beyond that 11.5

2314
01:10:43,765 --> 01:10:46,835
years but -- you're saying the

2315
01:10:46,835 --> 01:10:49,400
11.5 year is sort of the ceiling

2316
01:10:49,400 --> 01:10:50,405
for now, but it could expand.

2317
01:10:50,405 --> 01:10:52,908
>> well, let me say this.

2318
01:10:52,908 --> 01:10:54,543
As erin mentioned, within our

2319
01:10:54,543 --> 01:10:56,943
boundaries, where we're saying

2320
01:10:57,313 --> 01:10:58,514
11.5 years now, there is more

2321
01:10:58,514 --> 01:10:59,182
spodumene that is underneath the

2322
01:10:59,182 --> 01:10:59,481
ground today.

2323
01:10:59,481 --> 01:11:01,481
>> sure.

2324
01:11:02,185 --> 01:11:04,870
>> so that 11.5 years as we mine

2325
01:11:04,870 --> 01:11:06,389
just what we have in our mine

2326
01:11:06,389 --> 01:11:07,991
permit today, will likely grow.

2327
01:11:07,991 --> 01:11:09,991
Past 11.5 year mark.

2328
01:11:10,930 --> 01:11:10,760
We just can't speak to what that

2329
01:11:10,760 --> 01:11:12,462
looks like.

2330
01:11:12,462 --> 01:11:14,862
Because technically, we haven't

2331
01:11:14,898 --> 01:11:17,534
done the work to be able to

2332
01:11:17,534 --> 01:11:19,402
transition those reserves and --

2333
01:11:19,402 --> 01:11:20,704
the indicated amounts that's

2334
01:11:20,704 --> 01:11:22,506
there into reserves that would

2335
01:11:22,506 --> 01:11:23,440
allow us to expand that life.

2336
01:11:23,440 --> 01:11:24,708
>> okay.

2337
01:11:24,708 --> 01:11:25,676
Well, maybe let me ask -- sort

2338
01:11:25,676 --> 01:11:27,676
of another way.

2339
01:11:28,645 --> 01:11:30,614
So if we were to approve this

2340
01:11:30,614 --> 01:11:32,449
initial project, later on,

2341
01:11:32,449 --> 01:11:35,285
gaston county could be asked to

2342
01:11:35,285 --> 01:11:36,954
approve a project -- a project

2343
01:11:36,954 --> 01:11:38,656
that is two to three times

2344
01:11:38,656 --> 01:11:38,922
larger than this, is that

2345
01:11:38,922 --> 01:11:40,258
feasible?

2346
01:11:40,258 --> 01:11:42,360
>> I wouldn't -- I wouldn't

2347
01:11:42,360 --> 01:11:44,760
speculate about the size.

2348
01:11:44,896 --> 01:11:46,264
but, you know, some of that land

2349
01:11:46,264 --> 01:11:48,264
is buffer.

2350
01:11:49,100 --> 01:11:49,501
For right now, all of it is

2351
01:11:49,501 --> 01:11:51,501
buffer.

2352
01:11:53,372 --> 01:11:55,240
So we are only looking at the

2353
01:11:55,240 --> 01:11:57,240
1548 currently.

2354
01:11:58,877 --> 01:12:01,446
If we wanted to expand beyond

2355
01:12:01,446 --> 01:12:02,514
that, yes, we would have to come

2356
01:12:02,514 --> 01:12:04,514
before you again.

2357
01:12:06,952 --> 01:12:08,754
>> and the followup to that, if

2358
01:12:08,754 --> 01:12:11,824
and when that the state mining

2359
01:12:11,824 --> 01:12:14,994
permit is issued, would you say

2360
01:12:14,994 --> 01:12:17,430
it would be easier to get

2361
01:12:17,430 --> 01:12:18,498
further approval from the state

2362
01:12:18,498 --> 01:12:20,300
to expand?

2363
01:12:20,300 --> 01:12:21,634
Would you think that would be an

2364
01:12:21,634 --> 01:12:24,634
easier process or the same?

2365
01:12:26,740 --> 01:12:28,441
>> so based on where the -- how

2366
01:12:28,441 --> 01:12:29,309
dimler is managing the mine

2367
01:12:29,309 --> 01:12:31,411
permit today, I can't say it

2368
01:12:31,411 --> 01:12:33,130
would be easier, we would have

2369
01:12:33,130 --> 01:12:33,947
to do the same due diligence we

2370
01:12:33,947 --> 01:12:35,182
have done to understand any

2371
01:12:35,182 --> 01:12:36,817
environmental impact, all of the

2372
01:12:36,817 --> 01:12:39,485
studies and update all of our

2373
01:12:39,485 --> 01:12:41,622
permits so it is not a slam dunk

2374
01:12:41,622 --> 01:12:43,791
I'll say that we get this mine

2375
01:12:43,791 --> 01:12:45,125
permit if we were to -- that any

2376
01:12:45,125 --> 01:12:46,894
expansions or modifications

2377
01:12:46,894 --> 01:12:48,894
would be easy.

2378
01:12:50,231 --> 01:12:53,670
I would not say that.

2379
01:12:53,670 --> 01:12:54,636
>> would piedmont agree to any

2380
01:12:54,636 --> 01:12:57,305
sort of agreement with the

2381
01:12:57,305 --> 01:12:59,741
county to limit the scope of the

2382
01:12:59,741 --> 01:13:00,800
project in any way?

2383
01:13:00,800 --> 01:13:01,610
Initially?

2384
01:13:01,610 --> 01:13:03,210
Would that be something.

2385
01:13:03,210 --> 01:13:03,511
>> beyond the current project

2386
01:13:03,511 --> 01:13:05,180
boundaries?

2387
01:13:05,180 --> 01:13:07,416
I think that -- that would have

2388
01:13:07,416 --> 01:13:08,850
to be discussed in the community

2389
01:13:08,850 --> 01:13:10,719
development agreement or some

2390
01:13:10,719 --> 01:13:12,719
other form.

2391
01:13:16,758 --> 01:13:18,758
>> okay.

2392
01:13:18,894 --> 01:13:21,630
I will have just one more follow

2393
01:13:21,630 --> 01:13:21,597
up question, MR. CHAIRMAN.

2394
01:13:21,597 --> 01:13:23,597
>>chair: yes, sir.

2395
01:13:25,670 --> 01:13:27,303
>> what would you see has the

2396
01:13:27,303 --> 01:13:29,303
potential options for

2397
01:13:29,771 --> 01:13:32,171
redevelopment of reclaimed land

2398
01:13:32,342 --> 01:13:33,443
once it was -- once the mining

2399
01:13:33,443 --> 01:13:34,978
operation were through, what

2400
01:13:34,978 --> 01:13:37,446
would be the value or what would

2401
01:13:37,446 --> 01:13:39,846
be any redevelopment options

2402
01:13:41,170 --> 01:13:41,885
that you would -- could see

2403
01:13:41,885 --> 01:13:43,860
further?

2404
01:13:43,860 --> 01:13:44,387
Because, you know, a lot of us

2405
01:13:44,387 --> 01:13:47,624
kind of feel like that this land

2406
01:13:47,624 --> 01:13:48,959
is going to be worthless when

2407
01:13:48,959 --> 01:13:50,726
piedmont leaves.

2408
01:13:50,726 --> 01:13:52,290
But if there's some options out

2409
01:13:52,290 --> 01:13:53,630
there that you see that's a

2410
01:13:53,630 --> 01:13:53,831
possibility, I would like to

2411
01:13:53,831 --> 01:13:55,732
know.

2412
01:13:55,732 --> 01:13:56,667
>> I mean, I think we have one

2413
01:13:56,667 --> 01:13:58,502
example in our backyard, with

2414
01:13:58,502 --> 01:13:59,703
the kings mountain mine, where,

2415
01:13:59,703 --> 01:14:02,440
you know, after they ceased

2416
01:14:02,440 --> 01:14:04,175
operations, I believe in the 80s

2417
01:14:04,175 --> 01:14:06,644
or 90s where they reclaimed it

2418
01:14:06,644 --> 01:14:08,346
to have trails and greenway,

2419
01:14:08,346 --> 01:14:09,280
this area could be used for the

2420
01:14:09,280 --> 01:14:12,383
same type of purpose in regards

2421
01:14:12,383 --> 01:14:13,184
to having greenways and trails

2422
01:14:13,184 --> 01:14:14,319
and other outdoor opportunities

2423
01:14:14,319 --> 01:14:16,154
for that area.

2424
01:14:16,154 --> 01:14:16,888
>> and that -- that's around the

2425
01:14:16,888 --> 01:14:18,757
mining area.

2426
01:14:18,757 --> 01:14:18,990
That's where people tend to

2427
01:14:18,990 --> 01:14:20,990
focus.

2428
01:14:21,126 --> 01:14:22,727
We will reclaim those, once

2429
01:14:22,727 --> 01:14:25,230
those pits are filled back in,

2430
01:14:25,230 --> 01:14:26,798
we'll cover it back up with the

2431
01:14:26,798 --> 01:14:28,233
soil.

2432
01:14:28,233 --> 01:14:29,835
And we replant.

2433
01:14:29,835 --> 01:14:32,370
But the other parts of the site,

2434
01:14:32,370 --> 01:14:34,730
if they were no longer in use,

2435
01:14:34,730 --> 01:14:36,142
could be repurposed for

2436
01:14:36,142 --> 01:14:38,511
industrial use or whatever use

2437
01:14:38,511 --> 01:14:39,178
the community wanted.

2438
01:14:39,178 --> 01:14:39,611
>> right.

2439
01:14:39,611 --> 01:14:41,611
Okay.

2440
01:14:41,613 --> 01:14:42,682
Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.

2441
01:14:42,682 --> 01:14:44,183
Thank you.

2442
01:14:44,183 --> 01:14:44,483
>>chair: commissioner

2443
01:14:44,483 --> 01:14:46,483
cloninger.

2444
01:14:47,553 --> 01:14:47,820
>> my questions relate to

2445
01:14:47,820 --> 01:14:49,222
blasting.

2446
01:14:49,222 --> 01:14:50,824
So I would like to know how many

2447
01:14:50,824 --> 01:14:53,920
people live now on the property

2448
01:14:53,920 --> 01:14:57,292
that they own within a half mile

2449
01:15:03,904 --> 01:15:05,720
of the future mine pit?

2450
01:15:05,720 --> 01:15:06,440
>>chair: can you step up,

2451
01:15:06,440 --> 01:15:08,709
please, so we can hear and state

2452
01:15:08,709 --> 01:15:11,709
your name for the record?

2453
01:15:11,979 --> 01:15:13,120
>> hi, I'm emily blackburn

2454
01:15:13,120 --> 01:15:15,415
winter, I'm a geologist and

2455
01:15:15,415 --> 01:15:16,350
community relations for piedmont

2456
01:15:16,350 --> 01:15:17,752
lithium.

2457
01:15:17,752 --> 01:15:19,420
And we have sent out community

2458
01:15:19,420 --> 01:15:20,870
mailers to engage with neighbors

2459
01:15:20,870 --> 01:15:22,870
of our project.

2460
01:15:22,190 --> 01:15:25,727
And the number that I can give

2461
01:15:25,727 --> 01:15:27,528
you is within 1500 feet from our

2462
01:15:27,528 --> 01:15:29,528
permit boundary.

2463
01:15:31,331 --> 01:15:32,233
There are roughly 550 parcels in

2464
01:15:32,233 --> 01:15:34,233
that area.

2465
01:15:35,336 --> 01:15:36,705
>> that's the entire project not

2466
01:15:36,705 --> 01:15:37,205
just the mining area.

2467
01:15:37,205 --> 01:15:39,205
>> okay.

2468
01:15:39,608 --> 01:15:40,475
So that includes the buffer and

2469
01:15:40,475 --> 01:15:41,343
all of that?

2470
01:15:41,343 --> 01:15:42,878
That includes everything?

2471
01:15:42,878 --> 01:15:44,646
>> anything outside of our mine

2472
01:15:44,646 --> 01:15:45,120
permit boundaries.

2473
01:15:45,120 --> 01:15:45,447
>> okay.

2474
01:15:45,447 --> 01:15:47,447
All right.

2475
01:15:47,583 --> 01:15:49,451
>> again, that's for the entire

2476
01:15:49,451 --> 01:15:51,353
1500 acres, not just the eastern

2477
01:15:51,353 --> 01:15:51,987
side, where the mines will be.

2478
01:15:51,987 --> 01:15:53,987
>> okay.

2479
01:15:54,824 --> 01:15:56,959
So how many homes will feel any

2480
01:15:56,959 --> 01:15:59,895
effect from the blasting done on

2481
01:15:59,895 --> 01:16:02,295
-- at the site?

2482
01:16:03,733 --> 01:16:05,768
>> we do have our blasting

2483
01:16:05,768 --> 01:16:07,670
expert here, he agreed to come

2484
01:16:07,670 --> 01:16:08,872
tonight to ask any questions

2485
01:16:08,872 --> 01:16:11,872
that were beyond our purview,

2486
01:16:11,875 --> 01:16:12,442
MAY we ask him to come up?

2487
01:16:12,442 --> 01:16:12,809
>>chair: please.

2488
01:16:12,809 --> 01:16:14,244
>> thank you.

2489
01:16:14,244 --> 01:16:16,813
>>chair: sir, state your name

2490
01:16:16,813 --> 01:16:17,447
and your occupation there,

2491
01:16:17,447 --> 01:16:19,847
expertise for the record.

2492
01:16:20,751 --> 01:16:22,751
>> good evening, sir.

2493
01:16:22,886 --> 01:16:24,540
My name is stuart bra sheer, I'm

2494
01:16:24,540 --> 01:16:26,390
technical service manager for

2495
01:16:26,390 --> 01:16:28,592
austin powder company out of

2496
01:16:28,592 --> 01:16:30,940
cleveland, ohio.

2497
01:16:30,940 --> 01:16:32,495
If you could rephrase your

2498
01:16:32,495 --> 01:16:32,830
question, I'll fly

2499
01:16:32,830 --> 01:16:34,765
try to -- .

2500
01:16:34,765 --> 01:16:36,467
>> how many homes will feel any

2501
01:16:36,467 --> 01:16:36,868
effect from the blasting done at

2502
01:16:36,868 --> 01:16:38,868
the site?

2503
01:16:39,936 --> 01:16:41,720
>> I haven't been involved as

2504
01:16:41,720 --> 01:16:43,472
closely, obviously, as the

2505
01:16:44,775 --> 01:16:47,775
people that have talked here.

2506
01:16:48,790 --> 01:16:50,682
So I don't numbers other than we

2507
01:16:50,682 --> 01:16:53,451
have looked at the whole site

2508
01:16:53,451 --> 01:16:54,586
and we've -- we've used other

2509
01:16:54,586 --> 01:16:56,755
quarries and operations in this

2510
01:16:56,755 --> 01:16:58,957
part of north carolina as a

2511
01:16:58,957 --> 01:17:01,957
model for how fast the

2512
01:17:03,996 --> 01:17:06,398
vibration, the energy a ten u

2513
01:17:06,398 --> 01:17:08,434
waits and we know typically a

2514
01:17:08,434 --> 01:17:10,434
3,000 foot distance where

2515
01:17:10,936 --> 01:17:11,804
there's no perception of

2516
01:17:11,804 --> 01:17:13,804
blasting.

2517
01:17:14,173 --> 01:17:15,140
Now, people are very sensitive

2518
01:17:15,140 --> 01:17:17,140
to vibration.

2519
01:17:17,610 --> 01:17:19,746
So some people will feel stuff

2520
01:17:19,746 --> 01:17:20,313
that others might not at the

2521
01:17:20,313 --> 01:17:22,313
same distance.

2522
01:17:23,450 --> 01:17:24,951
A lot of it has to do with

2523
01:17:24,951 --> 01:17:25,818
activities, if you're busy, you

2524
01:17:25,818 --> 01:17:27,454
don't notice it.

2525
01:17:27,454 --> 01:17:29,523
If you're sitting, and not doing

2526
01:17:29,523 --> 01:17:30,957
anything and waiting for it to

2527
01:17:30,957 --> 01:17:32,359
happen, you'll notice it.

2528
01:17:32,359 --> 01:17:33,727
So there will be -- I mean,

2529
01:17:33,727 --> 01:17:35,429
there will be perception, some

2530
01:17:35,429 --> 01:17:36,730
people surrounding the property

2531
01:17:36,730 --> 01:17:38,297
will know when we blast.

2532
01:17:38,297 --> 01:17:40,634
There's no doubt about that.

2533
01:17:40,634 --> 01:17:43,370
>> so is there a map that is

2534
01:17:43,370 --> 01:17:46,637
involved that can -- that will

2535
01:17:46,674 --> 01:17:47,441
impact or show that blasting

2536
01:17:47,441 --> 01:17:49,441
amount?

2537
01:17:50,110 --> 01:17:51,546
>> I believe that's --

2538
01:17:51,546 --> 01:17:52,847
>> we are working on two things,

2539
01:17:52,847 --> 01:17:56,447
so to answer your question, you

2540
01:17:57,180 --> 01:18:00,180
know, there are four pits.

2541
01:18:00,421 --> 01:18:02,623
And we will be blasting at

2542
01:18:02,623 --> 01:18:04,392
different times because we'll

2543
01:18:04,392 --> 01:18:06,227
only open one pit at a time.

2544
01:18:06,227 --> 01:18:06,795
So we'll be blasting in one part

2545
01:18:06,795 --> 01:18:08,795
of the pit.

2546
01:18:10,332 --> 01:18:11,266
And modern blasting is very

2547
01:18:11,266 --> 01:18:12,234
precise.

2548
01:18:12,234 --> 01:18:13,635
so, you know, it depends on what

2549
01:18:13,635 --> 01:18:15,637
part of the pit you're in and

2550
01:18:15,637 --> 01:18:17,906
how deep it is.

2551
01:18:17,906 --> 01:18:20,309
And so we could help provide

2552
01:18:20,309 --> 01:18:22,744
some radiance of an example, if

2553
01:18:22,744 --> 01:18:24,480
we're blasting in this pit at

2554
01:18:24,480 --> 01:18:26,150
this particular depth, what

2555
01:18:26,150 --> 01:18:26,282
direction the blast is going on,

2556
01:18:26,282 --> 01:18:28,282
etcetera.

2557
01:18:28,818 --> 01:18:30,753
But as monique explained

2558
01:18:30,753 --> 01:18:33,856
earlier, we will be -- we expect

2559
01:18:33,856 --> 01:18:37,627
to be less than 50% of what the

2560
01:18:37,627 --> 01:18:39,627
federal regulations are.

2561
01:18:42,198 --> 01:18:43,967
And that is partly to reduce the

2562
01:18:43,967 --> 01:18:46,360
level for thol folks.

2563
01:18:46,360 --> 01:18:47,137
We know if we're within the

2564
01:18:47,137 --> 01:18:48,171
prescription of the federal

2565
01:18:48,171 --> 01:18:49,139
regulation, we will not do

2566
01:18:49,139 --> 01:18:51,139
damage to homes.

2567
01:18:51,508 --> 01:18:53,644
But the other side of it is

2568
01:18:53,644 --> 01:18:56,440
nuisance, people feel something,

2569
01:18:57,314 --> 01:18:58,615
or hear something, so it is a

2570
01:18:58,615 --> 01:19:00,500
little bit difficult to answer

2571
01:19:00,500 --> 01:19:01,485
because there's four pits,

2572
01:19:01,485 --> 01:19:01,686
different depth and different

2573
01:19:01,686 --> 01:19:03,686
times.

2574
01:19:04,188 --> 01:19:06,190
Different types of homes.

2575
01:19:06,190 --> 01:19:08,292
Homes -- it depends on the

2576
01:19:08,292 --> 01:19:09,727
weather, if there's cloud cover.

2577
01:19:09,727 --> 01:19:09,994
That creates a different

2578
01:19:09,994 --> 01:19:11,994
scenario.

2579
01:19:12,898 --> 01:19:13,364
But we're happy to put more

2580
01:19:13,364 --> 01:19:15,364
information together.

2581
01:19:15,465 --> 01:19:17,335
The other thing that we're doing

2582
01:19:17,335 --> 01:19:19,137
is we're looking at our austin

2583
01:19:19,137 --> 01:19:21,540
powder is doing a study on each

2584
01:19:21,540 --> 01:19:23,410
property that is touching the

2585
01:19:23,410 --> 01:19:24,509
boundary of the mining side of

2586
01:19:24,509 --> 01:19:26,445
the project.

2587
01:19:26,445 --> 01:19:27,112
And we will have that

2588
01:19:27,112 --> 01:19:29,281
information available for each

2589
01:19:29,281 --> 01:19:31,681
of those homeowners, that's

2590
01:19:31,983 --> 01:19:33,285
specific to their property.

2591
01:19:33,285 --> 01:19:34,420
So they're working on that.

2592
01:19:34,420 --> 01:19:37,890
And we will make that available

2593
01:19:37,890 --> 01:19:39,890
to those homeowners.

2594
01:19:40,560 --> 01:19:42,280
>> okay, will that be a public

2595
01:19:42,280 --> 01:19:42,561
demonstration so people will

2596
01:19:42,561 --> 01:19:44,530
know what to expect?

2597
01:19:44,530 --> 01:19:46,432
>> we can do that.

2598
01:19:46,432 --> 01:19:48,501
we -- part of what we want to

2599
01:19:48,501 --> 01:19:50,403
do, going forward, this fall, is

2600
01:19:50,403 --> 01:19:53,473
hold town halls where people can

2601
01:19:53,473 --> 01:19:54,474
come and ask more questions and

2602
01:19:54,474 --> 01:19:56,242
talk to people like stuart and

2603
01:19:56,242 --> 01:19:56,476
really put their hands on

2604
01:19:56,476 --> 01:19:58,476
things.

2605
01:19:59,246 --> 01:19:59,713
But, yes, we can -- we can help

2606
01:19:59,713 --> 01:20:01,713
with that.

2607
01:20:02,549 --> 01:20:04,951
>> and if I MAY, we've been

2608
01:20:04,951 --> 01:20:06,854
talking about damage to

2609
01:20:06,854 --> 01:20:08,589
structures from blasting and

2610
01:20:08,589 --> 01:20:10,570
it's important to realized the

2611
01:20:10,570 --> 01:20:13,627
standards that we're held to are

2612
01:20:13,627 --> 01:20:14,762
not based on structural damage.

2613
01:20:14,762 --> 01:20:16,730
It's what's called threshold

2614
01:20:16,730 --> 01:20:18,699
damage, which is literally

2615
01:20:18,699 --> 01:20:21,202
anything, any extension of a

2616
01:20:21,202 --> 01:20:23,905
hairline crack, any opening up

2617
01:20:23,905 --> 01:20:24,105
of a crack in a little mortar

2618
01:20:24,105 --> 01:20:26,400
joint.

2619
01:20:26,400 --> 01:20:27,141
The way the regulations are

2620
01:20:27,141 --> 01:20:28,843
basically read.

2621
01:20:28,843 --> 01:20:31,713
And it's based on over 40 years

2622
01:20:31,713 --> 01:20:33,114
of research that we have very

2623
01:20:33,114 --> 01:20:34,516
finite standards.

2624
01:20:34,516 --> 01:20:36,516
For blasting.

2625
01:20:37,850 --> 01:20:38,920
And we know, again, based on 40

2626
01:20:38,920 --> 01:20:40,922
years of these standards, never

2627
01:20:40,922 --> 01:20:43,458
being shown wrong, that if our

2628
01:20:43,458 --> 01:20:45,293
levels stay below that, we have

2629
01:20:45,293 --> 01:20:46,996
statistically zero chance of

2630
01:20:46,996 --> 01:20:48,197
causing even cosmetic damage to

2631
01:20:48,197 --> 01:20:50,650
a structure.

