[0:06] [Gavel]
[0:10] >>chair: good evening and
[0:13] welcome to the AUGUST 8th, 2023
[0:14] work session of the gaston
[0:14] county board of county
[0:15] commissioners.
[0:16] My name is chad brown, I serve
[0:17] as CHAIRMAN Of the board, as
[0:18] well as the commissioner from
[0:19] the riverbend township.
[0:21] I would like to welcome our
[0:23] viewers, and thank spectrum and
[0:24] cable and at&t for making this
[0:27] possible for our citizens.
[0:28] For our television audience, I
[0:30] would like to present your
[0:31] gaston county commission
[0:34] beginning on my far right.
[0:35] >> allen fraley, cherryville
[0:35] township.
[0:36] >> I'm ronnie worley, south
[0:37] point township.
[0:41] >> good evening, I'm kathi
[0:42] cloninger representing the
[0:43] dallas township.
[0:44] >> bob hovis, crowders mountain
[0:44] township.
[0:46] >> good evening, tom keigher,
[0:46] gastonia township.
[0:48] >>
[0:48] >>.
[0:49] >>chair: thank you all.
[0:51] Before I begin, I would like to
[0:53] take a moment -- can you hear
[0:53] me?
[0:56] -- recognize a couple of
[0:57] people.
[0:58] First, our interim
[0:59] superintendent for gaston county
[1:01] schools, DR. Stephen laws, if
[1:05] you'll please come up and --
[1:09] you, too, come to the podium,
[1:11] you can speed speak for a
[1:13] second, he continues to say the
[1:15] word interim, but we are vastly
[1:17] trying to change that for him.
[1:18] But I wanted to say DR. Laws,
[1:19] thank you for your commitment to
[1:21] gaston county schools, you've
[1:22] been here for a number of years
[1:25] but one of the things that comes
[1:28] is I think every parent wants
[1:30] our kids safe in school and
[1:32] getting a quality education,
[1:34] you've agreed to do this until
[1:36] we can get someone, but I wanted
[1:38] to say personally thank you from
[1:39] this board, our board probably
[1:40] communicating thank you for
[1:41] coming to the dinner tonight.
[1:43] But one of the things that I
[1:46] want to challenge you with is
[1:46] don't quit.
[1:48] Whatever happens, you just keep
[1:50] going until they tell you you're
[1:52] done, but I wanted to say thank
[1:53] you for your commitment.
[1:54] I got to listen to you today and
[1:57] talk to you, if you guys don't
[1:59] think that things are changing
[2:01] vastly in the way we do things
[2:02] in the school system, DR. Laws
[2:03] has come in running and thank
[2:07] you, if you would like to a few
[2:07] words?
[2:08] >> I want to thank the board of
[2:09] commissioners and you, MR.
[2:11] CHAIRMAN, for inviting me
[2:14] tonight and to all of you
[2:16] citizens, we are excited about
[2:17] the school year, it starts next
[2:18] wednesday, coming in a hurry, we
[2:20] think we're ready and you're
[2:22] right, we have two primary
[2:23] responsibilities to keep our
[2:25] students safe, and our employees
[2:26] safe, and the other is to do
[2:28] what we say we will do.
[2:30] And we're going to have a great
[2:31] school year.
[2:33] And I am an interim.
[2:38] And the board is progressing on
[2:40] finding our new permanent
[2:41] superintendent and that should
[2:43] be going forward in the next
[2:46] couple of weeks, they'll get the
[2:48] results of the applicants and
[2:50] that's exciting for all of us,
[2:52] so I'm a gaston county native.
[2:53] I love gaston county.
[2:54] And we live here, and we're
[2:57] going to live here the rest of
[3:01] our lives so it's a great place
[3:01] to be.
[3:02] Thank you for having me.
[3:04] >>chair: thank you, sir.
[3:06] [Applause]
[3:09] I got a call, starting saying
[3:10] the reminder from the school,
[3:10] so.
[3:13] Thank you, again, and thank you
[3:14] for coming.
[3:16] The next -- I would like to
[3:18] introduce someone, he not here,
[3:20] but met a gentleman this
[3:22] morning, his name was mark hall
[3:24] and he was a at the dentist this
[3:26] morning and worried and you can
[3:28] see and so I told him I would
[3:30] shout him out on tv tonight if
[3:34] he would not be scared to go
[3:34] back and see the dentist, there
[3:40] it is, mark hall from gastonia.
[3:42] First item on the agenda is
[3:43] proclamations, commendations and
[3:44] awards and certificates.
[3:45] And I would like to read a
[3:49] little somebody, before I do, --
[3:50] --
[3:52] tom would like to play a little
[3:54] music for you.
[3:58] >> I don't know how that
[3:58] happened.
[4:03] >>chair: this is to commend
[4:06] gems rsh -- richard back there?
[4:08] Just give him -- I'll get --
[4:10] >> I'm just clicking on this
[4:25] work session.