2632
01:20:50,650 --> 01:20:51,367
Not structural damage.

2633
01:20:51,367 --> 01:20:52,535
But any change of condition as a

2634
01:20:52,535 --> 01:20:54,935
result of the blasting.

2635
01:20:55,470 --> 01:20:57,873
And that's what we stick to.

2636
01:20:57,873 --> 01:21:02,730
And the mine will be required to

2637
01:21:03,146 --> 01:21:05,381
have multiple size ma graphs out

2638
01:21:05,381 --> 01:21:06,516
and traced to the standards and

2639
01:21:06,516 --> 01:21:07,684
everything, they're very

2640
01:21:07,684 --> 01:21:10,684
accurate and give us realtime

2641
01:21:10,786 --> 01:21:12,823
data and our blasting operations

2642
01:21:12,823 --> 01:21:15,250
are changed shot by shot by

2643
01:21:15,250 --> 01:21:15,825
shot, based on the previous

2644
01:21:15,825 --> 01:21:17,600
results and we're constantly

2645
01:21:17,600 --> 01:21:19,262
changing, there's amazing things

2646
01:21:19,262 --> 01:21:20,263
that we can do in cancellation,

2647
01:21:20,263 --> 01:21:21,865
much like noise cancellation

2648
01:21:21,865 --> 01:21:22,632
headphones, we can do the same

2649
01:21:22,632 --> 01:21:25,320
thing in the ground.

2650
01:21:25,436 --> 01:21:28,872
Change the timing of our blasts

2651
01:21:28,872 --> 01:21:30,508
to cancel vibration out.

2652
01:21:30,508 --> 01:21:32,476
Things have changed a lot in the

2653
01:21:32,476 --> 01:21:33,577
last 20 years so we're very

2654
01:21:33,577 --> 01:21:35,179
adept to being a good neighbor

2655
01:21:35,179 --> 01:21:36,347
and minimizing the perception of

2656
01:21:36,347 --> 01:21:39,830
blasting, and that's our goal.

2657
01:21:39,830 --> 01:21:41,185
We don't worry about protecting

2658
01:21:41,185 --> 01:21:42,200
structures w e know we're going

2659
01:21:42,200 --> 01:21:43,121
to do that.

2660
01:21:43,121 --> 01:21:43,788
We're not going to hurt

2661
01:21:43,788 --> 01:21:45,189
anybody's property.

2662
01:21:45,189 --> 01:21:46,757
Our goal is to minimize

2663
01:21:46,757 --> 01:21:48,760
perception as much as possible

2664
01:21:48,760 --> 01:21:50,362
to get as close to 0 perception

2665
01:21:50,362 --> 01:21:51,897
in a community as we can.

2666
01:21:51,897 --> 01:21:54,297
>> what impact will blasting

2667
01:21:54,732 --> 01:21:57,732
have on pets or livestock?

2668
01:21:58,360 --> 01:21:58,303
Because this is a very rural

2669
01:21:58,303 --> 01:22:00,303
community.

2670
01:22:00,472 --> 01:22:02,374
>> understood.

2671
01:22:02,374 --> 01:22:03,474
Experience has shown personal

2672
01:22:03,474 --> 01:22:05,577
experience, as well as -- I

2673
01:22:05,577 --> 01:22:06,345
don't like to get into a lot of

2674
01:22:06,345 --> 01:22:07,880
studies because we all know

2675
01:22:07,880 --> 01:22:08,547
about studies you hate hearing

2676
01:22:08,547 --> 01:22:10,547
about them.

2677
01:22:11,150 --> 01:22:13,719
But animals are very adaptable.

2678
01:22:13,719 --> 01:22:14,420
A lot more than people in a lot

2679
01:22:14,420 --> 01:22:16,420
of cases.

2680
01:22:16,856 --> 01:22:18,925
And typically, they get used to

2681
01:22:18,925 --> 01:22:21,928
it real quick, and most animals

2682
01:22:21,928 --> 01:22:23,330
don't react to it at all.

2683
01:22:23,330 --> 01:22:25,330
Originally.

2684
01:22:25,798 --> 01:22:28,234
But those that do, pretty

2685
01:22:28,234 --> 01:22:31,834
quickly figure out it's no big

2686
01:22:32,305 --> 01:22:35,800
deal, and there's plenty of case

2687
01:22:35,800 --> 01:22:37,440
cases, aberdeen proving grounds

2688
01:22:37,440 --> 01:22:38,178
outside of baltimore where the

2689
01:22:38,178 --> 01:22:40,180
army does the munitions testing

2690
01:22:40,180 --> 01:22:41,348
is one of the largest

2691
01:22:41,348 --> 01:22:43,116
concentrations of bald eagles on

2692
01:22:43,116 --> 01:22:43,950
the east coast, because they

2693
01:22:43,950 --> 01:22:45,419
realized that nothing is going

2694
01:22:45,419 --> 01:22:46,821
to bother them there and they're

2695
01:22:46,821 --> 01:22:50,240
in the wide open, they have

2696
01:22:50,240 --> 01:22:52,927
gotten used to the racquet,

2697
01:22:52,927 --> 01:22:54,128
which is magnitudes greater than

2698
01:22:54,128 --> 01:22:55,396
what we would do, there should

2699
01:22:55,396 --> 01:22:58,310
be no problem at all with that.

2700
01:22:58,310 --> 01:22:59,200
>> or even with dogs who MAY be

2701
01:22:59,200 --> 01:23:00,835
terrified with fireworks or

2702
01:23:00,835 --> 01:23:01,670
anything else like that, that's

2703
01:23:01,670 --> 01:23:03,370
not going to --

2704
01:23:03,370 --> 01:23:05,607
>> typically not because the

2705
01:23:05,607 --> 01:23:06,608
sounds are very different from

2706
01:23:06,608 --> 01:23:08,443
fireworks.

2707
01:23:08,443 --> 01:23:09,244
It's -- we're just putting a

2708
01:23:09,244 --> 01:23:10,645
basically a pressure wave

2709
01:23:10,645 --> 01:23:12,347
through the air, it is like a

2710
01:23:12,347 --> 01:23:14,550
gust of wind more than anything,

2711
01:23:14,550 --> 01:23:16,550
it's barely audible.

2712
01:23:16,685 --> 01:23:18,420
And my experience with my own

2713
01:23:18,420 --> 01:23:19,954
pets and having everything from

2714
01:23:19,954 --> 01:23:22,757
horses to chinchillas, I live

2715
01:23:22,757 --> 01:23:23,726
very close to a quarry myself.

2716
01:23:23,726 --> 01:23:25,461
And there's -- they don't seem

2717
01:23:25,461 --> 01:23:26,620
to have an issue with it.

2718
01:23:26,620 --> 01:23:28,620
>> okay.

2719
01:23:28,631 --> 01:23:28,898
MR. CHAIRMAN, that's all of my

2720
01:23:28,898 --> 01:23:30,898
questions.

2721
01:23:31,267 --> 01:23:33,267
>>chair: commissioner hovis?

2722
01:23:34,537 --> 01:23:36,537
>> thank you, sir.

2723
01:23:38,730 --> 01:23:41,344
My questions are going to be

2724
01:23:41,344 --> 01:23:43,480
centered around your chemical

2725
01:23:43,480 --> 01:23:45,714
processing, what -- how you're

2726
01:23:45,714 --> 01:23:47,617
going to differentiate your

2727
01:23:47,617 --> 01:23:50,170
process versus other processes

2728
01:23:50,319 --> 01:23:53,356
that are used to take spodumene

2729
01:23:53,356 --> 01:23:56,956
and turn it into refine it?

2730
01:23:59,996 --> 01:24:02,266
And I think that the auto tech

2731
01:24:02,266 --> 01:24:05,266
process is what you're looking

2732
01:24:05,536 --> 01:24:05,803
at and I have a couple of

2733
01:24:05,803 --> 01:24:07,738
questions.

2734
01:24:07,738 --> 01:24:09,400
I believe that you're looking at

2735
01:24:09,400 --> 01:24:10,308
using this in tennessee and

2736
01:24:10,308 --> 01:24:11,409
maybe you've already started it

2737
01:24:11,409 --> 01:24:13,409
in tennessee.

2738
01:24:13,878 --> 01:24:15,880
Because you said you've already

2739
01:24:15,880 --> 01:24:17,315
produced ore.

2740
01:24:17,315 --> 01:24:19,617
>> so we have -- so we don't

2741
01:24:19,617 --> 01:24:20,585
have any operations that

2742
01:24:20,585 --> 01:24:20,985
currently working, we.

2743
01:24:20,985 --> 01:24:22,554
>> okay.

2744
01:24:22,554 --> 01:24:23,488
>> permits in tennessee.

2745
01:24:23,488 --> 01:24:24,656
>> gotcha.

2746
01:24:24,656 --> 01:24:24,990
>> but we haven't started any

2747
01:24:24,990 --> 01:24:25,657
construction.

2748
01:24:25,657 --> 01:24:25,890
>> will it be using that

2749
01:24:25,890 --> 01:24:27,759
process?

2750
01:24:27,759 --> 01:24:29,759
>> yes, sir.

2751
01:24:29,895 --> 01:24:31,895
>> okay.

2752
01:24:32,464 --> 01:24:35,334
And my -- in conjunction with

2753
01:24:35,334 --> 01:24:35,634
that, where is it being used in

2754
01:24:35,634 --> 01:24:37,634
production?

2755
01:24:38,360 --> 01:24:41,173
I understand it's pretty much a

2756
01:24:41,173 --> 01:24:42,440
table top lab design concept,

2757
01:24:42,440 --> 01:24:43,810
and hasn't been put into place

2758
01:24:43,810 --> 01:24:45,478
to my knowledge.

2759
01:24:45,478 --> 01:24:47,947
In a production basis producing

2760
01:24:47,947 --> 01:24:49,348
the volumes that we're talking

2761
01:24:49,348 --> 01:24:51,500
about needing to produce, to

2762
01:24:51,500 --> 01:24:51,818
meet the demand.

2763
01:24:51,818 --> 01:24:53,818
And the market.

2764
01:24:55,254 --> 01:24:57,424
Is it being done elsewhere?

2765
01:24:57,424 --> 01:24:59,259
>> so right now, auto tech

2766
01:24:59,259 --> 01:25:01,428
process is not in production for

2767
01:25:01,428 --> 01:25:03,428
lithium hydroxide production.

2768
01:25:04,331 --> 01:25:06,600
They do use the auto tech

2769
01:25:06,600 --> 01:25:08,302
pressure relation technology in

2770
01:25:08,302 --> 01:25:10,702
others such as gold.

2771
01:25:11,380 --> 01:25:15,509
And so to your point there is no

2772
01:25:15,509 --> 01:25:15,810
commercial operation using

2773
01:25:15,810 --> 01:25:17,810
technology.

2774
01:25:18,345 --> 01:25:19,980
>> that's because we're -- it's

2775
01:25:19,980 --> 01:25:20,981
kind of a little bit of a

2776
01:25:20,981 --> 01:25:22,883
leading edge question and that's

2777
01:25:22,883 --> 01:25:24,352
the reason I asked because be

2778
01:25:24,352 --> 01:25:25,486
nice to know it was proven and

2779
01:25:25,486 --> 01:25:29,860
you knew what the results and

2780
01:25:29,122 --> 01:25:30,524
all of the other unintended

2781
01:25:30,524 --> 01:25:33,160
consequences of that process and

2782
01:25:33,160 --> 01:25:35,497
what it will yield in terms of

2783
01:25:35,497 --> 01:25:37,765
this by-products because every

2784
01:25:37,765 --> 01:25:38,660
action has an equal and opposite

2785
01:25:38,660 --> 01:25:40,660
reaction.

2786
01:25:40,235 --> 01:25:42,404
I think I heard that somewhere

2787
01:25:42,404 --> 01:25:45,474
back when I was in school, back

2788
01:25:45,474 --> 01:25:45,707
when we used stone tablets and

2789
01:25:45,707 --> 01:25:47,410
hammers.

2790
01:25:47,410 --> 01:25:49,344
>> I'm there with you.

2791
01:25:49,344 --> 01:25:50,313
>> with that being said, it's

2792
01:25:50,313 --> 01:25:52,313
important to understand.

2793
01:25:52,648 --> 01:25:55,283
Because I happen to live

2794
01:25:55,283 --> 01:25:58,854
one-third of a mile from -- I've

2795
01:25:58,854 --> 01:26:00,220
lived one-third of a mile from

2796
01:26:00,220 --> 01:26:02,258
that processing plant ever since

2797
01:26:02,258 --> 01:26:02,892
-- well, excuse me, all of my

2798
01:26:02,892 --> 01:26:04,892
adult life.

2799
01:26:05,194 --> 01:26:05,828
That plant was built the year I

2800
01:26:05,828 --> 01:26:07,828
was born.

2801
01:26:07,997 --> 01:26:08,931
So it's been around for 69

2802
01:26:08,931 --> 01:26:10,931
years.

2803
01:26:11,367 --> 01:26:13,737
So I'm a little familiar with

2804
01:26:13,737 --> 01:26:15,538
the standard processing of

2805
01:26:15,538 --> 01:26:17,274
spodumene and the ore and this,

2806
01:26:17,274 --> 01:26:18,841
that and the other and you made

2807
01:26:18,841 --> 01:26:20,643
one comment earlier in your

2808
01:26:20,643 --> 01:26:23,430
comments, ma'am, that there

2809
01:26:23,280 --> 01:26:24,615
would be no tailings from this

2810
01:26:24,615 --> 01:26:26,615
process.

2811
01:26:29,119 --> 01:26:30,421
Yet, on slide 15, we talk about

2812
01:26:30,421 --> 01:26:32,421
tailings.

2813
01:26:35,159 --> 01:26:35,326
Now, I'm not trying to beat you

2814
01:26:35,326 --> 01:26:36,527
up.

2815
01:26:36,527 --> 01:26:38,620
>> to worries.

2816
01:26:38,620 --> 01:26:39,697
>> but explain to me why there's

2817
01:26:39,697 --> 01:26:40,631
no tailings when tailings are

2818
01:26:40,631 --> 01:26:42,533
mentioned on slide 15.

2819
01:26:42,533 --> 01:26:43,267
>> so I mentioned there would be

2820
01:26:43,267 --> 01:26:45,267
no tailings pond.

2821
01:26:46,300 --> 01:26:47,505
So tailings are a waste product

2822
01:26:47,505 --> 01:26:49,407
from the process.

2823
01:26:49,407 --> 01:26:51,309
Normal mining operations has wet

2824
01:26:51,309 --> 01:26:53,712
tailings that go into ponds.

2825
01:26:53,712 --> 01:26:55,446
We will have dry tailings.

2826
01:26:55,446 --> 01:26:58,350
So that's our concentrator plant

2827
01:26:58,350 --> 01:27:01,530
will have tailings and our

2828
01:27:01,530 --> 01:27:03,453
chemical -- lithium hydroxide

2829
01:27:04,957 --> 01:27:06,291
will have tailings but dry

2830
01:27:06,291 --> 01:27:07,493
tailings, that's the difference

2831
01:27:07,493 --> 01:27:09,161
wet versus dry.

2832
01:27:09,161 --> 01:27:09,428
>> will those be lined.

2833
01:27:09,428 --> 01:27:11,428
>> what.

2834
01:27:14,934 --> 01:27:16,802
>> will they be lined, mem lined

2835
01:27:16,802 --> 01:27:19,380
so any precipitation of

2836
01:27:19,380 --> 01:27:20,390
rainwater doesn't precipitate

2837
01:27:20,390 --> 01:27:22,390
into the soil.

2838
01:27:22,642 --> 01:27:26,242
>> the permit, I'm not sure if

2839
01:27:30,216 --> 01:27:33,816
any have read the adi3, dimler

2840
01:27:35,222 --> 01:27:36,289
is requiring us to put a liner

2841
01:27:36,289 --> 01:27:37,323
under that waste rock pile.

2842
01:27:37,323 --> 01:27:38,392
>> the conversion facility,

2843
01:27:38,392 --> 01:27:40,792
excuse me, the conversion

2844
01:27:41,695 --> 01:27:43,230
facility tailings are going off

2845
01:27:43,230 --> 01:27:45,230
site.

2846
01:27:45,532 --> 01:27:46,200
So what's coming from the

2847
01:27:46,200 --> 01:27:48,335
conversion facility is not --

2848
01:27:48,335 --> 01:27:48,903
those tailings are not being

2849
01:27:48,903 --> 01:27:49,703
stored on site.

2850
01:27:49,703 --> 01:27:51,703
>> off site where?

2851
01:27:52,206 --> 01:27:54,700
>> so right now, we're working

2852
01:27:54,700 --> 01:27:54,842
to get the testing, we know that

2853
01:27:54,842 --> 01:27:56,842
it's not hazardous.

2854
01:27:57,378 --> 01:27:59,947
So one of the first places that

2855
01:27:59,947 --> 01:28:02,217
we will look to dispose of those

2856
01:28:02,217 --> 01:28:05,217
tailings is the lab landfill.

2857
01:28:05,520 --> 01:28:07,722
The conversion plant fills could

2858
01:28:07,722 --> 01:28:09,324
be used as cover, there is

2859
01:28:09,324 --> 01:28:10,992
potential reuse of that

2860
01:28:10,992 --> 01:28:11,827
material, we're exploring those

2861
01:28:11,827 --> 01:28:13,395
options.

2862
01:28:13,395 --> 01:28:15,395
Aggregate uses.

2863
01:28:16,498 --> 01:28:17,232
So we haven't defined 100% which

2864
01:28:17,232 --> 01:28:19,632
landfill, because there's so

2865
01:28:19,835 --> 01:28:20,502
many other options that we have.

2866
01:28:20,502 --> 01:28:21,769
>> sure.

2867
01:28:21,769 --> 01:28:23,769
Sure.

2868
01:28:26,750 --> 01:28:29,675
And is there -- this technology,

2869
01:28:30,645 --> 01:28:33,450
this new technology, does

2870
01:28:33,616 --> 01:28:34,383
piedmont carolina lithium have

2871
01:28:34,383 --> 01:28:36,119
rights to that?

2872
01:28:36,119 --> 01:28:38,519
Have you purchased that?

2873
01:28:42,692 --> 01:28:42,926
Do you have someone in your

2874
01:28:42,926 --> 01:28:44,527
employ.

2875
01:28:44,527 --> 01:28:47,527
>> a licensed technology, so we

2876
01:28:48,560 --> 01:28:49,990
do not own the technology.

2877
01:28:49,990 --> 01:28:51,990
>> okay.

2878
01:28:51,735 --> 01:28:52,350
>> but we will purchase the

2879
01:28:52,350 --> 01:28:53,403
technology.

2880
01:28:53,403 --> 01:28:54,571
>> that's part of what I'm

2881
01:28:54,571 --> 01:28:58,171
trying to say, so you're going

2882
01:28:58,308 --> 01:28:59,176
to acquire the licensure to use

2883
01:28:59,176 --> 01:29:01,176
that process?

2884
01:29:02,379 --> 01:29:04,215
>> I wouldn't say licensure -- I

2885
01:29:04,215 --> 01:29:06,417
don't know the right technical

2886
01:29:06,417 --> 01:29:08,386
legal term for it.

2887
01:29:08,386 --> 01:29:11,386
>> we will purchase the system

2888
01:29:11,389 --> 01:29:13,391
from that, and I will go back to

2889
01:29:13,391 --> 01:29:15,692
what you said earlier, we will

2890
01:29:15,692 --> 01:29:17,428
not be the first to use it.

2891
01:29:17,428 --> 01:29:19,464
One of our customers that's

2892
01:29:19,464 --> 01:29:20,632
fairly well known is going to

2893
01:29:20,632 --> 01:29:22,632
use it first.

2894
01:29:23,735 --> 01:29:26,738
We will use it in tennessee.

2895
01:29:26,738 --> 01:29:29,141
Prior to doing it here.

2896
01:29:29,141 --> 01:29:31,410
So lessons will have been

2897
01:29:31,410 --> 01:29:32,411
learned along the way by us in

2898
01:29:32,411 --> 01:29:33,512
tennessee, that's our sister

2899
01:29:33,512 --> 01:29:34,546
plant that will be very much

2900
01:29:34,546 --> 01:29:34,913
like the one built here.

2901
01:29:34,913 --> 01:29:36,913
>> right.

2902
01:29:38,984 --> 01:29:42,584
>> but that one will go first.

2903
01:29:43,122 --> 01:29:44,323
And it will be used by others

2904
01:29:44,323 --> 01:29:46,323
before us.

2905
01:29:49,896 --> 01:29:53,496
>> do you have a 90% surety in

2906
01:29:54,701 --> 01:29:57,303
your mind set, this process will

2907
01:29:57,303 --> 01:29:59,405
yield the volume of product at

2908
01:29:59,405 --> 01:30:00,874
the cost necessary to market

2909
01:30:00,874 --> 01:30:02,909
your final product and not have

2910
01:30:02,909 --> 01:30:04,909
the other unintended

2911
01:30:04,911 --> 01:30:07,213
consequences of something that

2912
01:30:07,213 --> 01:30:07,748
you have -- that's unforeseen as

2913
01:30:07,748 --> 01:30:09,748
a by-product.

2914
01:30:09,850 --> 01:30:11,919
>> based on the pilot testing

2915
01:30:11,919 --> 01:30:12,620
and again as you referenced, you

2916
01:30:12,620 --> 01:30:13,887
know, the pilot testing is what

2917
01:30:13,887 --> 01:30:15,222
we have done, we have confidence

2918
01:30:15,222 --> 01:30:18,822
that we can produce the product

2919
01:30:19,920 --> 01:30:19,393
we need at the cost that we've

2920
01:30:19,393 --> 01:30:19,660
anticipated.

2921
01:30:19,660 --> 01:30:21,162
>> okay.

2922
01:30:21,162 --> 01:30:22,230
Those are all of my questions at

2923
01:30:22,230 --> 01:30:23,496
this time, MR. CHAIRMAN.

2924
01:30:23,496 --> 01:30:24,331
>>chair: thank you.

2925
01:30:24,331 --> 01:30:26,331
Commissioner keigher?

2926
01:30:27,100 --> 01:30:28,202
>> just a couple that have

2927
01:30:28,202 --> 01:30:30,202
popped up.

2928
01:30:33,241 --> 01:30:36,241
In another lifetime, I spent 25

2929
01:30:36,978 --> 01:30:38,446
years -- one of my top ten

2930
01:30:38,446 --> 01:30:40,446
accounts.

2931
01:30:40,582 --> 01:30:42,582
For 25 years.

2932
01:30:44,620 --> 01:30:47,620
And I actually had the

2933
01:30:47,623 --> 01:30:50,230
unfortunate experience of being

2934
01:30:51,160 --> 01:30:54,330
in a -- it wasn't an explosion,

2935
01:30:54,330 --> 01:30:56,665
it was more piping, something

2936
01:30:56,665 --> 01:30:59,335
happened, and piping just split

2937
01:30:59,335 --> 01:31:01,670
and it pulled the valves off and

2938
01:31:01,670 --> 01:31:03,639
I got burned pretty good.

2939
01:31:03,639 --> 01:31:06,275
I did have a face shield on.

2940
01:31:06,275 --> 01:31:07,276
But my clothes were burned so I

2941
01:31:07,276 --> 01:31:10,276
understand there's -- when you

2942
01:31:10,812 --> 01:31:12,448
mentioned that lithium hydroxide

2943
01:31:12,448 --> 01:31:14,384
is not flammable or explosive,

2944
01:31:14,384 --> 01:31:15,852
but what about the other

2945
01:31:15,852 --> 01:31:16,190
materials that you will have to

2946
01:31:16,190 --> 01:31:17,954
use?

2947
01:31:17,954 --> 01:31:18,221
I didn't hear anything about

2948
01:31:18,221 --> 01:31:20,157
those.

2949
01:31:20,157 --> 01:31:21,391
They've got to be highly

2950
01:31:21,391 --> 01:31:23,226
flammable and explosive.

2951
01:31:23,226 --> 01:31:25,128
>> so the process that you MAY

2952
01:31:25,128 --> 01:31:27,364
have been working around or been

2953
01:31:27,364 --> 01:31:29,266
around during that time was more

2954
01:31:29,266 --> 01:31:31,201
than after the leeching process.

2955
01:31:31,201 --> 01:31:33,700
>> in the 80s, 90s.

2956
01:31:33,700 --> 01:31:35,306
>> up until now, the production

2957
01:31:35,306 --> 01:31:37,541
of lithium hydroxide was done

2958
01:31:37,541 --> 01:31:39,410
with acid leaching, which is an

2959
01:31:39,410 --> 01:31:40,444
acid that once you heat it, it

2960
01:31:40,444 --> 01:31:42,313
will burn you.

2961
01:31:42,313 --> 01:31:44,188
So not surprised, according to

2962
01:31:44,188 --> 01:31:45,490
that, if that's the process that

2963
01:31:45,490 --> 01:31:47,170
you were around.

2964
01:31:47,170 --> 01:31:49,454
Our technology does not use acid

2965
01:31:49,454 --> 01:31:52,190
leaching at all, that's why we

2966
01:31:52,190 --> 01:31:53,892
have the metsal auto tech

2967
01:31:53,892 --> 01:31:56,292
process, the pressure --

2968
01:31:56,595 --> 01:31:58,496
>> no sulfuric or --

2969
01:31:58,496 --> 01:32:00,432
>> we will -- the acid that we

2970
01:32:00,432 --> 01:32:02,167
will have be pry marley used for

2971
01:32:02,167 --> 01:32:04,303
-- primarily used for cleaning

2972
01:32:04,303 --> 01:32:05,136
and in the waste water and not

2973
01:32:05,136 --> 01:32:06,505
the chemical processing.

2974
01:32:06,505 --> 01:32:08,807
>> okay, and the other thing,

2975
01:32:08,807 --> 01:32:09,208
the other question I wanted to

2976
01:32:09,208 --> 01:32:09,842
ask.

2977
01:32:09,842 --> 01:32:11,842
Two part.

2978
01:32:12,110 --> 01:32:16,148
Why is it taking so long for the

2979
01:32:16,148 --> 01:32:17,550
state to issue a permit and in

2980
01:32:17,550 --> 01:32:19,852
your opinion, is there any

2981
01:32:19,852 --> 01:32:19,986
chance the state would deny it?

2982
01:32:19,986 --> 01:32:21,254
.

2983
01:32:21,254 --> 01:32:22,255
>> so we get obviously we get

2984
01:32:22,255 --> 01:32:24,656
asked that question a lot.

2985
01:32:24,656 --> 01:32:25,725
Why is it taking so long.

2986
01:32:25,725 --> 01:32:27,627
One of the things that we

2987
01:32:27,627 --> 01:32:28,795
understand is lithium mining

2988
01:32:28,795 --> 01:32:31,231
hasn't been done in this area in

2989
01:32:31,231 --> 01:32:32,999
a very long time and so the

2990
01:32:32,999 --> 01:32:34,767
process that the state is going

2991
01:32:34,767 --> 01:32:36,360
through to ep ensure that

2992
01:32:36,360 --> 01:32:37,304
everything that we're doing is

2993
01:32:37,304 --> 01:32:38,672
adequate, to me is

2994
01:32:38,672 --> 01:32:39,773
representative of the diligence

2995
01:32:39,773 --> 01:32:40,974
that the state is putting into

2996
01:32:40,974 --> 01:32:43,577
it, to make sure it's done right

2997
01:32:43,577 --> 01:32:45,512
and for our benefit to make sure

2998
01:32:45,512 --> 01:32:46,880
that they -- there are minimal

2999
01:32:46,880 --> 01:32:47,915
risks that we impacted by

3000
01:32:47,915 --> 01:32:49,650
through our process.

3001
01:32:49,650 --> 01:32:49,850
Am I surprised it's taking so

3002
01:32:49,850 --> 01:32:51,217
long?

3003
01:32:51,217 --> 01:32:52,620
Not really, I actually

3004
01:32:52,620 --> 01:32:55,356
appreciate it, because I feel

3005
01:32:55,356 --> 01:32:56,900
like the risk of being mitigated

3006
01:32:56,900 --> 01:32:58,900
through this process.

3007
01:32:58,493 --> 01:32:59,327
I forget your second question.

3008
01:32:59,327 --> 01:33:01,327
I'm sorry.

3009
01:33:02,300 --> 01:33:03,865
>> is there any possibility in

3010
01:33:03,865 --> 01:33:04,632
your minds that the state would

3011
01:33:04,632 --> 01:33:06,632
deny it.

3012
01:33:06,901 --> 01:33:08,202
>> obviously, I don't have a

3013
01:33:08,202 --> 01:33:09,571
crystal ball, if I did, I would

3014
01:33:09,571 --> 01:33:10,500
have rubbed and gotten an answer

3015
01:33:10,500 --> 01:33:12,500
for that.

3016
01:33:12,700 --> 01:33:13,410
But what I will say is, I feel

3017
01:33:13,410 --> 01:33:14,676
like we're doing everything we

3018
01:33:14,676 --> 01:33:14,943
need to do to answer their

3019
01:33:14,943 --> 01:33:16,943
questions.

3020
01:33:17,979 --> 01:33:20,182
And as long as we do that, I

3021
01:33:20,182 --> 01:33:21,416
can't -- I wouldn't -- I

3022
01:33:21,416 --> 01:33:23,719
wouldn't anticipate them denying

3023
01:33:23,719 --> 01:33:25,588
the permit.

3024
01:33:25,588 --> 01:33:26,388
>> thank you.

3025
01:33:26,388 --> 01:33:26,655
>>chair: thank you, sir.

3026
01:33:26,655 --> 01:33:28,524
All right.

3027
01:33:28,524 --> 01:33:28,724
I guess I get the rest of the

3028
01:33:28,724 --> 01:33:30,724
time.

3029
01:33:31,794 --> 01:33:33,162
Going to be a lot here.

3030
01:33:33,162 --> 01:33:34,597
First of all, I want to say

3031
01:33:34,597 --> 01:33:35,398
thank you to the ones that

3032
01:33:35,398 --> 01:33:37,398
showed up.

3033
01:33:37,900 --> 01:33:40,236
I want to let you know that this

3034
01:33:40,236 --> 01:33:42,104
process today, like I stated

3035
01:33:42,104 --> 01:33:44,407
from the very first time you

3036
01:33:44,407 --> 01:33:46,509
came, can still possibly be the

3037
01:33:46,509 --> 01:33:48,545
worst rollout I've ever seen of

3038
01:33:48,545 --> 01:33:50,545
economic development.

3039
01:33:50,814 --> 01:33:52,683
Please.

3040
01:33:52,683 --> 01:33:54,785
I say that, look at all of these

3041
01:33:54,785 --> 01:33:57,785
people here in this crowd.

3042
01:33:58,388 --> 01:33:58,621
Your ceo refused to come

3043
01:33:58,621 --> 01:34:00,621
tonight.

3044
01:34:00,724 --> 01:34:01,492
He knew about this meeting

3045
01:34:01,492 --> 01:34:02,693
months in advance.

3046
01:34:02,693 --> 01:34:05,162
And we're sitting here today,

3047
01:34:05,162 --> 01:34:06,697
and we still don't see him.

3048
01:34:06,697 --> 01:34:08,899
and I've got to tell these

3049
01:34:08,899 --> 01:34:10,368
people that y'all are

3050
01:34:10,368 --> 01:34:12,768
trustworthy citizens that want

3051
01:34:13,370 --> 01:34:13,503
to help them, they still never

3052
01:34:13,503 --> 01:34:15,503
come.

3053
01:34:16,207 --> 01:34:17,341
That, to me, kills me inside

3054
01:34:17,341 --> 01:34:19,109
because I have to answer

3055
01:34:19,109 --> 01:34:19,543
questions from these people

3056
01:34:19,543 --> 01:34:21,543
every day.

3057
01:34:22,546 --> 01:34:23,448
I have media call me, every day.

3058
01:34:23,448 --> 01:34:25,448
About this issue.

3059
01:34:25,517 --> 01:34:26,851
And I have to answer it.

3060
01:34:26,851 --> 01:34:28,487
Your people, the only people

3061
01:34:28,487 --> 01:34:30,689
that come, I've seen you, ma'am,

3062
01:34:30,689 --> 01:34:33,224
two meetings, and now we come to

3063
01:34:33,224 --> 01:34:34,993
this and he's not here.

3064
01:34:34,993 --> 01:34:37,729
Is there any reason why -- does

3065
01:34:37,729 --> 01:34:39,865
he think it's not important?

3066
01:34:39,865 --> 01:34:41,667
Because this company is valued

3067
01:34:41,667 --> 01:34:44,437
on what this commission needs.

3068
01:34:44,437 --> 01:34:44,837
And it needs a leader, I promise

3069
01:34:44,837 --> 01:34:46,405
you that.

3070
01:34:46,405 --> 01:34:47,240
I'll go through my questions

3071
01:34:47,240 --> 01:34:48,541
now.

3072
01:34:48,541 --> 01:34:49,742
The commission will receive

3073
01:34:49,742 --> 01:34:51,543
questions, every day from

3074
01:34:51,543 --> 01:34:52,445
concerned citizens about these

3075
01:34:52,445 --> 01:34:53,945
proposed projects and different

3076
01:34:53,945 --> 01:34:55,915
thing, list of written

3077
01:34:55,915 --> 01:34:56,482
questions, why not, you guys

3078
01:34:56,482 --> 01:34:58,818
talked about open and

3079
01:34:58,818 --> 01:35:01,818
transparent in the last meeting

3080
01:35:01,988 --> 01:35:03,988
back in 2021.

3081
01:35:04,124 --> 01:35:07,527
We have tried to work with you

3082
01:35:07,527 --> 01:35:09,329
guys, we asked, hey, we had to

3083
01:35:09,329 --> 01:35:10,397
hire a hydrologist and an

3084
01:35:10,397 --> 01:35:11,932
outside communication, we asked

3085
01:35:11,932 --> 01:35:14,100
for that, would you like to

3086
01:35:14,100 --> 01:35:14,334
share that, so we could share

3087
01:35:14,334 --> 01:35:15,669
information.

3088
01:35:15,669 --> 01:35:17,271
Can you tell me why you guys

3089
01:35:17,271 --> 01:35:19,340
didn't want to after your lawyer

3090
01:35:19,340 --> 01:35:21,740
recommended that you should?

3091
01:35:22,810 --> 01:35:24,810
>> a hydrologist?

3092
01:35:25,680 --> 01:35:27,582
>> our hydrologist, we asked for

3093
01:35:27,582 --> 01:35:29,483
shared costs on different

3094
01:35:29,483 --> 01:35:30,218
outliers for the studies and

3095
01:35:30,218 --> 01:35:32,218
different things.

3096
01:35:32,720 --> 01:35:35,720
>> I'm not aware of that

3097
01:35:36,691 --> 01:35:38,691
request.

3098
01:35:39,127 --> 01:35:42,127
>>chair: the project has been

3099
01:35:42,363 --> 01:35:43,999
based on a lot of promises, I'll

3100
01:35:43,999 --> 01:35:45,801
ask, again, following this

3101
01:35:45,801 --> 01:35:47,269
information, will you guys put

3102
01:35:47,269 --> 01:35:48,904
this presentation on your

3103
01:35:48,904 --> 01:35:50,339
website?

3104
01:35:50,339 --> 01:35:52,339
Tonight's presentation?

3105
01:35:52,341 --> 01:35:53,408
All documents that have been

3106
01:35:53,408 --> 01:35:54,420
submitted from the state and

3107
01:35:54,420 --> 01:35:55,911
federal government related to

3108
01:35:55,911 --> 01:35:56,144
the required permits for the

3109
01:35:56,144 --> 01:35:57,913
project?

3110
01:35:57,913 --> 01:35:59,515
All of the studies that have

3111
01:35:59,515 --> 01:36:02,251
been referenced in said proposal

3112
01:36:02,251 --> 01:36:04,353
for this presentation tonight?

3113
01:36:04,353 --> 01:36:06,353
And before?

3114
01:36:10,793 --> 01:36:13,396
I noticed that we -- we raised

3115
01:36:13,396 --> 01:36:15,731
issues on the hydrologist study

3116
01:36:15,731 --> 01:36:16,566
by DR. Strul, you mentioned it

3117
01:36:16,566 --> 01:36:18,966
tonight in your presentation,

3118
01:36:19,903 --> 01:36:22,903
you failed to submit that.

3119
01:36:23,720 --> 01:36:26,672
To the north carolina, when you

3120
01:36:27,611 --> 01:36:30,800
were looking for their permit.

3121
01:36:30,800 --> 01:36:32,149
>> it's not complete, we can't

3122
01:36:32,149 --> 01:36:32,416
present it because it's not

3123
01:36:32,416 --> 01:36:34,416
complete.

3124
01:36:34,518 --> 01:36:36,152
>> you're meeting with sprul.

3125
01:36:36,152 --> 01:36:37,655
>> this is why it hasn't been

3126
01:36:37,655 --> 01:36:39,223
provided, as far as all of the

3127
01:36:39,223 --> 01:36:40,790
other studies you referenced,

3128
01:36:40,790 --> 01:36:43,270
yes, we brought the binders

3129
01:36:43,270 --> 01:36:45,797
tooted, -- today, they will go

3130
01:36:45,797 --> 01:36:46,764
in the library, in the

3131
01:36:46,764 --> 01:36:48,866
cherryville and we offered to

3132
01:36:48,866 --> 01:36:50,668
put them all online.

3133
01:36:50,668 --> 01:36:54,268
So it's easier to access than

3134
01:36:54,872 --> 01:36:55,400
having to go to the state.

3135
01:36:55,400 --> 01:36:57,400
>>.

3136
01:36:57,475 --> 01:36:57,776
>>chair: has our study not been

3137
01:36:57,776 --> 01:36:59,211
completed.

3138
01:36:59,211 --> 01:37:01,747
>> we are still -- they are

3139
01:37:01,747 --> 01:37:04,183
finishing out the modeling that

3140
01:37:04,183 --> 01:37:06,452
was done on the second study,

3141
01:37:06,452 --> 01:37:08,854
the data has been collected.

3142
01:37:08,854 --> 01:37:12,291
That they are back and forth

3143
01:37:12,291 --> 01:37:14,727
with hdr and DR. Sprul go back

3144
01:37:14,727 --> 01:37:15,461
and forth of the actual modeling

3145
01:37:15,461 --> 01:37:16,162
to be given.

3146
01:37:16,162 --> 01:37:17,530
>>chair: would you be willing

3147
01:37:17,530 --> 01:37:19,631
to share that, what you guys

3148
01:37:19,631 --> 01:37:21,000
found on your website as well,

3149
01:37:21,000 --> 01:37:21,667
asking and yes or no

3150
01:37:21,667 --> 01:37:23,436
questionnaire for that?

3151
01:37:23,436 --> 01:37:23,635
On what is found out in the

3152
01:37:23,635 --> 01:37:25,635
study?

3153
01:37:26,406 --> 01:37:27,240
>> once it's final, yes.

3154
01:37:27,240 --> 01:37:29,240
>>chair: okay.

3155
01:37:29,342 --> 01:37:31,411
You had mentioned earlier and I

3156
01:37:31,411 --> 01:37:33,880
might have to ask the blast

3157
01:37:33,880 --> 01:37:36,383
expert, when there's a blasting

3158
01:37:36,383 --> 01:37:38,251
situation, let's just say it's

3159
01:37:38,251 --> 01:37:40,251
25 feet deep.

3160
01:37:40,687 --> 01:37:42,723
What are the visual aspects that

3161
01:37:42,723 --> 01:37:44,124
I can see?

3162
01:37:44,124 --> 01:37:46,124
Dust?

3163
01:37:46,527 --> 01:37:50,664
What would I be able to see in

3164
01:37:50,664 --> 01:37:52,333
-- if I were sit agoing --

3165
01:37:52,333 --> 01:37:54,702
sitting away from it, what would

3166
01:37:54,702 --> 01:37:55,202
be the characteristics that I

3167
01:37:55,202 --> 01:37:56,604
would see?

3168
01:37:56,604 --> 01:37:59,340
>> thank you for the question.

3169
01:37:59,340 --> 01:38:01,910
In the type of mining that is

3170
01:38:01,910 --> 01:38:03,411
done and will be done here, it

3171
01:38:03,411 --> 01:38:06,140
will be very disappointing, you

3172
01:38:06,140 --> 01:38:07,182
continue see much at all --

3173
01:38:07,182 --> 01:38:09,416
won't see much at all.

3174
01:38:09,416 --> 01:38:10,285
It's not like a quarry like at

3175
01:38:10,285 --> 01:38:12,953
kings mountain where there's a

3176
01:38:12,953 --> 01:38:15,190
kind of a ledge that we blast

3177
01:38:15,190 --> 01:38:16,692
into for them to excavate,

3178
01:38:16,692 --> 01:38:17,659
because of the deposits of the

3179
01:38:17,659 --> 01:38:18,627
ore, they can't have the

3180
01:38:18,627 --> 01:38:20,496
material shift a lot because

3181
01:38:20,496 --> 01:38:21,263
they want to keep that

3182
01:38:21,263 --> 01:38:23,663
differentiation between the ore

3183
01:38:24,333 --> 01:38:26,335
and waste rock, otherwise,

3184
01:38:26,335 --> 01:38:27,836
financially, it gets to be a

3185
01:38:27,836 --> 01:38:29,405
mess so our blasts will be

3186
01:38:29,405 --> 01:38:30,606
designed not to move.

3187
01:38:30,606 --> 01:38:32,608
They will just fragment, lift

3188
01:38:32,608 --> 01:38:34,610
up, and sit down.

3189
01:38:34,610 --> 01:38:36,445
So there will be a minor amount

3190
01:38:36,445 --> 01:38:38,214
of dust, much less than in a

3191
01:38:38,214 --> 01:38:39,314
normal aggregate operation.

3192
01:38:39,314 --> 01:38:42,510
>>chair: but just in case it

3193
01:38:42,510 --> 01:38:45,354
could get into the air and shift

3194
01:38:45,354 --> 01:38:46,823
into one of these said streams,

3195
01:38:46,823 --> 01:38:48,358
ponds, that are nearby.

3196
01:38:48,358 --> 01:38:50,126
People we were told earlier

3197
01:38:50,126 --> 01:38:51,328
there would be nothing in the

3198
01:38:51,328 --> 01:38:53,463
air quality had changed.

3199
01:38:53,463 --> 01:38:55,863
>> there's no guarantees but

3200
01:38:55,899 --> 01:38:56,533
that's just the top of the

3201
01:38:56,533 --> 01:38:58,168
ground.

3202
01:38:58,168 --> 01:39:00,168
Yes, sir.

3203
01:39:00,237 --> 01:39:02,239
>>chair: with that, is it not

3204
01:39:02,239 --> 01:39:04,909
true that lithium hydroxide d

3205
01:39:04,909 --> 01:39:06,377
when it reacts with water, does

3206
01:39:06,377 --> 01:39:07,110
it not become a corrosive?

3207
01:39:07,110 --> 01:39:09,110
>> yes.

3208
01:39:10,470 --> 01:39:14,247
It is a corrosive once it gets

3209
01:39:15,953 --> 01:39:17,689
wet.

3210
01:39:17,689 --> 01:39:20,890
>>chair: you guys have

3211
01:39:20,557 --> 01:39:22,957
mentioned canada, ghana, north

3212
01:39:23,228 --> 01:39:24,195
carolina, tennessee, and

3213
01:39:24,195 --> 01:39:26,131
obviously you guys should be

3214
01:39:26,131 --> 01:39:28,700
very proud of that, but will you

3215
01:39:28,700 --> 01:39:29,935
sell -- when you think about the

3216
01:39:29,935 --> 01:39:32,104
entities that you have inside of

3217
01:39:32,104 --> 01:39:33,500
the united states and talking

3218
01:39:33,500 --> 01:39:34,806
about being a part of and

3219
01:39:34,806 --> 01:39:36,942
looking for a second source for

3220
01:39:36,942 --> 01:39:39,211
the next piece of the puzzle,

3221
01:39:39,211 --> 01:39:40,579
how many companies do you think

3222
01:39:40,579 --> 01:39:44,179
are in the united states right

3223
01:39:44,250 --> 01:39:45,717
now who offer those to you?

3224
01:39:45,717 --> 01:39:46,385
>> offer -- I don't know -- I

3225
01:39:46,385 --> 01:39:47,860
donald nant.

3226
01:39:47,860 --> 01:39:48,688
>>chair: what you would have to

3227
01:39:48,688 --> 01:39:50,220
have to make your -- to be able

3228
01:39:50,220 --> 01:39:51,423
to put with the battery, how

3229
01:39:51,423 --> 01:39:52,959
many different companies are out

3230
01:39:52,959 --> 01:39:55,228
there for resources that you MAY

3231
01:39:55,228 --> 01:39:56,696
have as customers?

3232
01:39:56,696 --> 01:39:58,164
To sell to?

3233
01:39:58,164 --> 01:40:00,164
>> oh, okay.

3234
01:40:00,266 --> 01:40:02,435
Well, there have been $80

3235
01:40:02,435 --> 01:40:03,870
billion worth of commitments

3236
01:40:03,870 --> 01:40:06,870
made by car manufacturers and

3237
01:40:08,608 --> 01:40:09,910
battery manufacturers, there are

3238
01:40:09,910 --> 01:40:10,977
numerous companies that we could

3239
01:40:10,977 --> 01:40:11,677
sell to.

3240
01:40:11,677 --> 01:40:13,677
We currently --

3241
01:40:15,683 --> 01:40:17,683
>>chair: more than 100?

3242
01:40:17,718 --> 01:40:18,852
>> I'll let our commercial --

3243
01:40:18,852 --> 01:40:19,620
chief commercial officer.

3244
01:40:19,620 --> 01:40:21,422
>>chair: I'm trying to figure

3245
01:40:21,422 --> 01:40:22,323
out because my question is

3246
01:40:22,323 --> 01:40:24,325
related to foreign entities

3247
01:40:24,325 --> 01:40:25,359
after the fact, you go and do so

3248
01:40:25,359 --> 01:40:26,527
much inside of the united states

3249
01:40:26,527 --> 01:40:27,160
if there's only a few companies,

3250
01:40:27,160 --> 01:40:28,730
so to speak.

3251
01:40:28,730 --> 01:40:31,320
I want to know if you're going

3252
01:40:31,320 --> 01:40:32,660
to sell this after you get a

3253
01:40:32,660 --> 01:40:32,966
permit or are you going to sell

3254
01:40:32,966 --> 01:40:34,135
it out?

3255
01:40:34,135 --> 01:40:36,504
Is that going to be something

3256
01:40:36,504 --> 01:40:38,173
that you guys look forward to,

3257
01:40:38,173 --> 01:40:39,974
say, hey, we did the leg work

3258
01:40:39,974 --> 01:40:41,443
and now we're going to sell it

3259
01:40:41,443 --> 01:40:42,477
to some foreign entity?

3260
01:40:42,477 --> 01:40:44,112
Or because we always want to be

3261
01:40:44,112 --> 01:40:45,447
-- we keep talking about wanting

3262
01:40:45,447 --> 01:40:45,814
to do everything inside of the

3263
01:40:45,814 --> 01:40:47,814
united states.

3264
01:40:48,917 --> 01:40:50,180
So that's why I'm trying to

3265
01:40:50,180 --> 01:40:52,354
figure out now for everybody

3266
01:40:52,354 --> 01:40:54,290
that we do, because I have

3267
01:40:54,290 --> 01:40:55,291
300,000 people I have to be

3268
01:40:55,291 --> 01:40:56,492
responsibler at the end of the

3269
01:40:56,492 --> 01:40:57,760
day, that's why I'm very

3270
01:40:57,760 --> 01:40:59,195
diligent and making sure that we

3271
01:40:59,195 --> 01:41:00,730
ask all of the questions,

3272
01:41:00,730 --> 01:41:02,231
regardless of how harsh, how

3273
01:41:02,231 --> 01:41:03,599
bad, I want these kids, and I

3274
01:41:03,599 --> 01:41:04,500
want these parents to

3275
01:41:04,500 --> 01:41:06,900
understand, that there's a

3276
01:41:07,636 --> 01:41:09,204
future if we do this.

3277
01:41:09,204 --> 01:41:11,941
>> thank you, CHAIRMAN Brown and

3278
01:41:11,941 --> 01:41:12,975
commissioner, I'm austin, chief

3279
01:41:12,975 --> 01:41:14,420
commercial officer for piedmont

3280
01:41:14,420 --> 01:41:14,911
lithium t answer to your

3281
01:41:14,911 --> 01:41:16,413
question, I've travelled all

3282
01:41:16,413 --> 01:41:17,847
over the world, selling lithium.

3283
01:41:17,847 --> 01:41:18,615
And I don't like traveling all

3284
01:41:18,615 --> 01:41:20,615
over the world.

3285
01:41:20,884 --> 01:41:22,419
My intent is to sell our lithium

3286
01:41:22,419 --> 01:41:22,653
products here in the united

3287
01:41:22,653 --> 01:41:24,653
states.

3288
01:41:25,689 --> 01:41:28,525
And when you look at what future

3289
01:41:28,525 --> 01:41:29,893
demand will be, erin referenced

3290
01:41:29,893 --> 01:41:31,428
the amount of investments made

3291
01:41:31,428 --> 01:41:32,960
by the automobile ev supply

3292
01:41:32,960 --> 01:41:33,664
chain.

3293
01:41:33,664 --> 01:41:35,666
And there are battery makers,

3294
01:41:35,666 --> 01:41:36,233
that are within a few hours of

3295
01:41:36,233 --> 01:41:38,233
our facility.

3296
01:41:40,138 --> 01:41:42,874
There are battery makers in

3297
01:41:42,874 --> 01:41:44,275
georgia, tennessee, they're in

3298
01:41:44,275 --> 01:41:46,311
ohio and so our customer base

3299
01:41:46,311 --> 01:41:48,645
and when you look at what the

3300
01:41:48,645 --> 01:41:51,583
demand for lithium products will

3301
01:41:51,583 --> 01:41:53,251
be, will far out strip the

3302
01:41:53,251 --> 01:41:53,785
potential supply here in the

3303
01:41:53,785 --> 01:41:55,785
united states.

3304
01:41:56,454 --> 01:42:00,654
So all of our products will stay

3305
01:42:00,659 --> 01:42:01,930
in the united states.

3306
01:42:01,930 --> 01:42:03,610
>>chair: thank you.

3307
01:42:03,610 --> 01:42:05,664
Back to you, if we self-test

3308
01:42:05,664 --> 01:42:06,865
these -- if you guys are

3309
01:42:06,865 --> 01:42:08,734
self-testing, what happens if a

3310
01:42:08,734 --> 01:42:10,436
test comes back and it's not

3311
01:42:10,436 --> 01:42:12,838
within your scope of work?

3312
01:42:12,838 --> 01:42:14,140
If it comes out outside of the

3313
01:42:14,140 --> 01:42:16,375
regular bound, will you shut

3314
01:42:16,375 --> 01:42:19,378
down the entire plant or will

3315
01:42:19,378 --> 01:42:19,644
you just work until you get that

3316
01:42:19,644 --> 01:42:20,613
mitigated?

3317
01:42:20,613 --> 01:42:21,447
>> which test?

3318
01:42:21,447 --> 01:42:22,982
>>chair: this here is usually

3319
01:42:22,982 --> 01:42:24,384
on the self-testing for the

3320
01:42:24,384 --> 01:42:25,351
water, that you guys are doing.

3321
01:42:25,351 --> 01:42:27,487
>> so with water, we will have

3322
01:42:27,487 --> 01:42:28,555
the ability to retain, depending

3323
01:42:28,555 --> 01:42:30,924
on which pond those are in, we

3324
01:42:30,924 --> 01:42:31,724
will have the ability to retain

3325
01:42:31,724 --> 01:42:32,792
that water.

3326
01:42:32,792 --> 01:42:34,161
Before it's released so we're

3327
01:42:34,161 --> 01:42:35,762
going to be testing as it goes

3328
01:42:35,762 --> 01:42:37,431
into the pond and if those

3329
01:42:37,431 --> 01:42:39,166
levels are high, we will as we

3330
01:42:39,166 --> 01:42:40,901
talked about before, rest, let

3331
01:42:40,901 --> 01:42:43,137
it sit, and test.

3332
01:42:43,137 --> 01:42:46,137
And then treat if necessary

3333
01:42:46,507 --> 01:42:47,700
prior to release.

3334
01:42:47,700 --> 01:42:49,700
>>chair: thank you.

3335
01:42:50,100 --> 01:42:52,130
I have questions on like 800

3336
01:42:52,130 --> 01:42:52,747
different pages of -- back to

3337
01:42:52,747 --> 01:42:54,747
the tailings.

3338
01:42:56,830 --> 01:42:57,500
If the tailings are

3339
01:42:57,500 --> 01:43:00,210
nonhazardous, why can't they be

3340
01:43:00,210 --> 01:43:03,621
set back into the refilling pit?

3341
01:43:04,726 --> 01:43:06,795
>> the lithium hydroxide plant

3342
01:43:06,795 --> 01:43:08,960
tailings, we feel there's a

3343
01:43:08,960 --> 01:43:09,698
potential for some items to

3344
01:43:09,698 --> 01:43:10,732
leach, if ph isn't properly

3345
01:43:10,732 --> 01:43:12,000
controlled and so therefore, we

3346
01:43:12,000 --> 01:43:14,360
want to ensure that those

3347
01:43:14,360 --> 01:43:16,436
materials are properly managed

3348
01:43:22,243 --> 01:43:23,345
in the proper locations.

3349
01:43:23,345 --> 01:43:24,245
>>chair: on to my last page, I

3350
01:43:24,245 --> 01:43:25,748
guess this is it.

3351
01:43:25,748 --> 01:43:26,215
>> here here as long as you need

3352
01:43:26,215 --> 01:43:27,516
us here.

3353
01:43:27,516 --> 01:43:28,551
>>chair: no, I just want to

3354
01:43:28,551 --> 01:43:29,618
make sure that we get all of

3355
01:43:29,618 --> 01:43:32,618
these questions out, and these

3356
01:43:33,556 --> 01:43:37,393
are going to go back to some of

3357
01:43:37,393 --> 01:43:39,393
the legal perspectives.

3358
01:43:39,762 --> 01:43:41,865
Has pl given assistance or

3359
01:43:41,865 --> 01:43:42,499
assurance to gaston county

3360
01:43:42,499 --> 01:43:43,800
commissioners that they have

3361
01:43:43,800 --> 01:43:44,968
already committed to approve

3362
01:43:44,968 --> 01:43:46,836
this project?

3363
01:43:46,836 --> 01:43:48,710
>> has who?

3364
01:43:48,710 --> 01:43:49,339
>>chair: have you guys given

3365
01:43:49,339 --> 01:43:51,108
the assurance that the gaston

3366
01:43:51,108 --> 01:43:53,176
county commissioner has already

3367
01:43:53,176 --> 01:43:55,279
approved this project to others,

3368
01:43:55,279 --> 01:43:56,120
maybe stakeholders or anybody

3369
01:43:56,120 --> 01:43:57,214
else, of that sort.

3370
01:43:57,214 --> 01:43:57,581
>> no, sir.

3371
01:43:57,581 --> 01:43:58,515
>> no, sir.

3372
01:43:58,515 --> 01:43:59,283
>>chair: do you have any reason

3373
01:43:59,283 --> 01:44:01,218
to believe that the gaston

3374
01:44:01,218 --> 01:44:03,618
county commissioners are a

3375
01:44:04,870 --> 01:44:06,423
biassed either and/or against

3376
01:44:06,423 --> 01:44:09,423
piedmont lithium in any way?

3377
01:44:17,568 --> 01:44:18,903
>> no, sir.

3378
01:44:18,903 --> 01:44:20,605
>>chair: has anyone made any

3379
01:44:20,605 --> 01:44:22,400
promises to anyone regarding the

3380
01:44:22,400 --> 01:44:24,420
outcome of rezoning processes

3381
01:44:24,420 --> 01:44:25,844
from our board or staff?

3382
01:44:25,844 --> 01:44:27,844
>> no, sir.

3383
01:44:28,613 --> 01:44:29,848
>> no, sir.

3384
01:44:29,848 --> 01:44:31,282
>>chair: are you willing to

3385
01:44:31,282 --> 01:44:33,500
work with our staff and

3386
01:44:33,500 --> 01:44:34,720
attorneys to establish the land

3387
01:44:34,720 --> 01:44:35,988
conditions that go beyond the

3388
01:44:35,988 --> 01:44:38,257
minimums required for the use of

3389
01:44:38,257 --> 01:44:39,558
the mining permit?

3390
01:44:39,558 --> 01:44:42,558
>> we've already been doing so

3391
01:44:44,397 --> 01:44:46,332
and we'll continue to do so.

3392
01:44:46,332 --> 01:44:47,900
>>chair: I know there's a

3393
01:44:47,900 --> 01:44:48,133
million dollar bond already for

3394
01:44:48,133 --> 01:44:50,133
closure.

3395
01:44:50,502 --> 01:44:50,936
Are you willing to accept the

3396
01:44:50,936 --> 01:44:52,936
higher bond?

3397
01:44:53,372 --> 01:44:55,775
>> yes, that's one of the four

3398
01:44:55,775 --> 01:44:55,975
commitments we were willing to

3399
01:44:55,975 --> 01:44:57,975
make.

3400
01:45:07,321 --> 01:45:09,321
>>chair: okay.

3401
01:45:09,923 --> 01:45:11,992
What enforceable promises can

3402
01:45:11,992 --> 01:45:13,260
you provide to us that state

3403
01:45:13,260 --> 01:45:15,695
that this -- if you are granted

3404
01:45:15,695 --> 01:45:19,295
the mining permit, that will not

3405
01:45:20,401 --> 01:45:24,100
be sold to a foreign operation?

3406
01:45:29,711 --> 01:45:30,111
>> chief legal officer of

3407
01:45:30,111 --> 01:45:31,279
piedmont lithium.

3408
01:45:31,279 --> 01:45:34,916
First of all, I don't think that

3409
01:45:34,916 --> 01:45:35,984
the mining permit can be sold or

3410
01:45:35,984 --> 01:45:37,984
transferred.

3411
01:45:38,486 --> 01:45:40,486
On its own.

3412
01:45:41,220 --> 01:45:42,724
We do not intend and have put

3413
01:45:42,724 --> 01:45:43,992
things in place from a corporate

3414
01:45:43,992 --> 01:45:46,294
perspective that would make it

3415
01:45:46,294 --> 01:45:47,663
difficult for other companies to

3416
01:45:47,663 --> 01:45:49,663
buy us.

3417
01:45:49,965 --> 01:45:51,600
But there's no guarantee that

3418
01:45:51,600 --> 01:45:52,968
anyone can give that someone

3419
01:45:52,968 --> 01:45:54,637
couldn't launch a hostile take

3420
01:45:54,637 --> 01:45:56,772
over, but the terms of the

3421
01:45:56,772 --> 01:45:58,772
permits themselves, would

3422
01:45:58,974 --> 01:46:00,443
restrict any buyer from just

3423
01:46:00,443 --> 01:46:02,879
coming in and operating, they in

3424
01:46:02,879 --> 01:46:03,913
turn would have to get approved

3425
01:46:03,913 --> 01:46:05,448
by whatever agency.

3426
01:46:05,448 --> 01:46:06,282
>>chair: I guess I'll be

3427
01:46:06,282 --> 01:46:09,282
looking for something on side

3428
01:46:09,886 --> 01:46:12,222
the publicly traded aspect, if

3429
01:46:12,222 --> 01:46:12,654
anyone were to acquire 51%

3430
01:46:12,654 --> 01:46:13,690
through that.

3431
01:46:13,690 --> 01:46:15,690
>> again, we're perfectly

3432
01:46:16,126 --> 01:46:17,360
willing to work with you, and

3433
01:46:17,360 --> 01:46:19,229
continue to work and maybe

3434
01:46:19,229 --> 01:46:20,630
that's part of the community

3435
01:46:20,630 --> 01:46:23,300
development agreement, and I

3436
01:46:23,320 --> 01:46:24,768
know there's some commentary

3437
01:46:24,768 --> 01:46:26,170
about, you know, some of our

3438
01:46:26,170 --> 01:46:27,605
language not being firm.

3439
01:46:27,605 --> 01:46:29,173
We expect to have all of these

3440
01:46:29,173 --> 01:46:30,174
issues addressed in the

3441
01:46:30,174 --> 01:46:32,174
community development agreement.

3442
01:46:33,100 --> 01:46:33,911
And that's where we will have

3443
01:46:33,911 --> 01:46:36,414
covenants and it will be a

3444
01:46:36,414 --> 01:46:37,215
contract between us and you.

3445
01:46:37,215 --> 01:46:39,215
>>chair: thank you.

3446
01:46:39,450 --> 01:46:41,386
>> and one point on the mine

3447
01:46:41,386 --> 01:46:43,154
life, I would just like to make,

3448
01:46:43,154 --> 01:46:44,155
the U.S. Has very specific rules

3449
01:46:44,155 --> 01:46:46,155
about reserves.

3450
01:46:46,357 --> 01:46:49,294
And as a public company, we have

3451
01:46:49,294 --> 01:46:51,162
to adhere to that, for example

3452
01:46:51,162 --> 01:46:52,696
in canada and australia, two

3453
01:46:52,696 --> 01:46:54,696
large mining jurisdictions,

3454
01:46:55,300 --> 01:46:56,500
their rules are a little bit

3455
01:46:56,500 --> 01:46:57,636
looser and they could -- our

3456
01:46:57,636 --> 01:46:59,171
mine life would be a lot longer

3457
01:46:59,171 --> 01:46:59,371
if we were following those

3458
01:46:59,371 --> 01:47:01,600
rules.

3459
01:47:01,600 --> 01:47:02,941
But we are in the U.S.

3460
01:47:02,941 --> 01:47:06,111
And we follow the sec's rules.

3461
01:47:06,111 --> 01:47:08,247
And that's the reason for the

3462
01:47:08,247 --> 01:47:11,830
11.5 year life, which as monique

3463
01:47:11,830 --> 01:47:12,985
has said, we firmly believe in

3464
01:47:12,985 --> 01:47:14,520
the mining area there's more

3465
01:47:14,520 --> 01:47:15,854
there but we can't technically

3466
01:47:15,854 --> 01:47:16,255
say it yet, so thank you for

3467
01:47:16,255 --> 01:47:18,255
your time.

3468
01:47:18,458 --> 01:47:20,930
>>chair: commissioner hovis?

3469
01:47:20,930 --> 01:47:22,395
>> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.

3470
01:47:22,395 --> 01:47:24,464
Your comment about the community

3471
01:47:24,464 --> 01:47:26,833
development agreement, that was

3472
01:47:26,833 --> 01:47:28,468
your slide six in your

3473
01:47:28,468 --> 01:47:30,468
presentation today.

3474
01:47:31,638 --> 01:47:33,306
All of those asterisks, appear

3475
01:47:33,306 --> 01:47:35,275
by every one of those important

3476
01:47:35,275 --> 01:47:37,578
caveats that all of these people

3477
01:47:37,578 --> 01:47:38,612
will understand and we certainly

3478
01:47:38,612 --> 01:47:40,513
won't understand.

3479
01:47:40,513 --> 01:47:41,949
So I think I understand this t.

3480
01:47:41,949 --> 01:47:44,351
But you correct me if I'm wrong.

3481
01:47:44,351 --> 01:47:46,860
That's the living document.

3482
01:47:46,860 --> 01:47:47,688
It's developing, it's being

3483
01:47:47,688 --> 01:47:49,423
fleshed out.

3484
01:47:49,423 --> 01:47:52,590
And as we along with you and

3485
01:47:52,590 --> 01:47:54,729
your legal staff, as we move

3486
01:47:54,729 --> 01:47:57,729
down this corridor, those items

3487
01:47:57,966 --> 01:48:01,566
will be discussed and written in

3488
01:48:02,370 --> 01:48:04,439
a manner that's acceptable to

3489
01:48:04,439 --> 01:48:07,542
this board prior to the issuance

3490
01:48:07,542 --> 01:48:07,809
of any kind of conditional

3491
01:48:07,809 --> 01:48:08,420
rezoning.

3492
01:48:08,420 --> 01:48:09,311
>> yes.

3493
01:48:09,311 --> 01:48:11,446
That is exactly right.

3494
01:48:11,446 --> 01:48:13,282
And that's why we put the

3495
01:48:13,282 --> 01:48:14,283
asterisk there, this has not

3496
01:48:14,283 --> 01:48:14,750
been negotiated yet.

3497
01:48:14,750 --> 01:48:15,784
>> no.

3498
01:48:15,784 --> 01:48:17,784
>> our intentions.

3499
01:48:18,387 --> 01:48:20,389
>> because those four points are

3500
01:48:20,389 --> 01:48:22,124
the four major concerns, which

3501
01:48:22,124 --> 01:48:22,558
you obviously understand.

3502
01:48:22,558 --> 01:48:24,558
>> yes, sir.

3503
01:48:25,961 --> 01:48:27,620
>> and if you have any draft

3504
01:48:27,620 --> 01:48:28,798
language and you can put draft

3505
01:48:28,798 --> 01:48:29,899
all over it, it would be good to

3506
01:48:29,899 --> 01:48:32,335
see where you think some of

3507
01:48:32,335 --> 01:48:34,537
those are earlier and then we

3508
01:48:34,537 --> 01:48:35,772
can tweak it and morph it and

3509
01:48:35,772 --> 01:48:37,339
when we get to that point to

3510
01:48:37,339 --> 01:48:40,339
where it needs to be.

3511
01:48:40,777 --> 01:48:41,544
That's part of of the

3512
01:48:41,544 --> 01:48:42,912
transparency issue that the

3513
01:48:42,912 --> 01:48:44,514
CHAIRMAN Was trying to speak to

3514
01:48:44,514 --> 01:48:46,917
so that we all are talking

3515
01:48:46,917 --> 01:48:49,520
openly and the public can see

3516
01:48:49,520 --> 01:48:51,520
this openly.

3517
01:48:51,989 --> 01:48:56,560
And we've got to make -- I do

3518
01:48:56,560 --> 01:48:58,280
not want to see, and this is a

3519
01:48:58,280 --> 01:49:00,431
hovis personal comment, I did

3520
01:49:00,431 --> 01:49:02,566
not want to see northwestern

3521
01:49:02,566 --> 01:49:04,835
gaston county become the next

3522
01:49:04,835 --> 01:49:06,404
love canal.

3523
01:49:06,404 --> 01:49:07,838
And that's the best

3524
01:49:07,838 --> 01:49:10,238
interpretation and concern that

3525
01:49:11,175 --> 01:49:12,844
I can express to you, to

3526
01:49:12,844 --> 01:49:14,379
understand, because when the

3527
01:49:14,379 --> 01:49:16,781
holloman b mine was constructed

3528
01:49:16,781 --> 01:49:19,781
in 1954, and mined until the

3529
01:49:19,783 --> 01:49:21,420
late 80s, there was no

3530
01:49:21,420 --> 01:49:22,954
requirements for remediation,

3531
01:49:22,954 --> 01:49:24,422
there was no requirements for

3532
01:49:24,422 --> 01:49:26,422
return to use.

3533
01:49:27,593 --> 01:49:29,428
And there was no overburden

3534
01:49:29,428 --> 01:49:31,463
regulations and that overburden

3535
01:49:31,463 --> 01:49:33,463
went up 280 feet.

3536
01:49:34,967 --> 01:49:36,335
And for my son's farm on -- road

3537
01:49:36,335 --> 01:49:38,237
in the winter time when the

3538
01:49:38,237 --> 01:49:41,941
leaves are off of the trees, ki

3539
01:49:41,941 --> 01:49:44,610
see those rocks and he lives 3.2

3540
01:49:44,610 --> 01:49:45,812
miles away, and I say that just

3541
01:49:45,812 --> 01:49:47,812
because of knowledge.

3542
01:49:48,414 --> 01:49:48,681
And these people have very valid

3543
01:49:48,681 --> 01:49:50,483
concerns.

3544
01:49:50,483 --> 01:49:52,850
And it's our responsibility as

3545
01:49:52,850 --> 01:49:54,421
their elected officials to

3546
01:49:54,421 --> 01:49:55,121
address and mitigate those as

3547
01:49:55,121 --> 01:49:56,490
much as possible.

3548
01:49:56,490 --> 01:49:57,858
and that's the reason for our

3549
01:49:57,858 --> 01:50:00,594
questions, that's the reason for

3550
01:50:00,594 --> 01:50:01,762
the CHAIRMAN's comment about

3551
01:50:01,762 --> 01:50:03,597
transparency.

3552
01:50:03,597 --> 01:50:05,665
And from what I've heard today,

3553
01:50:05,665 --> 01:50:07,100
it appears that you do wish to

3554
01:50:07,100 --> 01:50:09,100
do that.

3555
01:50:09,502 --> 01:50:10,403
And that's a good checkmark on

3556
01:50:10,403 --> 01:50:12,403
your side.

3557
01:50:13,607 --> 01:50:14,908
But I am the one who challenged

3558
01:50:14,908 --> 01:50:16,677
your ceo from this dais and our

3559
01:50:16,677 --> 01:50:19,460
meeting two years ago, to come

3560
01:50:19,460 --> 01:50:22,460
and apologize to these people

3561
01:50:22,583 --> 01:50:24,719
who he said, his words, had been

3562
01:50:24,719 --> 01:50:26,955
strong armed by individuals

3563
01:50:26,955 --> 01:50:28,220
working on behalf of acquiring

3564
01:50:28,220 --> 01:50:28,256
these properties by piedmont

3565
01:50:28,256 --> 01:50:28,890
lithium.

3566
01:50:28,890 --> 01:50:30,890
He said that.

3567
01:50:31,240 --> 01:50:32,193
Those are his words.

3568
01:50:32,193 --> 01:50:33,610
You can pull the tape up and

3569
01:50:33,610 --> 01:50:34,963
look at it again.

3570
01:50:34,963 --> 01:50:37,165
But I challenged him to come and

3571
01:50:37,165 --> 01:50:38,567
speak to these people

3572
01:50:38,567 --> 01:50:38,900
personally.

3573
01:50:38,900 --> 01:50:40,235
Face-to-face.

3574
01:50:40,235 --> 01:50:42,270
And you heard what our CHAIRMAN

3575
01:50:42,270 --> 01:50:44,473
Said prior to that, and that's

3576
01:50:44,473 --> 01:50:45,674
-- that's kind of a little

3577
01:50:45,674 --> 01:50:47,476
offensive to us.

3578
01:50:47,476 --> 01:50:49,445
Because this is gaston county.

3579
01:50:49,445 --> 01:50:52,414
And we are gaston county.

3580
01:50:52,414 --> 01:50:54,884
And we will make the decisions

3581
01:50:54,884 --> 01:50:56,352
that's right for gaston county.

3582
01:50:56,352 --> 01:50:58,352
>> yes, sir.

3583
01:50:58,354 --> 01:50:59,922
>> thank you.

3584
01:50:59,922 --> 01:51:01,922
[Applause]

3585
01:51:02,258 --> 01:51:03,920
>>chair: please don't.

3586
01:51:03,920 --> 01:51:04,694
>> we're doing business.

3587
01:51:04,694 --> 01:51:05,728
>>chair: commissioner fraley.

3588
01:51:05,728 --> 01:51:07,728
>> yeah.

3589
01:51:08,531 --> 01:51:09,499
A couple of followups, MR.

3590
01:51:09,499 --> 01:51:10,834
CHAIRMAN.

3591
01:51:10,834 --> 01:51:12,602
One, had been mentioned tonight

3592
01:51:12,602 --> 01:51:14,237
is the lighting, the project

3593
01:51:14,237 --> 01:51:17,107
apparently is going to be

3594
01:51:17,107 --> 01:51:18,708
running 24/7, is that rights,

3595
01:51:18,708 --> 01:51:20,110
7-days a week, what kind of

3596
01:51:20,110 --> 01:51:21,245
lighting are you using and what

3597
01:51:21,245 --> 01:51:22,780
can the neighbors expect, you

3598
01:51:22,780 --> 01:51:24,248
know, to have to deal with on

3599
01:51:24,248 --> 01:51:26,116
that?

3600
01:51:26,116 --> 01:51:27,284
Is it going to like the bank of

3601
01:51:27,284 --> 01:51:28,151
america stadium every night and

3602
01:51:28,151 --> 01:51:29,854
the noise and the trucks going

3603
01:51:29,854 --> 01:51:31,656
and the lights on?

3604
01:51:31,656 --> 01:51:33,557
I mean, how is that going to

3605
01:51:33,557 --> 01:51:36,193
affect the, you know, the area?

3606
01:51:36,193 --> 01:51:38,196
>> well, first of all, I believe

3607
01:51:38,196 --> 01:51:40,164
you're aware, gaston county has

3608
01:51:40,164 --> 01:51:41,431
an ordinance that dictates,

3609
01:51:41,431 --> 01:51:43,601
light, noise and all of those

3610
01:51:43,601 --> 01:51:45,203
things that have to be at our

3611
01:51:45,203 --> 01:51:47,639
property boundary, and it is

3612
01:51:47,639 --> 01:51:49,400
certain positions to residents

3613
01:51:49,400 --> 01:51:50,108
or other properties, we will

3614
01:51:50,108 --> 01:51:52,430
follow all of those ordinances

3615
01:51:52,430 --> 01:51:54,460
so in regards to lights, our

3616
01:51:54,460 --> 01:51:54,546
lights will be pointed down on

3617
01:51:54,546 --> 01:51:56,800
our property.

3618
01:51:56,800 --> 01:51:58,884
And they'll be set, they'll be

3619
01:51:58,884 --> 01:52:01,284
many buffers around us.

3620
01:52:02,200 --> 01:52:04,557
In regards to natural buffering,

3621
01:52:04,557 --> 01:52:05,190
also, in natural buffering with

3622
01:52:05,190 --> 01:52:06,859
berms and barriers and those

3623
01:52:06,859 --> 01:52:08,270
types of things, so we're doing

3624
01:52:08,270 --> 01:52:10,329
within our design, one, not only

3625
01:52:10,329 --> 01:52:12,331
to meet your ordinance, but to

3626
01:52:12,331 --> 01:52:13,700
be good neighbors in the area to

3627
01:52:13,700 --> 01:52:14,901
make sure that we're not

3628
01:52:14,901 --> 01:52:16,901
impacting negatively those

3629
01:52:17,470 --> 01:52:17,783
around us due to noise and

3630
01:52:17,783 --> 01:52:19,538
lights.

3631
01:52:19,538 --> 01:52:21,508
>> so the 500 parcels that have

3632
01:52:21,508 --> 01:52:23,675
been identified at night, at

3633
01:52:23,675 --> 01:52:25,511
midnight, when the lights are

3634
01:52:25,511 --> 01:52:26,646
on, they're not going to be

3635
01:52:26,646 --> 01:52:27,713
looking out the bedroom window

3636
01:52:27,713 --> 01:52:30,115
and seeing lights that's going

3637
01:52:30,115 --> 01:52:32,515
to be dark outside?

3638
01:52:32,586 --> 01:52:35,722
>> no, we can't say that -- .

3639
01:52:35,722 --> 01:52:37,790
>> I can't shai -- say that it's

3640
01:52:37,790 --> 01:52:40,190
going to be dark.

3641
01:52:41,280 --> 01:52:41,929
I can say it will meet the

3642
01:52:41,929 --> 01:52:43,929
ordinances for property.

3643
01:52:43,964 --> 01:52:46,670
>> maybe we need to make the

3644
01:52:46,670 --> 01:52:48,670
ordinances stricter.

3645
01:52:51,205 --> 01:52:51,639
Also, this MAY be a question for

3646
01:52:51,639 --> 01:52:53,639
the attorney.

3647
01:52:53,708 --> 01:52:55,676
The contract that was signed

3648
01:52:55,676 --> 01:52:58,246
with the city of cherryville,

3649
01:52:58,246 --> 01:53:00,248
was it your intention that that

3650
01:53:00,248 --> 01:53:02,550
contract with the city of

3651
01:53:02,550 --> 01:53:04,550
cherryville is enforceable?

3652
01:53:08,323 --> 01:53:09,791
>> -- we're using the word

3653
01:53:09,791 --> 01:53:10,592
intention and intent a lot

3654
01:53:10,592 --> 01:53:11,126
tonight so I thought I would

3655
01:53:11,126 --> 01:53:12,294
throw that in.

3656
01:53:12,294 --> 01:53:13,928
>> well, sure.

3657
01:53:13,928 --> 01:53:15,531
Yes, it was our intent that it

3658
01:53:15,531 --> 01:53:18,467
be enforceable and it is

3659
01:53:18,467 --> 01:53:19,435
certainly my belief that it is

3660
01:53:19,435 --> 01:53:20,402
enforceable.

3661
01:53:20,402 --> 01:53:21,504
Enforceable.

3662
01:53:21,504 --> 01:53:22,604
>> differences of opinion, so I

3663
01:53:22,604 --> 01:53:24,740
just -- that's why I wanted you

3664
01:53:24,740 --> 01:53:25,700
to get up here and make that

3665
01:53:25,700 --> 01:53:26,242
statement.

3666
01:53:26,242 --> 01:53:29,242
>> I'm happy to make it.

3667
01:53:29,378 --> 01:53:31,547
I believe it is enforceable.

3668
01:53:31,547 --> 01:53:33,249
We have fully intend and expect

3669
01:53:33,249 --> 01:53:35,285
that we will fulfill our

3670
01:53:35,285 --> 01:53:37,685
obligations under that contract

3671
01:53:37,954 --> 01:53:39,422
and the only way you would even

3672
01:53:39,422 --> 01:53:41,240
-- if we didn't do anything, and

3673
01:53:41,240 --> 01:53:43,326
you sued to enforce it, I

3674
01:53:43,326 --> 01:53:44,561
believe you would win in court.

3675
01:53:44,561 --> 01:53:46,162
And that would be the only time

3676
01:53:46,162 --> 01:53:49,299
you would have to do that.

3677
01:53:49,299 --> 01:53:50,000
But we expect to fulfill our

3678
01:53:50,000 --> 01:53:52,235
obligations and we've already

3679
01:53:52,235 --> 01:53:54,235
started that, so.

3680
01:53:55,673 --> 01:53:57,673
>> okay, thank you.

3681
01:53:58,800 --> 01:54:01,800
>>chair: I have one other

3682
01:54:02,130 --> 01:54:03,881
question.

3683
01:54:03,881 --> 01:54:04,549
Obviously, you guys have

3684
01:54:04,549 --> 01:54:06,500
agreements all across the board

3685
01:54:06,500 --> 01:54:07,352
with a lot o of people.

3686
01:54:07,352 --> 01:54:09,821
If someone were to want out of

3687
01:54:09,821 --> 01:54:12,724
one of those agreements, would

3688
01:54:12,724 --> 01:54:15,126
you -- would piedmont lithium

3689
01:54:15,126 --> 01:54:17,562
will willing to let them out.

3690
01:54:17,562 --> 01:54:19,297
>> you mean property owners.

3691
01:54:19,297 --> 01:54:19,864
>>chair: under a

3692
01:54:19,864 --> 01:54:21,864
confidentiality signing.

3693
01:54:22,100 --> 01:54:25,337
>> I think that's more of a

3694
01:54:25,337 --> 01:54:27,337
legal question.

3695
01:54:27,539 --> 01:54:28,730
>> stay up here.

3696
01:54:28,730 --> 01:54:30,730
>> sure.

3697
01:54:30,175 --> 01:54:32,378
I can't speak on behalf of the

3698
01:54:32,378 --> 01:54:34,378
whole company.

3699
01:54:34,480 --> 01:54:35,981
But, you know, haven't forced

3700
01:54:35,981 --> 01:54:37,383
anyone to close on any property

3701
01:54:37,383 --> 01:54:38,851
that they didn't want to, so

3702
01:54:38,851 --> 01:54:39,352
we've actually closed on a lot

3703
01:54:39,352 --> 01:54:41,352
of properties.

3704
01:54:43,756 --> 01:54:45,691
You know, at this point.

3705
01:54:45,691 --> 01:54:48,360
I mean, again, I'm not aware

3706
01:54:48,360 --> 01:54:50,863
that we've forced anybody to do

3707
01:54:50,863 --> 01:54:51,865
anything.

3708
01:54:51,865 --> 01:54:54,968
>>chair: so if I were to have

3709
01:54:54,968 --> 01:54:56,870
someone call me and ask me that

3710
01:54:56,870 --> 01:55:00,470
you had an agreement with, that

3711
01:55:00,774 --> 01:55:02,542
they were told to get a

3712
01:55:02,542 --> 01:55:03,810
appraisal, the appraisal came

3713
01:55:03,810 --> 01:55:07,181
back that said let's use a round

3714
01:55:07,181 --> 01:55:07,448
number, to

3715
01:55:07,448 --> 01:55:08,782
$20,000.

3716
01:55:08,782 --> 01:55:09,817
>>chair: and you guys valued at

3717
01:55:09,817 --> 01:55:12,190
6,000 and they said that wasn't

3718
01:55:12,190 --> 01:55:14,550
a good idea, but yet, you said,

3719
01:55:14,550 --> 01:55:14,822
well, we already have the

3720
01:55:14,822 --> 01:55:16,900
agreement, we'll sue you and

3721
01:55:16,900 --> 01:55:18,250
we'll get the property, is that

3722
01:55:18,250 --> 01:55:20,327
something that could have been

3723
01:55:20,327 --> 01:55:22,727
said on pl's behalf?

3724
01:55:23,364 --> 01:55:25,650
>> I'm aware that we have

3725
01:55:25,650 --> 01:55:27,801
agreements out there that have

3726
01:55:27,801 --> 01:55:28,770
appraisal options in it for the

3727
01:55:28,770 --> 01:55:29,671
seller.

3728
01:55:29,671 --> 01:55:31,873
I know there's one in

3729
01:55:31,873 --> 01:55:33,641
particular, and I'm not going to

3730
01:55:33,641 --> 01:55:36,410
litigate it up here.

3731
01:55:36,712 --> 01:55:39,381
But we are working with, you

3732
01:55:39,381 --> 01:55:41,583
know, that person and that

3733
01:55:41,583 --> 01:55:43,583
owner.

3734
01:55:44,386 --> 01:55:46,622
My -- the way it usually work is

3735
01:55:46,622 --> 01:55:47,756
if the appraisal is higher, it

3736
01:55:47,756 --> 01:55:49,692
moves to that side of the

3737
01:55:49,692 --> 01:55:49,924
ledger, not to our side of the

3738
01:55:49,924 --> 01:55:51,924
ledger.

3739
01:55:53,362 --> 01:55:54,697
So it's in fact in their favor.

3740
01:55:54,697 --> 01:55:56,365
>>chair: I just wanted you to

3741
01:55:56,365 --> 01:55:57,967
be on the record saying that,

3742
01:55:57,967 --> 01:55:58,968
the problem I have as we all do

3743
01:55:58,968 --> 01:56:00,303
this all together, we're trying

3744
01:56:00,303 --> 01:56:03,390
to be good neighbors and we all

3745
01:56:03,390 --> 01:56:03,405
want to be good citizens to each

3746
01:56:03,405 --> 01:56:04,974
other.

3747
01:56:04,974 --> 01:56:06,241
And the part that we've heard in

3748
01:56:06,241 --> 01:56:08,641
different instances of whatever,

3749
01:56:09,245 --> 01:56:11,348
like I said, my job is to

3750
01:56:11,348 --> 01:56:12,916
protect this county at all costs

3751
01:56:12,916 --> 01:56:13,817
and I want to make sure that you

3752
01:56:13,817 --> 01:56:15,519
guys understand what you're

3753
01:56:15,519 --> 01:56:16,853
doing is answering questions

3754
01:56:16,853 --> 01:56:18,321
that people have asked us or at

3755
01:56:18,321 --> 01:56:19,356
some point have come to us,

3756
01:56:19,356 --> 01:56:21,240
obviously by us knowing the

3757
01:56:21,240 --> 01:56:21,925
knowledge that we know, you guys

3758
01:56:21,925 --> 01:56:23,560
see that as well.

3759
01:56:23,560 --> 01:56:24,228
So I wanted to say thank you for

3760
01:56:24,228 --> 01:56:24,961
coming tonight.

3761
01:56:24,961 --> 01:56:26,230
On that behalf.

3762
01:56:26,230 --> 01:56:27,764
I'm going to do citizens

3763
01:56:27,764 --> 01:56:29,967
comments now, unless you guys

3764
01:56:29,967 --> 01:56:31,836
have something that you want to

3765
01:56:31,836 --> 01:56:33,403
finish with?

3766
01:56:33,403 --> 01:56:34,472
The commissioners, are you good?

3767
01:56:34,472 --> 01:56:36,107
So go ahead, ma'am.

3768
01:56:36,107 --> 01:56:38,410
>> I think our closing remarks

3769
01:56:38,410 --> 01:56:40,430
are first, since we mentioned

3770
01:56:40,430 --> 01:56:42,130
earlier, we want to thank you

3771
01:56:42,130 --> 01:56:43,982
all for your time tonight for

3772
01:56:43,982 --> 01:56:44,850
allowing us to answer the

3773
01:56:44,850 --> 01:56:46,785
questions that we had previously

3774
01:56:46,785 --> 01:56:49,185
and during this time.

3775
01:56:49,354 --> 01:56:50,255
We want to be good neighbors, as

3776
01:56:50,255 --> 01:56:52,491
we stated before and do the

3777
01:56:52,491 --> 01:56:55,194
right thing, so again, we want

3778
01:56:55,194 --> 01:56:56,361
to thank you for your time.

3779
01:56:56,361 --> 01:56:56,762
>>chair: thank you guys.

3780
01:56:56,762 --> 01:56:58,762
>> thank you.

3781
01:56:59,632 --> 01:57:00,432
And we'll be happy to answer any

3782
01:57:00,432 --> 01:57:02,101
future questions.

3783
01:57:02,101 --> 01:57:02,935
>>chair: we'll take citizens

3784
01:57:02,935 --> 01:57:04,570
comments and then we'll kind of

3785
01:57:04,570 --> 01:57:05,738
look and see how that looks for

3786
01:57:05,738 --> 01:57:08,138
us on you guys.

3787
01:57:10,476 --> 01:57:11,877
I don't want it to be a back and

3788
01:57:11,877 --> 01:57:14,480
forth, I want to get information

3789
01:57:14,480 --> 01:57:15,181
to you guys and we'll start

3790
01:57:15,181 --> 01:57:17,181
there.

3791
01:57:20,520 --> 01:57:21,421
The citizens -- I'm sorry.

3792
01:57:21,421 --> 01:57:22,889
The citizens recognition comment

3793
01:57:22,889 --> 01:57:23,957
period is not intended or

3794
01:57:23,957 --> 01:57:24,858
required for the commission or

3795
01:57:24,858 --> 01:57:26,393
the staff to answer any

3796
01:57:26,393 --> 01:57:27,961
questions, provide a response,

3797
01:57:27,961 --> 01:57:29,896
questions requiring a response

3798
01:57:29,896 --> 01:57:31,231
shall be answered as soon as

3799
01:57:31,231 --> 01:57:33,166
possible, through the county

3800
01:57:33,166 --> 01:57:33,433
manager's office or otherwise

3801
01:57:33,433 --> 01:57:34,935
directed.

3802
01:57:34,935 --> 01:57:36,437
The comment period will be

3803
01:57:36,437 --> 01:57:36,970
limited tonight, to three

3804
01:57:36,970 --> 01:57:38,239
minutes per person.

3805
01:57:38,239 --> 01:57:39,907
As I call your name, please step

3806
01:57:39,907 --> 01:57:42,576
to the podium, state your name

3807
01:57:42,576 --> 01:57:44,612
and address for the record, and

3808
01:57:44,612 --> 01:57:46,480
we will also please adhere that

3809
01:57:46,480 --> 01:57:48,583
that you'll see the green light,

3810
01:57:48,583 --> 01:57:49,817
and it will go to the yellow

3811
01:57:49,817 --> 01:57:50,952
light will start blinking and

3812
01:57:50,952 --> 01:57:52,754
once we get to the red light, I

3813
01:57:52,754 --> 01:57:54,522
don't mind you taking a few

3814
01:57:54,522 --> 01:57:56,240
things over, but try to wrap it

3815
01:57:56,240 --> 01:57:58,930
up as you see the red light,

3816
01:57:58,930 --> 01:57:59,494
that MAY it makes it easy

3817
01:57:59,494 --> 01:58:01,229
because I don't want to feel

3818
01:58:01,229 --> 01:58:04,165
like I have to be mean, I try

3819
01:58:04,165 --> 01:58:04,600
not to be mean, but it's in my

3820
01:58:04,600 --> 01:58:06,600
nature, so.

3821
01:58:06,635 --> 01:58:08,203
But what we'll do, I'll call you

3822
01:58:08,203 --> 01:58:09,505
up, I'll go ahead and through

3823
01:58:09,505 --> 01:58:11,500
the whole list, that way you

3824
01:58:11,500 --> 01:58:12,141
guys will see that and then that

3825
01:58:12,141 --> 01:58:13,676
way everybody will know where

3826
01:58:13,676 --> 01:58:15,744
they fall in line, if you want

3827
01:58:15,744 --> 01:58:17,445
to come right after another, as

3828
01:58:17,445 --> 01:58:20,950
you see, when your time comes

3829
01:58:20,950 --> 01:58:23,552
up, I'll keep doing as well.

3830
01:58:23,552 --> 01:58:25,521
Sandra foster and brian harper,

3831
01:58:25,521 --> 01:58:27,289
and locke bell.

3832
01:58:27,289 --> 01:58:28,958
And lisa strap.

3833
01:58:28,958 --> 01:58:30,827
Bryson lynn heart.

3834
01:58:30,827 --> 01:58:32,395
Jessica lynn heart.

3835
01:58:32,395 --> 01:58:34,395
Tim lynn hart.

3836
01:58:36,733 --> 01:58:38,167
Rich and warren snowden, that's

3837
01:58:38,167 --> 01:58:39,135
the way the group goes, if

3838
01:58:39,135 --> 01:58:42,380
that's all right x. We'll start

3839
01:58:42,380 --> 01:58:45,380
there and sandra, brian and

3840
01:58:47,878 --> 01:58:48,378
locke.

3841
01:58:48,378 --> 01:58:50,378
Locke.

3842
01:58:50,413 --> 01:58:52,383
>> thank you, commissioners.

3843
01:58:52,383 --> 01:58:54,485
My name is sandra foster.

3844
01:58:54,485 --> 01:58:57,485
I'm at 108 adder holt road,

3845
01:58:57,989 --> 01:59:00,389
that's in bessemer city.

3846
01:59:01,325 --> 01:59:04,629
I am known as the buffer zone

3847
01:59:04,629 --> 01:59:06,629
for the mine.

3848
01:59:06,864 --> 01:59:09,867
i have tried to get answers,

3849
01:59:09,867 --> 01:59:12,637
I've tried to get truth.

3850
01:59:12,637 --> 01:59:15,637
And it's just been impossible.

3851
01:59:16,208 --> 01:59:19,177
I work for ten years in the real

3852
01:59:19,177 --> 01:59:21,113
estate sector so common sense

3853
01:59:21,113 --> 01:59:23,348
tells you a lot of what's going

3854
01:59:23,348 --> 01:59:26,451
on in our neighborhood. And my

3855
01:59:26,451 --> 01:59:28,252
question to you tonight is why

3856
01:59:28,252 --> 01:59:30,222
should gaston county allow

3857
01:59:30,222 --> 01:59:32,725
piedmont lithium to come in to

3858
01:59:32,725 --> 01:59:35,125
our neighborhood and financially

3859
01:59:35,194 --> 01:59:36,963
devastate us and leave some

3860
01:59:36,963 --> 01:59:40,233
families to be homeless or to

3861
01:59:40,233 --> 01:59:42,802
live with poisons and dangers

3862
01:59:42,802 --> 01:59:43,200
that are associated with this

3863
01:59:43,200 --> 01:59:45,200
mine?

3864
01:59:45,338 --> 01:59:47,773
My house is within walking

3865
01:59:47,773 --> 01:59:48,875
distance of where I'm told the

3866
01:59:48,875 --> 01:59:50,875
mine will end.

3867
01:59:53,380 --> 01:59:54,514
I can see 133 adder holt road

3868
01:59:54,514 --> 01:59:56,514
from my yard.

3869
01:59:57,284 --> 01:59:58,885
Why should I be financially deaf

3870
01:59:58,885 --> 01:59:59,852
stated so they can make --

3871
01:59:59,852 --> 02:00:02,220
devastated so they can make

3872
02:00:02,220 --> 02:00:03,757
billions of dollars?

3873
02:00:03,757 --> 02:00:05,757
Thank you.

3874
02:00:08,620 --> 02:00:10,462
>>chair: thank you, ma'am.

3875
02:00:10,498 --> 02:00:12,898
>> good evening, I'm brian

3876
02:00:15,269 --> 02:00:15,470
harper, live in 1953 church

3877
02:00:15,470 --> 02:00:17,370
road.

3878
02:00:17,370 --> 02:00:17,571
Thank you for the opportunity to

3879
02:00:17,571 --> 02:00:18,740
speak.

3880
02:00:18,740 --> 02:00:20,740
Piedmont says there will be no

3881
02:00:20,740 --> 02:00:21,409
damage to homes and businesses

3882
02:00:21,409 --> 02:00:24,409
from their blasting, yet, they

3883
02:00:24,579 --> 02:00:25,746
have contacted or hired multiple

3884
02:00:25,746 --> 02:00:26,881
businesses, everyone out of

3885
02:00:26,881 --> 02:00:28,683
state to looking into the

3886
02:00:28,683 --> 02:00:29,784
blasting operations, how can

3887
02:00:29,784 --> 02:00:32,784
piedmont say there's no danger

3888
02:00:32,887 --> 02:00:34,550
to homes, businesses and the

3889
02:00:34,550 --> 02:00:36,625
environment when they do not

3890
02:00:36,625 --> 02:00:39,561
know who or how the blasting

3891
02:00:39,561 --> 02:00:41,397
will be done, you cannot know

3892
02:00:41,397 --> 02:00:42,998
how far the shock waves will

3893
02:00:42,998 --> 02:00:43,899
reach if the size of the blast

3894
02:00:43,899 --> 02:00:45,367
is not known.

3895
02:00:45,367 --> 02:00:46,936
Will piedmont tell us tonight

3896
02:00:46,936 --> 02:00:48,270
the type and amount of

3897
02:00:48,270 --> 02:00:50,673
explosives they will be using?

3898
02:00:50,673 --> 02:00:51,841
and if not, then they can cannot

3899
02:00:51,841 --> 02:00:54,744
say what damage will be caused

3900
02:00:54,744 --> 02:00:57,744
to the wells, homes, businesses,

3901
02:00:57,747 --> 02:00:59,747
and the environment.

3902
02:00:59,882 --> 02:01:01,840
Also, piedmont has told the

3903
02:01:01,840 --> 02:01:02,850
north carolina mining

3904
02:01:02,850 --> 02:01:03,987
commission, lit monitor itself

3905
02:01:03,987 --> 02:01:07,223
to ensure that it does not

3906
02:01:07,223 --> 02:01:09,326
violate any environmental laws.

3907
02:01:09,326 --> 02:01:11,928
Piedmont also says it will

3908
02:01:11,928 --> 02:01:14,310
report itself of any violations.

3909
02:01:14,310 --> 02:01:15,699
For years, piedmont has been

3910
02:01:15,699 --> 02:01:18,990
violating county laws by

3911
02:01:20,371 --> 02:01:23,340
allowing the erosion into the

3912
02:01:23,340 --> 02:01:24,842
beaver dam creek from logging

3913
02:01:24,842 --> 02:01:25,760
and -- that piedmont has

3914
02:01:25,760 --> 02:01:27,760
created.

3915
02:01:27,611 --> 02:01:29,213
If piedmont will not monitor and

3916
02:01:29,213 --> 02:01:30,848
report itself on something as

3917
02:01:30,848 --> 02:01:32,917
simple as erosion, why should we

3918
02:01:32,917 --> 02:01:34,686
believe them to do so with

3919
02:01:34,686 --> 02:01:36,621
chemicals going into the soil?

3920
02:01:36,621 --> 02:01:38,923
Also, can you imagine any other

3921
02:01:38,923 --> 02:01:40,959
mining or chemical producer not

3922
02:01:40,959 --> 02:01:42,860
being monitored?

3923
02:01:42,860 --> 02:01:44,196
Do you think that government

3924
02:01:44,196 --> 02:01:47,196
does not monitor other similar

3925
02:01:47,732 --> 02:01:49,267
industries such as fracking?

3926
02:01:49,267 --> 02:01:51,837
Piedmont must pay gaston county

3927
02:01:51,837 --> 02:01:53,538
for independent expert

3928
02:01:53,538 --> 02:01:54,673
monitoring which will report

3929
02:01:54,673 --> 02:01:58,143
directly to the county on at

3930
02:01:58,143 --> 02:01:59,345
least a quarterly basis.

3931
02:01:59,345 --> 02:02:02,470
And I will say that my

3932
02:02:02,470 --> 02:02:04,517
statements are not followed by a

3933
02:02:04,517 --> 02:02:06,917
disclaimer of forward looking

3934
02:02:08,550 --> 02:02:10,550
statements.

3935
02:02:16,896 --> 02:02:18,465
Thank you.

3936
02:02:18,465 --> 02:02:22,650
>> wells will go dry, we just

3937
02:02:22,536 --> 02:02:25,380
don't know how far out.

3938
02:02:25,380 --> 02:02:26,600
This lady said tonight that

3939
02:02:26,600 --> 02:02:26,707
piedmont lithium will look at it

3940
02:02:26,707 --> 02:02:29,276
and piedmont lithium will decide

3941
02:02:29,276 --> 02:02:31,645
what they're going to do.

3942
02:02:31,645 --> 02:02:33,645
Here's some problems.

3943
02:02:34,114 --> 02:02:35,349
Gaston county has a minimal

3944
02:02:35,349 --> 02:02:37,349
housing code.

3945
02:02:37,618 --> 02:02:40,180
It requires operable plumbing.

3946
02:02:40,488 --> 02:02:42,590
The minute that well goes dry,

3947
02:02:42,590 --> 02:02:45,260
the people in that house are in

3948
02:02:45,260 --> 02:02:45,226
violation of the minimum housing

3949
02:02:45,226 --> 02:02:47,226
code.

3950
02:02:48,363 --> 02:02:49,797
That then jeopardizes their

3951
02:02:49,797 --> 02:02:51,797
homeowner's policy.

3952
02:02:52,367 --> 02:02:55,367
And when your homeowner's policy

3953
02:02:55,970 --> 02:02:56,137
is cancel, you get foreclosed

3954
02:02:56,137 --> 02:02:57,339
on.

3955
02:02:57,339 --> 02:02:58,939
They will be deciding, it's

3956
02:02:58,939 --> 02:03:00,242
taken go years and we have no

3957
02:03:00,242 --> 02:03:02,177
answers for anything, we have no

3958
02:03:02,177 --> 02:03:04,177
new answers tonight.

3959
02:03:05,213 --> 02:03:06,548
They'll be deciding the fate of

3960
02:03:06,548 --> 02:03:08,548
these folks.

3961
02:03:10,953 --> 02:03:11,287
While they're in value

3962
02:03:11,287 --> 02:03:11,920
iolation.

3963
02:03:11,920 --> 02:03:13,155
I would like the answers to

3964
02:03:13,155 --> 02:03:15,230
these questions.

3965
02:03:15,230 --> 02:03:16,826
One, how do you wash your hair

3966
02:03:16,826 --> 02:03:18,826
with bottled water?

3967
02:03:19,695 --> 02:03:20,730
I mean, do you carry a case --

3968
02:03:20,730 --> 02:03:22,131
while they're decide, they're

3969
02:03:22,131 --> 02:03:23,833
going to give them bottled

3970
02:03:23,833 --> 02:03:24,534
water, might bring a tanker in,

3971
02:03:24,534 --> 02:03:27,570
how are you going to hook that

3972
02:03:27,570 --> 02:03:29,205
up to the water line?

3973
02:03:29,205 --> 02:03:31,708
Some of these houses you

3974
02:03:31,708 --> 02:03:33,677
couldn't in there with a tanger,

3975
02:03:33,677 --> 02:03:35,212
carry a case in there and

3976
02:03:35,212 --> 02:03:37,612
halfway through, tripping over,

3977
02:03:37,614 --> 02:03:38,548
how are you going to do it while

3978
02:03:38,548 --> 02:03:40,548
they're deciding?

3979
02:03:43,487 --> 02:03:43,720
How are you going to wash

3980
02:03:43,720 --> 02:03:44,220
clothes

3981
02:03:44,220 --> 02:03:44,621
clothes?

3982
02:03:44,621 --> 02:03:46,890
Think about it.

3983
02:03:46,890 --> 02:03:47,191
You're going to have stand in

3984
02:03:47,191 --> 02:03:48,792
front of the washer and wait for

3985
02:03:48,792 --> 02:03:50,160
the rinse cycle and then you're

3986
02:03:50,160 --> 02:03:52,763
going to have to pour another

3987
02:03:52,763 --> 02:03:54,531
case of bottled water in there,

3988
02:03:54,531 --> 02:03:56,966
this is while they're deciding.

3989
02:03:56,966 --> 02:04:00,370
I would like them to come up and

3990
02:04:00,370 --> 02:04:03,700
explain how does a 7-year-old

3991
02:04:03,700 --> 02:04:04,709
use bottled water to flush the

3992
02:04:04,709 --> 02:04:06,100
toilet?

3993
02:04:06,100 --> 02:04:07,845
These are things, they're going

3994
02:04:07,845 --> 02:04:10,245
to be just debating.

3995
02:04:11,879 --> 02:04:13,184
Whether to put you a new well

3996
02:04:13,184 --> 02:04:17,384
in, debating and to run water, a

3997
02:04:17,823 --> 02:04:18,924
water line, that's two years.

3998
02:04:18,924 --> 02:04:20,992
it's been two years now, we have

3999
02:04:20,992 --> 02:04:22,694
no idea, you have to noe idea

4000
02:04:22,694 --> 02:04:22,895
where they want to run a water

4001
02:04:22,895 --> 02:04:24,229
line.

4002
02:04:24,229 --> 02:04:27,829
At least I've never seen any

4003
02:04:28,366 --> 02:04:30,836
plans showing the water line.

4004
02:04:30,836 --> 02:04:33,406
Two years people are out there,

4005
02:04:33,406 --> 02:04:35,407
going to have a tanker parked on

4006
02:04:35,407 --> 02:04:37,609
top of the septic line?

4007
02:04:37,609 --> 02:04:40,246
No, this whole thing with the

4008
02:04:40,246 --> 02:04:42,646
water is jeopardizing these

4009
02:04:42,982 --> 02:04:46,520
folks and many others, it will

4010
02:04:46,520 --> 02:04:46,618
happen, and these will be the

4011
02:04:46,618 --> 02:04:48,618
losers.

4012
02:04:57,630 --> 02:05:00,300
Thank you very much.

4013
02:05:00,330 --> 02:05:01,769
>> bessemer city, I thank you

4014
02:05:01,769 --> 02:05:03,202
for allowing me this moment to

4015
02:05:03,202 --> 02:05:05,105
speak today, I do have

4016
02:05:05,105 --> 02:05:06,406
questions, it does appear that

4017
02:05:06,406 --> 02:05:10,600
the project scope shape and size

4018
02:05:10,210 --> 02:05:11,445
has substantially changed from

4019
02:05:11,445 --> 02:05:13,445
2021 to now.

4020
02:05:14,315 --> 02:05:17,315
My first question would be:

4021
02:05:17,651 --> 02:05:20,510
given these changes, what

4022
02:05:20,121 --> 02:05:21,689
regulatory permits have either

4023
02:05:21,689 --> 02:05:24,225
have been amended or are

4024
02:05:24,225 --> 02:05:26,227
required to be added to reflect

4025
02:05:26,227 --> 02:05:27,795
these changes.

4026
02:05:27,795 --> 02:05:30,498
How has the public been kept

4027
02:05:30,498 --> 02:05:31,266
abreast and then allowed the

4028
02:05:31,266 --> 02:05:33,735
availability to be able to

4029
02:05:33,735 --> 02:05:36,370
comment on these permits?

4030
02:05:36,370 --> 02:05:37,472
My second question will address

4031
02:05:37,472 --> 02:05:39,474
what is considered a dead spot

4032
02:05:39,474 --> 02:05:41,443
in the county currently?

4033
02:05:41,443 --> 02:05:43,946
The area that the project is

4034
02:05:43,946 --> 02:05:45,147
proposed to be in is kind of a

4035
02:05:45,147 --> 02:05:46,949
geographically isolated area

4036
02:05:46,949 --> 02:05:48,651
when it comes to cell phones and

4037
02:05:48,651 --> 02:05:50,651
internet usage.

4038
02:05:51,587 --> 02:05:54,256
We have spotty, very unstable

4039
02:05:54,256 --> 02:05:56,225
cell phone capability.

4040
02:05:56,225 --> 02:05:58,270
Pretty much nonexistent

4041
02:05:58,270 --> 02:06:00,270
broadband internet.

4042
02:06:01,330 --> 02:06:04,930
GOD forbid if this project does

4043
02:06:05,100 --> 02:06:07,136
get underway, and the citizens

4044
02:06:07,136 --> 02:06:09,773
who are stuck living around it,

4045
02:06:09,773 --> 02:06:12,773
and the potential employees of

4046
02:06:13,430 --> 02:06:15,545
this company, will be at

4047
02:06:15,545 --> 02:06:17,714
immediate risk if there is not

4048
02:06:17,714 --> 02:06:20,750
something put in place prior to

4049
02:06:20,750 --> 02:06:22,750
any groundbreaking that

4050
02:06:23,888 --> 02:06:26,288
establishes a stable, stable,

4051
02:06:26,657 --> 02:06:27,425
stable cell phone signal and

4052
02:06:27,425 --> 02:06:29,360
internet, communication cannot

4053
02:06:29,360 --> 02:06:29,861
be cut off from anyone in that

4054
02:06:29,861 --> 02:06:31,861
area.

4055
02:06:32,330 --> 02:06:33,531
Mining is a dangerous business.

4056
02:06:33,531 --> 02:06:36,134
I think that's very well known

4057
02:06:36,134 --> 02:06:37,602
from everyone in this room.

4058
02:06:37,602 --> 02:06:39,170
Not that we're wishing anything

4059
02:06:39,170 --> 02:06:40,271
would happen, but for public

4060
02:06:40,271 --> 02:06:41,606
safety, those things need to be

4061
02:06:41,606 --> 02:06:43,606
in place.

4062
02:06:43,675 --> 02:06:45,376
You can have emergency services

4063
02:06:45,376 --> 02:06:46,978
sitting next door.

4064
02:06:46,978 --> 02:06:49,978
That are absolutely useless if

4065
02:06:50,281 --> 02:06:53,881
no one can call for help.

4066
02:06:54,619 --> 02:06:57,155
My next question will be: in

4067
02:06:57,155 --> 02:06:58,891
the air quality permit and the

4068
02:06:58,891 --> 02:07:00,626
psd application submitted by

4069
02:07:00,626 --> 02:07:02,895
piedmont, piedmont states that

4070
02:07:02,895 --> 02:07:04,997
they were required to notify

4071
02:07:04,997 --> 02:07:06,997
agricultural producers their

4072
02:07:07,366 --> 02:07:08,233
emissions would affect crop

4073
02:07:08,233 --> 02:07:09,936
yields.

4074
02:07:09,936 --> 02:07:12,171
What crops will this affect, how

4075
02:07:12,171 --> 02:07:14,107
will it affect them?

4076
02:07:14,107 --> 02:07:16,776
And exactly how are you planning

4077
02:07:16,776 --> 02:07:17,910
to notify the agricultural

4078
02:07:17,910 --> 02:07:19,910
community?

4079
02:07:24,518 --> 02:07:25,585
Thank you.

4080
02:07:25,585 --> 02:07:26,787
>>chair: since you're a minor,

4081
02:07:26,787 --> 02:07:28,121
you don't are to give your

4082
02:07:28,121 --> 02:07:28,856
address on that, I have you

4083
02:07:28,856 --> 02:07:29,423
already here, okay.

4084
02:07:29,423 --> 02:07:29,923
>> all right.

4085
02:07:29,923 --> 02:07:31,923
>>chair: thank you.

4086
02:07:32,592 --> 02:07:33,894
>> my name is bryson lynn hart,

4087
02:07:33,894 --> 02:07:35,763
I live on white side road in

4088
02:07:35,763 --> 02:07:37,465
gaston county, the closest house

4089
02:07:37,465 --> 02:07:39,233
to this proposed mine.

4090
02:07:39,233 --> 02:07:41,233
I'm 15 years old.

4091
02:07:42,503 --> 02:07:44,272
I spend the majority of my time

4092
02:07:44,272 --> 02:07:45,239
outside, hunting, fishing,

4093
02:07:45,239 --> 02:07:47,208
camping anything that ki enjoy

4094
02:07:47,208 --> 02:07:48,542
in the fresh air, I don't think

4095
02:07:48,542 --> 02:07:50,440
it's fair that my little sister

4096
02:07:50,440 --> 02:07:51,813
and I have to worry about the

4097
02:07:51,813 --> 02:07:54,114
creek we play in, will be

4098
02:07:54,114 --> 02:07:56,418
polluted by hazardous chemicals

4099
02:07:56,418 --> 02:07:57,185
or even be able to catch fish

4100
02:07:57,185 --> 02:07:59,185
safely anymore?

4101
02:07:59,454 --> 02:08:00,422
Will we be forced to stay inside

4102
02:08:00,422 --> 02:08:02,858
in front of a screen because of

4103
02:08:02,858 --> 02:08:05,393
the blasting noise and dust?

4104
02:08:05,393 --> 02:08:08,290
How much of the woods around my

4105
02:08:08,290 --> 02:08:10,199
house will I be able to enjoy

4106
02:08:10,199 --> 02:08:12,401
because of the instruction from

4107
02:08:12,401 --> 02:08:13,736
piedmont lithium?

4108
02:08:13,736 --> 02:08:14,737
Piedmont lithium, the

4109
02:08:14,737 --> 02:08:17,137
destruction piedmont lithium is

4110
02:08:24,913 --> 02:08:27,417
trying to bring to my home.

4111
02:08:27,417 --> 02:08:29,653
>> my name is jessica lynn

4112
02:08:29,653 --> 02:08:32,530
heart, 115 -- in yous.

4113
02:08:32,555 --> 02:08:34,291
And I have a lot here and I'm

4114
02:08:34,291 --> 02:08:34,491
going try to get through all of

4115
02:08:34,491 --> 02:08:36,159
it.

4116
02:08:36,159 --> 02:08:38,159
Piedmont lithium an

4117
02:08:38,729 --> 02:08:40,729
inexperienced exploratory

4118
02:08:41,665 --> 02:08:42,933
company holding 3, -- five square

4119
02:08:42,933 --> 02:08:43,500
miles of residently zoned

4120
02:08:43,500 --> 02:08:45,500
property.

4121
02:08:46,170 --> 02:08:47,604
Their end goal is the lithium

4122
02:08:47,604 --> 02:08:49,540
hydroxide plant with an

4123
02:08:49,540 --> 02:08:51,940
operating life of around 30

4124
02:08:51,942 --> 02:08:53,644
years and deep mining pits

4125
02:08:53,644 --> 02:08:55,613
operating for as we know now

4126
02:08:55,613 --> 02:08:56,113
about 11 years APRIL of last

4127
02:08:56,113 --> 02:08:58,820
year.

4128
02:08:58,820 --> 02:08:59,383
According to their mining permit

4129
02:08:59,383 --> 02:09:01,452
applications submitted two years

4130
02:09:01,452 --> 02:09:04,452
ago, the estimated their water

4131
02:09:04,522 --> 02:09:07,522
usage to be between 800 and

4132
02:09:10,595 --> 02:09:12,300
28,000 and 3 million 312,000

4133
02:09:12,300 --> 02:09:13,865
gallons per day just for pit

4134
02:09:13,865 --> 02:09:14,800
dewatering, when asked by the

4135
02:09:14,800 --> 02:09:15,800
mining commission for

4136
02:09:15,800 --> 02:09:17,135
clarification on the mitigation

4137
02:09:17,135 --> 02:09:18,937
plan for residential locations

4138
02:09:18,937 --> 02:09:20,339
and proximity to the mine.

4139
02:09:20,339 --> 02:09:22,608
They state that it can take up

4140
02:09:22,608 --> 02:09:25,177
to 45 days for them to drill a

4141
02:09:25,177 --> 02:09:26,679
new will well or connected to a

4142
02:09:26,679 --> 02:09:28,981
municipal water supply, how can

4143
02:09:28,981 --> 02:09:31,984
you drill a well in 45 days if

4144
02:09:31,984 --> 02:09:32,618
all of the local wells have run

4145
02:09:32,618 --> 02:09:34,860
dry?

4146
02:09:34,860 --> 02:09:35,254
What happens if they drag fair

4147
02:09:35,254 --> 02:09:35,921
feet just like they have done

4148
02:09:35,921 --> 02:09:37,123
with everything else they have

4149
02:09:37,123 --> 02:09:38,891
been asked to do?

4150
02:09:38,891 --> 02:09:39,525
Hooking to the water supply will

4151
02:09:39,525 --> 02:09:40,727
take years.

4152
02:09:40,727 --> 02:09:43,129
It's already been two years and

4153
02:09:43,129 --> 02:09:45,397
they do not even have a fully

4154
02:09:45,397 --> 02:09:45,699
implemented plan for obtaining

4155
02:09:45,699 --> 02:09:47,200
water.

4156
02:09:47,200 --> 02:09:48,134
City water would be yet another

4157
02:09:48,134 --> 02:09:50,534
monthly burden that residents

4158
02:09:50,637 --> 02:09:51,237
MAY have no choice in paying

4159
02:09:51,237 --> 02:09:52,272
for.

4160
02:09:52,272 --> 02:09:52,906
As piedmont has also stated in

4161
02:09:52,906 --> 02:09:54,507
their application that they

4162
02:09:54,507 --> 02:09:55,409
would not be paying our monthly

4163
02:09:55,409 --> 02:09:57,177
water bills.

4164
02:09:57,177 --> 02:09:59,460
Despite the fact that it will be

4165
02:09:59,460 --> 02:10:00,790
directly caused by their

4166
02:10:00,790 --> 02:10:01,782
operation.

4167
02:10:01,782 --> 02:10:03,784
The proposed plan for the water

4168
02:10:03,784 --> 02:10:06,220
lines according to their mining

4169
02:10:06,220 --> 02:10:06,887
application will take up to 30

4170
02:10:06,887 --> 02:10:08,656
months to complete.

4171
02:10:08,656 --> 02:10:10,157
When piedmont was asked about

4172
02:10:10,157 --> 02:10:11,592
arsenic in the water, they

4173
02:10:11,592 --> 02:10:12,793
responded they do not use

4174
02:10:12,793 --> 02:10:14,793
arsenic in mining.

4175
02:10:15,463 --> 02:10:16,931
That answer is deliberately

4176
02:10:16,931 --> 02:10:18,466
designed to mislead.

4177
02:10:18,466 --> 02:10:19,399
Arsenic will leach in greater

4178
02:10:19,399 --> 02:10:21,269
amounts into the water in the

4179
02:10:21,269 --> 02:10:22,971
pits because of the mine.

4180
02:10:22,971 --> 02:10:24,706
If piedmont truly does not

4181
02:10:24,706 --> 02:10:26,441
believe that this is a common

4182
02:10:26,441 --> 02:10:28,910
occurrence, I invite any of

4183
02:10:28,910 --> 02:10:30,545
their employees to go over to

4184
02:10:30,545 --> 02:10:32,314
bessemer city and drink a glass

4185
02:10:32,314 --> 02:10:34,149
of water out of the open pit.

4186
02:10:34,149 --> 02:10:36,551
For the chemical plant, do you

4187
02:10:36,551 --> 02:10:38,821
know a website lithium hydroxide

4188
02:10:38,821 --> 02:10:41,123
both powered and solution forms,

4189
02:10:41,123 --> 02:10:42,570
as a toxic and flammable

4190
02:10:42,570 --> 02:10:43,259
substance, please remember they

4191
02:10:43,259 --> 02:10:45,760
want to build this facility

4192
02:10:45,760 --> 02:10:47,396
neighboring a school and a

4193
02:10:47,396 --> 02:10:48,363
daycare.

4194
02:10:48,363 --> 02:10:49,999
Piedmont lithium and the direct

4195
02:10:49,999 --> 02:10:51,701
quote says that in the future,

4196
02:10:51,701 --> 02:10:52,969
our property could be used for

4197
02:10:52,969 --> 02:10:54,969
future manufacturing

4198
02:10:55,638 --> 02:10:57,373
developments, parks, trails,

4199
02:10:57,373 --> 02:10:58,808
greenways, recreation areas,

4200
02:10:58,808 --> 02:11:00,577
commercial developments and

4201
02:11:00,577 --> 02:11:02,577
solar developments.

4202
02:11:02,646 --> 02:11:04,480
Noticeably missing are family

4203
02:11:04,480 --> 02:11:04,748
homes, residents and rural

4204
02:11:04,748 --> 02:11:05,881
farming.

4205
02:11:05,881 --> 02:11:07,584
Because they know that the land

4206
02:11:07,584 --> 02:11:10,584
will be unfit for habitation.

4207
02:11:11,540 --> 02:11:11,622
For hundreds of years, moving

4208
02:11:11,622 --> 02:11:13,290
forward.

4209
02:11:13,290 --> 02:11:14,291
Instead of the beautiful

4210
02:11:14,291 --> 02:11:15,359
pastoral views of life

4211
02:11:15,359 --> 02:11:17,161
sustaining crops that we now

4212
02:11:17,161 --> 02:11:19,730
have, we are left with man made

4213
02:11:19,730 --> 02:11:21,730
and filled craters.

4214
02:11:21,799 --> 02:11:24,569
Per their application, a toxic

4215
02:11:24,569 --> 02:11:26,803
leak of arsenic unfused unusable

4216
02:11:26,803 --> 02:11:28,205
water and piles of waste rock.

4217
02:11:28,205 --> 02:11:29,574
How does any of this in another

4218
02:11:29,574 --> 02:11:31,342
direct quote, focus on the

4219
02:11:31,342 --> 02:11:32,777
safety, health and well-being of

4220
02:11:32,777 --> 02:11:34,312
the community?

4221
02:11:34,312 --> 02:11:36,314
Seems to me that their focus on

4222
02:11:36,314 --> 02:11:38,714
the safety, health and

4223
02:11:45,923 --> 02:11:48,227
well-being of their paychecks.

4224
02:11:48,227 --> 02:11:50,227
>>chair: to follow.

4225
02:11:53,465 --> 02:11:55,901
>> I'm tim lynn hart, 115 -- I

4226
02:11:55,901 --> 02:11:57,703
would like to start today by

4227
02:11:57,703 --> 02:11:59,404
asking when will piedmont begin

4228
02:11:59,404 --> 02:12:02,308
telling the truth about where

4229
02:12:02,308 --> 02:12:03,900
the wells are around the

4230
02:12:03,900 --> 02:12:05,900
properties?

4231
02:12:05,411 --> 02:12:08,411
And where the closest neighbors

4232
02:12:09,442 --> 02:12:09,528
are?

4233
02:12:09,528 --> 02:12:10,160
Since they have done -- hold on,

4234
02:12:10,160 --> 02:12:11,170
I'll just go with my thing.

4235
02:12:11,170 --> 02:12:14,170
The current map says neither

4236
02:12:14,687 --> 02:12:17,570
correct, two years ago, piedmont

4237
02:12:17,570 --> 02:12:19,493
presented maps claiming all of

4238
02:12:19,493 --> 02:12:21,927
the wells that neighboring land

4239
02:12:21,927 --> 02:12:25,527
owners when shown that the maps

4240
02:12:26,133 --> 02:12:29,133
were from around 1972, they came

4241
02:12:29,837 --> 02:12:32,907
back and claimed that the map --

4242
02:12:32,907 --> 02:12:33,674
came back with another map from

4243
02:12:33,674 --> 02:12:35,674
2005.

4244
02:12:36,344 --> 02:12:38,346
My calculations, from now to

4245
02:12:38,346 --> 02:12:40,346
then, is 15 years.

4246
02:12:41,449 --> 02:12:46,249
Why do they not have a map for

4247
02:12:46,788 --> 02:12:48,788
now days?

4248
02:12:49,224 --> 02:12:51,224
let's see here.

4249
02:12:53,495 --> 02:12:56,331
I know personally, my will, well

4250
02:12:56,331 --> 02:12:58,467
is very shallow at 50 feet, not

4251
02:12:58,467 --> 02:13:00,235
going to last long.

4252
02:13:00,235 --> 02:13:02,637
And they would know this if they

4253
02:13:02,637 --> 02:13:03,839
would come and talk to the

4254
02:13:03,839 --> 02:13:06,239
people instead of sending

4255
02:13:06,575 --> 02:13:10,175
cookies and saying, hey, come to

4256
02:13:10,279 --> 02:13:12,279
our office.

4257
02:13:12,414 --> 02:13:14,750
If they cannot get their public

4258
02:13:14,750 --> 02:13:17,120
records right, then why should

4259
02:13:17,120 --> 02:13:20,220
we as land owners believe

4260
02:13:20,220 --> 02:13:22,422
anything that they say?

4261
02:13:22,558 --> 02:13:24,600
And I personally believe that

4262
02:13:24,600 --> 02:13:25,328
piedmont lithium does not care

4263
02:13:25,328 --> 02:13:27,464
about the community, they only

4264
02:13:27,464 --> 02:13:29,766
care about the money that they

4265
02:13:29,766 --> 02:13:30,660
will make off of the -- of our

4266
02:13:30,660 --> 02:13:32,660
homes.

4267
02:13:33,970 --> 02:13:34,237
And that's the end of my

4268
02:13:34,237 --> 02:13:36,237
comments.

4269
02:13:40,377 --> 02:13:42,377
>>chair: thank you.

4270
02:13:43,412 --> 02:13:46,183
>> good evening, my name is rich

4271
02:13:46,183 --> 02:13:48,919
-- long shoals road, it's about

4272
02:13:48,919 --> 02:13:51,122
a mile as the crow flies from

4273
02:13:51,122 --> 02:13:53,122
the east pit.

4274
02:13:53,191 --> 02:13:56,191
Piedmont intend to leave behind

4275
02:13:56,227 --> 02:13:57,562
a mound of rock over 280 feet

4276
02:13:57,562 --> 02:13:59,300
high.

4277
02:13:59,300 --> 02:14:00,632
There'll be about three miles

4278
02:14:00,632 --> 02:14:02,600
from cherryville, for how many

4279
02:14:02,600 --> 02:14:04,636
hundreds of years will the

4280
02:14:04,636 --> 02:14:06,971
citizen of gaston county have to

4281
02:14:06,971 --> 02:14:09,708
look at that mess once piedmont

4282
02:14:09,708 --> 02:14:10,800
has taken their money and moved

4283
02:14:10,800 --> 02:14:11,709
away?

4284
02:14:11,709 --> 02:14:13,445
Since the citizens of

4285
02:14:13,445 --> 02:14:15,120
cherryville will be able to see

4286
02:14:15,120 --> 02:14:18,612
it from their homes, will they

4287
02:14:19,840 --> 02:14:21,954
get the naming rights to that

4288
02:14:21,954 --> 02:14:23,954
mountain?

4289
02:14:25,791 --> 02:14:28,261
And piedmont has burned down 30

4290
02:14:28,261 --> 02:14:30,261
homes around me.

4291
02:14:31,300 --> 02:14:33,399
These were homes people lived in

4292
02:14:33,399 --> 02:14:35,802
until piedmont bought them out.

4293
02:14:35,802 --> 02:14:36,436
People could still be living in

4294
02:14:36,436 --> 02:14:38,436
these homes.

4295
02:14:38,838 --> 02:14:40,640
If piedmont had not burned them

4296
02:14:40,640 --> 02:14:42,640
to the ground.

4297
02:14:42,909 --> 02:14:45,579
Piedmont goes to belmont, says

4298
02:14:45,579 --> 02:14:48,480
it will hold -- it will help

4299
02:14:48,480 --> 02:14:48,814
build one habitat house for

4300
02:14:48,814 --> 02:14:50,814
needy family.

4301
02:14:50,884 --> 02:14:51,885
It puts itself in the paper

4302
02:14:51,885 --> 02:14:53,420
about it.

4303
02:14:53,420 --> 02:14:56,123
What about the other 29 families

4304
02:14:56,123 --> 02:14:58,459
with no place to live?

4305
02:14:58,459 --> 02:15:02,590
Piedmont does not care about the

4306
02:15:02,329 --> 02:15:05,329
poor people in gaston county.

4307
02:15:05,366 --> 02:15:06,434
And finally, the air quality

4308
02:15:06,434 --> 02:15:08,834
permit application says that

4309
02:15:09,536 --> 02:15:11,936
piedmont intends to operate 24

4310
02:15:14,410 --> 02:15:15,375
hours a day, 365 days a year.

4311
02:15:15,375 --> 02:15:17,375
Is this true?

4312
02:15:18,446 --> 02:15:20,682
Or is it more of piedmont's not

4313
02:15:20,682 --> 02:15:23,218
caring what they say on forms

4314
02:15:23,218 --> 02:15:25,621
and documents and just filling

4315
02:15:25,621 --> 02:15:27,621
in the blanks.

4316
02:15:38,467 --> 02:15:39,268
Thank you.

4317
02:15:39,268 --> 02:15:40,903
>> so I don't know about the

4318
02:15:40,903 --> 02:15:43,306
rest of my neighbors in the

4319
02:15:43,306 --> 02:15:44,240
room, but I think I have more

4320
02:15:44,240 --> 02:15:45,974
questions that I'm more

4321
02:15:45,974 --> 02:15:47,109
concerned and more confused

4322
02:15:47,109 --> 02:15:47,410
tonight than I was before I got

4323
02:15:47,410 --> 02:15:49,312
here.

4324
02:15:49,312 --> 02:15:50,480
I was hoping to get answers and

4325
02:15:50,480 --> 02:15:51,848
hoping to learn more tonight,

4326
02:15:51,848 --> 02:15:53,650
I'm really struggling because

4327
02:15:53,650 --> 02:15:54,450
I've got so many questions that

4328
02:15:54,450 --> 02:15:56,190
are unanswered.

4329
02:15:56,190 --> 02:15:58,355
But let me go ahead and

4330
02:15:58,355 --> 02:15:59,256
introduce mice, the

4331
02:15:59,256 --> 02:16:01,240
commissioners, council staff,

4332
02:16:01,240 --> 02:16:04,240
warren snowden, we own property

4333
02:16:04,293 --> 02:16:07,300
at 611 adder holt road so we are

4334
02:16:07,300 --> 02:16:08,297
-- we share over 8,000 linear

4335
02:16:08,297 --> 02:16:09,990
feet of property line with

4336
02:16:09,990 --> 02:16:11,499
piedmont lithium, we're not

4337
02:16:12,636 --> 02:16:13,704
thousands of feet away, we are

4338
02:16:13,704 --> 02:16:15,704
ground zero.

4339
02:16:17,274 --> 02:16:18,750
We share property lines.

4340
02:16:18,750 --> 02:16:20,110
We've not heard from piedmont

4341
02:16:20,110 --> 02:16:22,130
lithium in over two years, so I

4342
02:16:22,130 --> 02:16:22,747
don't know if they don't care, I

4343
02:16:22,747 --> 02:16:23,214
don't know if they're not

4344
02:16:23,214 --> 02:16:25,214
concerned about us.

4345
02:16:26,500 --> 02:16:28,720
But I know that all of the

4346
02:16:28,720 --> 02:16:31,540
reports by hdr refer to us as

4347
02:16:31,540 --> 02:16:31,655
the tree farm buffer to the

4348
02:16:31,655 --> 02:16:33,655
east.

4349
02:16:35,327 --> 02:16:35,560
And so I come before you this

4350
02:16:35,560 --> 02:16:37,229
evening

4351
02:16:37,229 --> 02:16:39,164
evening, only having received a

4352
02:16:39,164 --> 02:16:39,831
bag of -- box of cookies and a

4353
02:16:39,831 --> 02:16:41,400
bag of coffee.

4354
02:16:41,400 --> 02:16:42,634
And I would suggest to you, if

4355
02:16:42,634 --> 02:16:43,602
they really knew who their

4356
02:16:43,602 --> 02:16:45,370
immediate impacted neighbors

4357
02:16:45,370 --> 02:16:47,306
are, they would know that we

4358
02:16:47,306 --> 02:16:48,307
don't eat cookies.

4359
02:16:48,307 --> 02:16:50,707
We like ice cream!

4360
02:16:51,576 --> 02:16:52,211
We don't drink coffee, we drink

4361
02:16:52,211 --> 02:16:54,211
bourbon.

4362
02:16:54,647 --> 02:16:56,415
We don't -- they don't know us.

4363
02:16:56,415 --> 02:16:59,415
And so it's really frustrating,

4364
02:16:59,417 --> 02:17:00,820
two years later, we're still

4365
02:17:00,820 --> 02:17:02,488
waiting piedmont lithium to tell

4366
02:17:02,488 --> 02:17:03,723
this community how they intend

4367
02:17:03,723 --> 02:17:04,791
to be a good neighbor, how are

4368
02:17:04,791 --> 02:17:06,159
they going to protect the

4369
02:17:06,159 --> 02:17:09,159
citizens, they don't have a

4370
02:17:10,191 --> 02:17:10,278
north carolina mining permit,

4371
02:17:10,278 --> 02:17:12,432
they don't have the proper

4372
02:17:12,432 --> 02:17:13,633
zoning, no psd air permit, no

4373
02:17:13,633 --> 02:17:14,968
site plan approval and years

4374
02:17:14,968 --> 02:17:16,336
away from the having the

4375
02:17:16,336 --> 02:17:18,336
necessary utilities, electric

4376
02:17:18,705 --> 02:17:21,475
and gas to service this site.

4377
02:17:21,475 --> 02:17:24,770
I learned yesterday, they don't

4378
02:17:24,770 --> 02:17:24,511
even have a north carolina

4379
02:17:24,511 --> 02:17:26,511
geological license.

4380
02:17:26,779 --> 02:17:29,179
Let me repeat that.

4381
02:17:29,483 --> 02:17:31,417
How many years have they been in

4382
02:17:31,417 --> 02:17:32,853
our community the north carolina

4383
02:17:32,853 --> 02:17:34,121
geological board does not hold a

4384
02:17:34,121 --> 02:17:36,257
license for piedmont lithium or

4385
02:17:36,257 --> 02:17:37,258
any of its gee

4386
02:17:37,258 --> 02:17:37,925
ologist

4387
02:17:37,925 --> 02:17:39,560
geologists, so

4388
02:17:39,560 --> 02:17:42,630
tonight, I would like to address

4389
02:17:42,630 --> 02:17:43,640
something as simple as dust,

4390
02:17:43,640 --> 02:17:44,365
everyone knows that dust flows

4391
02:17:44,365 --> 02:17:46,134
from the west to the east, with

4392
02:17:46,134 --> 02:17:46,334
rethe immediate neighbors to the

4393
02:17:46,334 --> 02:17:48,334
east.

4394
02:17:48,870 --> 02:17:50,538
We have not been contacted.

4395
02:17:50,538 --> 02:17:52,740
Every time piedmont lithium

4396
02:17:52,740 --> 02:17:54,810
burns a house, they don't warn

4397
02:17:54,810 --> 02:17:55,100
us, we can smell smoke for

4398
02:17:55,100 --> 02:17:57,100
hours.

4399
02:17:57,345 --> 02:17:57,546
It blows from the west to the

4400
02:17:57,546 --> 02:17:59,546
east.

4401
02:17:59,848 --> 02:18:02,217
We have crops, we have trees, we

4402
02:18:02,217 --> 02:18:03,185
have wildlife, we have kids, and

4403
02:18:03,185 --> 02:18:05,420
we have our health.

4404
02:18:05,420 --> 02:18:06,455
And they don't reach out to us.

4405
02:18:06,455 --> 02:18:09,580
And so it's very challenging to

4406
02:18:09,580 --> 02:18:10,359
stand up here this evening.

4407
02:18:10,359 --> 02:18:12,161
When keith phillips spoke two

4408
02:18:12,161 --> 02:18:13,862
years ago in this room to these

4409
02:18:13,862 --> 02:18:14,997
very citizens, he said thingser

4410
02:18:14,997 --> 02:18:16,399
going to be different.

4411
02:18:16,399 --> 02:18:18,267
He said that piedmont lithium

4412
02:18:18,267 --> 02:18:20,300
would be happy to come every

4413
02:18:20,300 --> 02:18:20,837
month and hold informational

4414
02:18:20,837 --> 02:18:22,837
meetings, if needed.

4415
02:18:23,239 --> 02:18:25,775
Two years later, passed, no

4416
02:18:25,775 --> 02:18:28,775
meetings, no answers, and he's

4417
02:18:29,345 --> 02:18:31,745
not even here tonight.

4418
02:18:32,150 --> 02:18:34,840
So in piedmont lithium's MAY

4419
02:18:34,840 --> 02:18:35,519
2023 presentation, to their

4420
02:18:35,519 --> 02:18:37,919
investors, they said this

4421
02:18:38,655 --> 02:18:41,655
project will be a $456 million

4422
02:18:42,459 --> 02:18:44,395
steady state project with a 27%

4423
02:18:44,395 --> 02:18:47,164
annual return and a short

4424
02:18:47,164 --> 02:18:49,533
project pay back of 3.5 years.

4425
02:18:49,533 --> 02:18:50,667
Pretty lucrative.

4426
02:18:50,667 --> 02:18:52,670
Yet, they continue to cut

4427
02:18:52,670 --> 02:18:52,903
corners wherever they get a

4428
02:18:52,903 --> 02:18:54,704
chance.

4429
02:18:54,704 --> 02:18:56,541
When asked how they were going

4430
02:18:56,541 --> 02:18:58,760
to discharge water from the

4431
02:18:58,760 --> 02:19:00,578
site, they had four options and

4432
02:19:00,578 --> 02:19:02,247
they have chosen the least

4433
02:19:02,247 --> 02:19:05,247
expensive option, but the most

4434
02:19:06,651 --> 02:19:07,752
dangerous for the citizens.

4435
02:19:07,752 --> 02:19:09,987
Why does piedmont lithium

4436
02:19:09,987 --> 02:19:12,823
continue to not provide answers

4437
02:19:12,823 --> 02:19:13,125
and they choose profits over the

4438
02:19:13,125 --> 02:19:13,758
environment?

4439
02:19:13,758 --> 02:19:15,758
Over the community?

4440
02:19:16,728 --> 02:19:18,970
And over our citizens?

4441
02:19:18,970 --> 02:19:20,497
Why does piedmont lithium

4442
02:19:20,499 --> 02:19:21,967
continue to choose not to be a

4443
02:19:21,967 --> 02:19:23,350
good neighbor?

4444
02:19:23,350 --> 02:19:24,770
Why?

4445
02:19:24,770 --> 02:19:26,770
Thank you.

4446
02:19:28,407 --> 02:19:30,676
>>chair: thank you, sir.

4447
02:19:30,676 --> 02:19:33,112
Anyone wishing to speak that did

4448
02:19:33,112 --> 02:19:35,814
not get a chance to speak?

4449
02:19:35,814 --> 02:19:37,851
Yes, sir, please step up now.

4450
02:19:37,851 --> 02:19:38,118
>> motion to accept his

4451
02:19:38,118 --> 02:19:38,418
comments.

4452
02:19:38,418 --> 02:19:39,180
>> second.

4453
02:19:39,180 --> 02:19:40,686
>>chair: motion made by

4454
02:19:40,686 --> 02:19:42,522
commissioner worley, seconded by

4455
02:19:42,522 --> 02:19:43,189
commissioner hovis.

4456
02:19:43,189 --> 02:19:45,189
All in favor?

4457
02:19:58,304 --> 02:20:00,608
It is unanimous, MADAM Clerk.

4458
02:20:00,608 --> 02:20:01,750
>>

4459
02:20:01,750 --> 02:20:01,776
>>.

4460
02:20:01,776 --> 02:20:04,612
>>chair: please state your name

4461
02:20:04,612 --> 02:20:08,212
and address for the record, sir?

4462
02:20:10,318 --> 02:20:12,486
>> bobby at the time -- my

4463
02:20:12,486 --> 02:20:14,422
property board was lock bel's

4464
02:20:14,422 --> 02:20:15,790
property and properties that

4465
02:20:15,790 --> 02:20:17,790
have been sold.

4466
02:20:17,993 --> 02:20:19,861
And there's one thing that MAY

4467
02:20:19,861 --> 02:20:20,862
can stop this mine if this is

4468
02:20:20,862 --> 02:20:22,497
true.

4469
02:20:22,497 --> 02:20:24,897
Supposedly on hastings read

4470
02:20:26,101 --> 02:20:27,169
where it mets hephzibah church

4471
02:20:27,169 --> 02:20:28,370
road, if you look north there's

4472
02:20:28,370 --> 02:20:30,806
a clump of trees and I've been

4473
02:20:30,806 --> 02:20:31,506
told all of my life that that

4474
02:20:31,506 --> 02:20:33,506
indian graveyard.

4475
02:20:33,909 --> 02:20:35,910
If this is so, it needs to be

4476
02:20:35,910 --> 02:20:36,645
checked into by each and every

4477
02:20:36,645 --> 02:20:38,645
one of you.

4478
02:20:38,947 --> 02:20:41,484
We've heard a lot of things

4479
02:20:41,484 --> 02:20:45,488
about how good it is but we've

4480
02:20:45,488 --> 02:20:48,691
not heard some of the bad parts.

4481
02:20:48,691 --> 02:20:51,691
The columbia climate school used

4482
02:20:51,761 --> 02:20:53,963
large amounts of water and

4483
02:20:53,963 --> 02:20:56,766
specifically how much water was

4484
02:20:56,766 --> 02:20:59,169
used to water per ton.

4485
02:20:59,169 --> 02:21:01,169
Related pollution potential

4486
02:21:01,571 --> 02:21:03,971
increase in carbon dioxide,

4487
02:21:04,741 --> 02:21:06,741
mineral waste, increased

4488
02:21:09,280 --> 02:21:11,280
respiratory problems, alternate

4489
02:21:12,820 --> 02:21:14,820
high

4490
02:21:14,185 --> 02:21:15,186
ydrology that messes with the

4491
02:21:15,186 --> 02:21:17,755
water and the atmosphere also,

4492
02:21:17,755 --> 02:21:20,155
and the atmospheric system.

4493
02:21:22,927 --> 02:21:24,362
The concentration of lithium

4494
02:21:24,362 --> 02:21:26,762
reduced or completely inhibit

4495
02:21:27,298 --> 02:21:29,934
growth, causes necrosis on older

4496
02:21:29,934 --> 02:21:31,769
leaves on the trees, reduces

4497
02:21:31,769 --> 02:21:34,169
chlorophyll, which reduces plant

4498
02:21:34,372 --> 02:21:35,707
shoot and root biomass, causes

4499
02:21:35,707 --> 02:21:38,707
less purified oxygen to breathe.

4500
02:21:40,245 --> 02:21:41,947
And all of the trees, know what

4501
02:21:41,947 --> 02:21:43,947
trees do.

4502
02:21:44,583 --> 02:21:46,318
The necrosis is a scientific

4503
02:21:46,318 --> 02:21:49,788
term for the death of the plant

4504
02:21:49,788 --> 02:21:51,900
tissues, in other words it kills

4505
02:21:51,900 --> 02:21:52,691
the trees.

4506
02:21:52,691 --> 02:21:54,293
Old enough to remember bessemer

4507
02:21:54,293 --> 02:21:55,393
city when all of the tree was

4508
02:21:55,393 --> 02:21:57,463
dead around there, they said it

4509
02:21:57,463 --> 02:21:58,830
wasn't the mine, well, it wasn't

4510
02:21:58,830 --> 02:21:59,265
beetles because we didn't have

4511
02:21:59,265 --> 02:22:01,265
beetles then.

4512
02:22:01,667 --> 02:22:03,470
You see what is coming out.

4513
02:22:03,470 --> 02:22:05,338
And every time mined from what I

4514
02:22:05,338 --> 02:22:06,706
understand, if this is correct,

4515
02:22:06,706 --> 02:22:09,106
there's 15 tons of co2.

4516
02:22:09,809 --> 02:22:10,443
Now, I stand to be corrected by

4517
02:22:10,443 --> 02:22:12,443
you.

4518
02:22:13,880 --> 02:22:16,515
That is admitted to the air.

4519
02:22:16,515 --> 02:22:18,685
What's co2, is it good for you?

4520
02:22:18,685 --> 02:22:19,887
No, MAY include headache,

4521
02:22:19,887 --> 02:22:21,754
dizziness, pains and needles

4522
02:22:21,754 --> 02:22:23,754
feeling breathing, problems,

4523
02:22:24,124 --> 02:22:26,524
sweating increased heart rate,

4524
02:22:26,694 --> 02:22:28,662
high blood pressure, coma,

4525
02:22:28,662 --> 02:22:30,662
asphyxia and convulsions,

4526
02:22:31,132 --> 02:22:33,968
displaces normal oxygen in the

4527
02:22:33,968 --> 02:22:35,603
breathing air.

4528
02:22:35,603 --> 02:22:38,672
Now, this could not be correct.

4529
02:22:38,672 --> 02:22:41,672
But it says 400 to 2 million

4530
02:22:44,813 --> 02:22:44,980
liters of water per kill lo of

4531
02:22:44,980 --> 02:22:46,513
ton.

4532
02:22:46,513 --> 02:22:49,513
I stand to be corrected.

4533
02:22:50,886 --> 02:22:53,286
Where's the slurry going?

4534
02:22:54,255 --> 02:22:57,255
Our water treatment plants can't

4535
02:22:58,360 --> 02:23:00,620
con tall all of this surry.

4536
02:23:00,620 --> 02:23:00,963
Causes damage to local

4537
02:23:00,963 --> 02:23:02,865
ecosystems, and the army corps

4538
02:23:02,865 --> 02:23:04,867
of engineers and y'all probably

4539
02:23:04,867 --> 02:23:07,169
stop me o on this, the army

4540
02:23:07,169 --> 02:23:10,239
corps of engineers say it won't

4541
02:23:10,239 --> 02:23:12,410
harm the water supplies, well,

4542
02:23:12,410 --> 02:23:12,642
they're government affiliated

4543
02:23:12,642 --> 02:23:14,643
and the government out of

4544
02:23:14,643 --> 02:23:17,430
washington lies every day.

4545
02:23:18,615 --> 02:23:21,150
And that's a fact.

4546
02:23:22,185 --> 02:23:25,785
The chile's solar ra mine caused

4547
02:23:27,858 --> 02:23:29,292
the region to lose 65% of that

4548
02:23:29,292 --> 02:23:30,694
region's water.

4549
02:23:30,694 --> 02:23:33,694
Chile has the world's largest

4550
02:23:34,698 --> 02:23:36,698
right lithium reserves.

4551
02:23:37,367 --> 02:23:40,367
Air contamination to the water

4552
02:23:43,774 --> 02:23:45,774
and the soil.

4553
02:23:48,145 --> 02:23:49,413
-- toxicity of lithium is poor

4554
02:23:49,413 --> 02:23:50,915
concentrations and diarrhea.

4555
02:23:50,915 --> 02:23:53,915
From what I understand, else

4556
02:23:54,520 --> 02:23:55,787
about it, this dust, now, don't

4557
02:23:55,787 --> 02:23:57,754
correct me on this if I'm wrong,

4558
02:23:57,754 --> 02:23:59,900
this dust escapes to the

4559
02:23:59,900 --> 02:24:00,157
atmosphere it's explosive.

4560
02:24:00,157 --> 02:24:03,157
And if there's enough moisture

4561
02:24:04,999 --> 02:24:05,640
in the air, and humidity,

4562
02:24:05,640 --> 02:24:05,128
there's a possibility that it

4563
02:24:05,128 --> 02:24:06,364
can explode, as I said, y'all

4564
02:24:06,364 --> 02:24:07,999
can correct me on these matter,

4565
02:24:07,999 --> 02:24:09,868
that's all I've got, thank you

4566
02:24:09,868 --> 02:24:10,802
for letting me have my time.

4567
02:24:10,802 --> 02:24:11,670
>>chair: thank you, sir.

4568
02:24:11,670 --> 02:24:13,237
>> but I would like to talk

4569
02:24:13,237 --> 02:24:15,607
about the indian graveyard.

4570
02:24:15,607 --> 02:24:15,941
>>chair: yesterday

4571
02:24:15,941 --> 02:24:17,610
, sir.

4572
02:24:17,610 --> 02:24:18,210
What we will do, for everyone's

4573
02:24:18,210 --> 02:24:19,211
knowledge, I'm going to ask

4574
02:24:19,211 --> 02:24:20,980
piedmont lithium, if you would

4575
02:24:20,980 --> 02:24:22,470
like to rebut anything that you

4576
02:24:22,470 --> 02:24:23,315
guys have heard?

4577
02:24:23,315 --> 02:24:25,840
Give you that opportunity, but

4578
02:24:25,840 --> 02:24:26,318
what we would like to do, we'll

4579
02:24:26,318 --> 02:24:27,954
have once we get all of the

4580
02:24:27,954 --> 02:24:29,822
questions that were asked, from

4581
02:24:29,822 --> 02:24:31,724
the clerk's office, we'll have

4582
02:24:31,724 --> 02:24:33,159
our staff send them to you guys

4583
02:24:33,159 --> 02:24:34,427
and you can do it that way and

4584
02:24:34,427 --> 02:24:36,262
we can post that and we'll send

4585
02:24:36,262 --> 02:24:37,464
it out because we have the

4586
02:24:37,464 --> 02:24:39,566
record of how they signed up for

4587
02:24:39,566 --> 02:24:41,835
their questions, that way, we

4588
02:24:41,835 --> 02:24:43,360
want to make it as transparent,

4589
02:24:43,360 --> 02:24:43,937
if that's okay?

4590
02:24:43,937 --> 02:24:45,370
>> yes.

4591
02:24:45,370 --> 02:24:46,540
>>chair: make sure you're okay,

4592
02:24:46,540 --> 02:24:47,808
first, because I've got to make

4593
02:24:47,808 --> 02:24:49,810
sure you're good, would you care

4594
02:24:49,810 --> 02:24:51,879
to rebut tonight, anything that

4595
02:24:51,879 --> 02:24:53,747
you heard or talk or you would

4596
02:24:53,747 --> 02:24:54,949
rather take it as it's up to you

4597
02:24:54,949 --> 02:24:55,850
guys, usually we don't do this,

4598
02:24:55,850 --> 02:24:57,451
but I want to make sure that

4599
02:24:57,451 --> 02:24:58,419
everybody is on the table for

4600
02:24:58,419 --> 02:24:59,186
what we need.

4601
02:24:59,186 --> 02:24:59,387
>> certainly appreciate the

4602
02:24:59,387 --> 02:25:01,387
offer.

4603
02:25:03,523 --> 02:25:05,293
I think it would be best to not

4604
02:25:05,293 --> 02:25:06,327
come back can rebut, very happy

4605
02:25:06,327 --> 02:25:07,961
to answer the questions and have

4606
02:25:07,961 --> 02:25:08,196
that be part of the public

4607
02:25:08,196 --> 02:25:10,980
record.

4608
02:25:10,980 --> 02:25:12,366
>>chair: what we'll do, just

4609
02:25:12,366 --> 02:25:13,368
for everybody's forsake, if

4610
02:25:13,368 --> 02:25:15,170
that's okay.

4611
02:25:15,170 --> 02:25:17,380
We'll have -- once we get the

4612
02:25:17,380 --> 02:25:18,506
tape, but the questions back in,

4613
02:25:18,506 --> 02:25:21,510
send them to you this week,

4614
02:25:21,510 --> 02:25:22,111
we'll get it by -- give me date

4615
02:25:22,111 --> 02:25:23,712
there, esquire.

4616
02:25:23,712 --> 02:25:26,148
Look down at what you have on

4617
02:25:26,148 --> 02:25:26,348
your phone, what's that date on

4618
02:25:26,348 --> 02:25:28,500
there?

4619
02:25:28,500 --> 02:25:30,500
Next thursday?

4620
02:25:30,986 --> 02:25:31,854
>> next thursday.

4621
02:25:31,854 --> 02:25:33,289
17th.

4622
02:25:33,289 --> 02:25:34,557
>>chair: 17th, we'll have those

4623
02:25:34,557 --> 02:25:36,225
to you guys, if you can have

4624
02:25:36,225 --> 02:25:36,959
them back in ten days that, will

4625
02:25:36,959 --> 02:25:37,960
be the 27th.

4626
02:25:37,960 --> 02:25:39,295
And if that's okay?

4627
02:25:39,295 --> 02:25:41,300
If that sounds good enough.

4628
02:25:41,300 --> 02:25:43,866
That way we can post that, we'll

4629
02:25:43,866 --> 02:25:45,301
send it -- make sure that if

4630
02:25:45,301 --> 02:25:46,970
you're on this list, adam, can

4631
02:25:46,970 --> 02:25:48,271
you just put a list over there,

4632
02:25:48,271 --> 02:25:49,339
of anybody who spoke tonight,

4633
02:25:49,339 --> 02:25:50,740
put your e-mail down, you'll

4634
02:25:50,740 --> 02:25:53,176
have them directly to you.

4635
02:25:53,176 --> 02:25:54,945
And we'll work on that.

4636
02:25:54,945 --> 02:25:57,147
Because what we want to do is

4637
02:25:57,147 --> 02:25:58,515
make sure transparency is

4638
02:25:58,515 --> 02:25:58,715
covered through everything we

4639
02:25:58,715 --> 02:26:00,715
have.

4640
02:26:05,456 --> 02:26:09,656
That way, bill, you and tom can

4641
02:26:20,560 --> 02:26:20,628
get with him and that way y'all

4642
02:26:20,628 --> 02:26:20,696
can kind of put together some

4643
02:26:20,696 --> 02:26:20,767
back and forth, I don't want to

4644
02:26:20,767 --> 02:26:20,835
put anybody on the spot, but I

4645
02:26:20,835 --> 02:26:20,901
want to make sure that we don't

4646
02:26:20,901 --> 02:26:20,967
run from anything.

4647
02:26:20,967 --> 02:26:21,340
But I want to thank you guys for

4648
02:26:21,340 --> 02:26:21,100
coming.

4649
02:26:21,100 --> 02:26:21,739
Like I said, it's a tough --

4650
02:26:21,739 --> 02:26:23,107
it's a tough -- you knew that

4651
02:26:23,107 --> 02:26:24,709
when you come in here.

4652
02:26:24,709 --> 02:26:25,877
For folks in gaston county, our

4653
02:26:25,877 --> 02:26:27,812
job as commissioners, we're

4654
02:26:27,812 --> 02:26:28,913
going to make sure that we ask

4655
02:26:28,913 --> 02:26:31,149
the questions that you want

4656
02:26:31,149 --> 02:26:32,950
answered, you guys call, like I

4657
02:26:32,950 --> 02:26:34,753
said, somebody called me the

4658
02:26:34,753 --> 02:26:35,554
other morning at 5:00, it's

4659
02:26:35,554 --> 02:26:37,222
okay, I don't mind.

4660
02:26:37,222 --> 02:26:38,624
But we're going to listen.

4661
02:26:38,624 --> 02:26:40,124
And I'm proud of the staff that

4662
02:26:40,124 --> 02:26:41,660
we have, provided what you guys

4663
02:26:41,660 --> 02:26:43,595
have done, but also I want to

4664
02:26:43,595 --> 02:26:46,298
thank the board, for putting up

4665
02:26:46,298 --> 02:26:50,269
with a lot that goes on with

4666
02:26:50,269 --> 02:26:51,637
this, because it is a -- it's

4667
02:26:51,637 --> 02:26:52,938
tiresome, but also intense but

4668
02:26:52,938 --> 02:26:54,440
also has a lot of purpose.

4669
02:26:54,440 --> 02:26:55,775
And you guys have to understand

4670
02:26:55,775 --> 02:26:57,276
what they want.

4671
02:26:57,276 --> 02:26:58,277
And it's what's best for what

4672
02:26:58,277 --> 02:27:00,450
they have been doing for their

4673
02:27:00,450 --> 02:27:01,347
whole lives and you guys know

4674
02:27:01,347 --> 02:27:03,116
how it is when somebody comes in

4675
02:27:03,116 --> 02:27:04,317
and intrudes on you, it's kind

4676
02:27:04,317 --> 02:27:05,385
of different, you know, so we

4677
02:27:05,385 --> 02:27:06,419
want to make sure we're

4678
02:27:06,419 --> 02:27:07,854
respectful for everybody.

4679
02:27:07,854 --> 02:27:09,356
And what we do.

4680
02:27:09,356 --> 02:27:11,758
I want to thank you guys tonight

4681
02:27:11,758 --> 02:27:12,525
for being respectful with each

4682
02:27:12,525 --> 02:27:14,525
other.

4683
02:27:14,527 --> 02:27:15,729
This is -- this is a hard time.

4684
02:27:15,729 --> 02:27:16,630
But we're going to get it right

4685
02:27:16,630 --> 02:27:18,565
and we're going to make it

4686
02:27:18,565 --> 02:27:20,601
happen and make sure that we

4687
02:27:20,601 --> 02:27:21,535
work hard to answer all of the

4688
02:27:21,535 --> 02:27:23,404
questions that we have because

4689
02:27:23,404 --> 02:27:23,737
we're going to keep firing them

4690
02:27:23,737 --> 02:27:25,737
at you.

4691
02:27:26,740 --> 02:27:30,177
And that way you guys, thank you

4692
02:27:30,177 --> 02:27:32,180
for what's going on, you're good

4693
02:27:32,180 --> 02:27:32,580
with where we are so far?

4694
02:27:32,580 --> 02:27:34,315
Okay, good.

4695
02:27:34,315 --> 02:27:36,350
Are there any other matters that

4696
02:27:36,350 --> 02:27:37,952
need to come before this board

4697
02:27:37,952 --> 02:27:39,952
at this time?

4698
02:27:40,755 --> 02:27:40,989
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I have another

4699
02:27:40,989 --> 02:27:41,823
matter.

4700
02:27:41,823 --> 02:27:43,823
>>chair: yes, sir.

4701
02:27:47,429 --> 02:27:50,429
>> this matter concerns the fee

4702
02:27:50,599 --> 02:27:53,635
of schedule for the new south

4703
02:27:53,635 --> 02:27:55,904
point park in the south point

4704
02:27:55,904 --> 02:27:56,605
township, the park that we

4705
02:27:56,605 --> 02:27:58,307
approved the lease agreement

4706
02:27:58,307 --> 02:28:00,542
duke energy, there's a fee

4707
02:28:00,542 --> 02:28:02,211
schedule that has been proposed

4708
02:28:02,211 --> 02:28:02,711
and I would like to discuss that

4709
02:28:02,711 --> 02:28:04,446
fee schedule.

4710
02:28:04,446 --> 02:28:08,460
>>chair: what I would like to

4711
02:28:08,250 --> 02:28:10,787
do, if it's pertinent, do you

4712
02:28:10,787 --> 02:28:12,855
have a problem if we delay that

4713
02:28:12,855 --> 02:28:14,123
to in next meet, I want to make

4714
02:28:14,123 --> 02:28:15,258
sure that everyone gets the same

4715
02:28:15,258 --> 02:28:16,526
fee schedule.

4716
02:28:16,526 --> 02:28:18,161
>> we table the fee schedule

4717
02:28:18,161 --> 02:28:20,630
until such time as we can

4718
02:28:20,630 --> 02:28:21,665
discuss it further.

4719
02:28:21,665 --> 02:28:23,266
>>chair: --

4720
02:28:23,266 --> 02:28:25,135
>> it's not in place now

4721
02:28:25,135 --> 02:28:27,137
currently anyway, but there's

4722
02:28:27,137 --> 02:28:27,871
nobody -- nobody charging a fee,

4723
02:28:27,871 --> 02:28:29,272
but I want to see --

4724
02:28:29,272 --> 02:28:29,906
>>chair: we can change it as we

4725
02:28:29,906 --> 02:28:31,906
go forward.

4726
02:28:32,109 --> 02:28:34,477
>> well, my main concern is,

4727
02:28:34,477 --> 02:28:37,247
there's no other park in gaston

4728
02:28:37,247 --> 02:28:38,115
county, that you pay to drive in

4729
02:28:38,115 --> 02:28:40,115
and park.

4730
02:28:40,250 --> 02:28:42,652
And the concern has been brought

4731
02:28:42,652 --> 02:28:43,487
from many residents, that they

4732
02:28:43,487 --> 02:28:45,122
feel like that if they would

4733
02:28:45,122 --> 02:28:47,892
like to go to this park, and sit

4734
02:28:47,892 --> 02:28:49,493
on a picnic table, and eat their

4735
02:28:49,493 --> 02:28:50,927
lunch, during their lunch break

4736
02:28:50,927 --> 02:28:52,196
and look at the nature and the

4737
02:28:52,196 --> 02:28:54,299
lake, that they shouldn't be

4738
02:28:54,299 --> 02:28:56,567
charged a $7 fee to get in to

4739
02:28:56,567 --> 02:28:59,337
that park to do that.

4740
02:28:59,337 --> 02:29:00,638
So that's the part that I'm

4741
02:29:00,638 --> 02:29:02,638
concerned about.

4742
02:29:02,674 --> 02:29:04,842
That any north belmont park, any

4743
02:29:04,842 --> 02:29:07,790
of those parks, and sit down at

4744
02:29:07,790 --> 02:29:09,147
a table and eat your lunch for

4745
02:29:09,147 --> 02:29:11,250
an hour, but in this particular

4746
02:29:11,250 --> 02:29:12,584
park, we're proposing a $7 fee

4747
02:29:12,584 --> 02:29:13,852
and I just don't think that's

4748
02:29:13,852 --> 02:29:16,252
reasonable to do that.

4749
02:29:17,255 --> 02:29:19,240
So I find that we bring it up at

4750
02:29:19,240 --> 02:29:19,358
a later time.

4751
02:29:19,358 --> 02:29:20,359
>>chair:

4752
02:29:20,359 --> 02:29:22,930
>> that's my concern.

4753
02:29:22,930 --> 02:29:23,796
>>chair: can we table it the

4754
02:29:23,796 --> 02:29:24,530
next meeting because that's our

4755
02:29:24,530 --> 02:29:26,980
voting meeting.

4756
02:29:26,980 --> 02:29:27,660
>> we can have it for discussion

4757
02:29:27,660 --> 02:29:28,100
at that meeting.

4758
02:29:28,100 --> 02:29:30,135
>>chair: we could do that, but

4759
02:29:30,135 --> 02:29:30,403
I didn't want to have a vote or

4760
02:29:30,403 --> 02:29:31,638
anything.

4761
02:29:31,638 --> 02:29:34,607
>> I would like feedback from

4762
02:29:34,607 --> 02:29:36,910
the staff to discuss what fees

4763
02:29:36,910 --> 02:29:39,579
should be applicable but what

4764
02:29:39,579 --> 02:29:41,481
should not be a fee for a

4765
02:29:41,481 --> 02:29:44,885
citizen to have as I said just

4766
02:29:44,885 --> 02:29:46,787
go and enjoy their lunch at a

4767
02:29:46,787 --> 02:29:48,689
picnic table in one of our parks

4768
02:29:48,689 --> 02:29:50,724
and that's right now what's

4769
02:29:50,724 --> 02:29:53,724
proposed, we would charge people

4770
02:29:54,361 --> 02:29:54,662
$7 and under this -- that's not

4771
02:29:54,662 --> 02:29:55,229
reasonable.

4772
02:29:55,229 --> 02:29:55,930
>>chair: DR. Eagle.

4773
02:29:55,930 --> 02:29:57,431
>>manager: we've heard some of

4774
02:29:57,431 --> 02:29:59,332
that concern, commissioner

4775
02:29:59,332 --> 02:30:00,101
worley, and started some

4776
02:30:00,101 --> 02:30:02,101
conversations internally about

4777
02:30:02,603 --> 02:30:02,903
some options for you all to talk

4778
02:30:02,903 --> 02:30:04,380
about.

4779
02:30:04,380 --> 02:30:06,274
This park is a bit different

4780
02:30:06,274 --> 02:30:07,374
because of the beach access.

4781
02:30:07,374 --> 02:30:10,374
But we understand the concern

4782
02:30:10,811 --> 02:30:13,281
and the need to differentiate.

4783
02:30:13,281 --> 02:30:14,348
And are already working towards

4784
02:30:14,348 --> 02:30:14,615
that discussion for the next

4785
02:30:14,615 --> 02:30:16,417
meeting.

4786
02:30:16,417 --> 02:30:17,252
>> that would be perfect.

4787
02:30:17,252 --> 02:30:18,652
>>chair: get that to everyone

4788
02:30:18,652 --> 02:30:20,856
and we'll add that to the

4789
02:30:20,856 --> 02:30:22,925
agenda, MADAM Clerk for

4790
02:30:22,925 --> 02:30:24,925
discussion.

4791
02:30:26,729 --> 02:30:28,597
On the tuesday of next.

4792
02:30:28,597 --> 02:30:30,499
Any other matters coming before

4793
02:30:30,499 --> 02:30:32,499
the board?

4794
02:30:34,503 --> 02:30:36,205
Well, I have one.

4795
02:30:36,205 --> 02:30:38,205
Our esteem ed

4796
02:30:39,174 --> 02:30:41,174
ed assistant county

4797
02:30:41,477 --> 02:30:42,845
manager turned yesterday,

4798
02:30:42,845 --> 02:30:44,845
vincent stand up.

4799
02:30:45,114 --> 02:30:47,516
If y'all don't no vincent wong,

4800
02:30:47,516 --> 02:30:47,716
if it's wong, I don't want to be

4801
02:30:47,716 --> 02:30:49,716
right.

4802
02:30:51,755 --> 02:30:53,550
Put his picture up there, 40th

4803
02:30:53,550 --> 02:30:54,900
birthday, if y'all don't know,

4804
02:30:54,900 --> 02:30:55,992
vincent works very hard for us

4805
02:30:55,992 --> 02:30:57,327
and we poke fun, look at that

4806
02:30:57,327 --> 02:30:59,950
picture of him and brian

4807
02:30:59,950 --> 02:31:00,197
together, making -- if you don't

4808
02:31:00,197 --> 02:31:00,431
know, they have the same shirt

4809
02:31:00,431 --> 02:31:01,497
on.

4810
02:31:01,497 --> 02:31:02,766
On the same day.

4811
02:31:02,766 --> 02:31:03,767
So very good.

4812
02:31:03,767 --> 02:31:05,935
But no, thank you.

4813
02:31:05,935 --> 02:31:07,705
Vincent, thank you guys for what

4814
02:31:07,705 --> 02:31:09,940
you do and brian, and tom, thank

4815
02:31:09,940 --> 02:31:12,900
you guys for working diligently.

4816
02:31:12,900 --> 02:31:12,476
Donny, congratulations, thank

4817
02:31:12,476 --> 02:31:13,844
you for that.

4818
02:31:13,844 --> 02:31:15,113
Many of our directors are here,

4819
02:31:15,113 --> 02:31:17,915
thank you guys for the tireless

4820
02:31:17,915 --> 02:31:20,118
work that you do, and being that

4821
02:31:20,118 --> 02:31:21,786
way, but with that, this

4822
02:31:21,786 --> 02:31:23,187
concludes our work session for

4823
02:31:23,187 --> 02:31:25,587
tonighter our next regular

4824
02:31:26,657 --> 02:31:28,660
meeting is tuesday AUGUST 22nd

4825
02:31:28,660 --> 02:31:30,950
at 6:00 P.M. Here at the harl by

4826
02:31:30,950 --> 02:31:32,964
b. Gaston public forum, thank

4827
02:31:32,964 --> 02:31:34,666
you for watching, if you have

4828
02:31:34,666 --> 02:31:37,660
questions, please send your

4829
02:31:37,970 --> 02:31:40,970
comments or questions to donna

4830
02:31:41,240 --> 02:31:43,475
s. Buff at 704-866-3196.

4831
02:31:43,475 --> 02:31:45,475
Good night, wonger.