[4:25] >>chair: but one of the things
[4:25] that we like to do here is have
[4:25] a -- we like to commend people
[4:26] for their work and the paramedic
[4:26] paramedics captain, leannda
[4:26] lowrance, christina cruse and
[4:27] andrew adams for their heroic
[4:29] actions on MAY 23rd, 2023, rend
[4:32] erd in the line of duty, which
[4:34] saved aid court service employee
[4:36] at the gastonia county
[4:37] courthouse, darlene lowrance.
[4:38] I'll read this, vincent, come up
[4:42] there a little closer, vincent.
[4:46] There you go.
[4:46] The gaston county board of
[4:48] commissioners hereby presents a
[4:49] certificate of commendation on
[4:53] this day, AUGUST 8th, 2023, to
[4:55] captain leannda lowrance,
[4:57] paramedic, christina cruse,
[5:00] paramedic, and andrew adams,
[5:02] paramedic, and the gaston county
[5:04] emergency medical services,
[5:06] gems, for your heroic actions on
[5:07] MAY 23rd, 2023, rendering in the
[5:10] line of duty, which saved the
[5:13] life of MS. Darlene lowrance, a
[5:15] court service employee in the
[5:16] gaston county who suffered a
[5:17] near fatal heart attack at work.
[5:19] The board further recognizes for
[5:22] your ready sxns commitment to
[5:23] serve on the frontline of
[5:24] healthcare emergencies, your
[5:27] service and dedication proudly
[5:28] reflects the highest ideals of
[5:31] the members of your team, and
[5:33] gaston county.
[5:37] And the paramedic os tv -- of
[5:40] the united states, the -- I've
[5:42] asked mark and his staff to come
[5:46] up and also I think corporal
[5:47] lowrance is going to come up and
[5:49] speak a little bit as well.
[5:50] On that.
[5:52] So cliff, if you want to come up
[5:52] and speak?
[5:54] Mark, if you have and jamie and
[5:55] the kids will come a little bit
[5:58] closer, that way everybody can
[5:59] see you guys and he has a
[6:03] special presentation for you.
[6:05] >> first, I want to give GOD all
[6:07] of the honor and glory for
[6:08] allowing us to be here tonight
[6:09] and do this.
[6:12] I want to start by thanking the
[6:15] county commissioner, chairman
[6:17] brown and DR. Eagle to honor
[6:20] these paramedics tonight, a
[6:22] special thanks to donna buff for
[6:23] putting this on tonight's
[6:25] agenda, I appreciate it from my
[6:26] heart.
[6:32] I would like to thank chief --
[6:34] for their outstanding efforts in
[6:37] saving lives, on MAY 23rd, 2023,
[6:40] while working in her office here
[6:42] in the courthouse, my wife went
[6:45] into cardiac arrest, due to the
[6:46] heroic efforts from everyone
[6:47] involved, my wife has a second
[6:48] chance at life.
[6:50] The three paramedics that were
[6:54] instrumental in saving her life,
[6:57] christina cruse, abdrew adams
[6:58] and captain leannda lowrance,
[7:00] who happens to be my
[7:01] sister-in-law.
[7:04] If I could, real brief, before
[7:07] we present the awards, there's a
[7:08] couple of things on my heart
[7:11] that stood out on this day that
[7:12] I would like to share.
[7:18] On MAY 23rd, when this occurred,
[7:19] gems was on the scene just in a
[7:22] matter of minutes.
[7:23] It was just GOD aligned so many
[7:26] things up that day, just
[7:26] unbelievable.
[7:29] And when I say they arrived, it
[7:34] was cruse and adams on scene
[7:35] first, to my recollection, they
[7:37] knew exactly what to do and they
[7:40] went to work doing it.
[7:43] Shortly after leannda came in,
[7:45] and she looked at me and saw me,
[7:47] and she went immediately to
[7:49] doing what she knows to do.
[7:50] Save lives.
[7:51] And after a couple of minutes
[7:55] in, she looked at me, and she
[7:56] stopped and she just stopped for
[7:57] a second and she said, oh, my
[7:59] GOD, I just realized who this
[8:00] is.
[8:03] And with tears running down her
[8:06] face, she continued to work.
[8:08] to save her life.
[8:12] Once she was able to be
[8:14] transported, in the ambulance, I
[8:18] rode up front with jamie
[8:19] mcconnell, who was so gracious
[8:21] and continued to say all the
[8:22] way, we're going to take care of
[8:25] her, she's going to be fine.
[8:29] Once we arrived in the er, all
[8:31] of the staff, gems staff
[8:33] continued to stay in the er and
[8:35] help and assist and make sure
[8:36] that I was taken care of.
[8:37] My son was there.
[8:40] To make sure he was taken care
[8:41] of.
[8:45] Moving forward, my wife was in a
[8:46] medically induced coma for five
[8:46] days.
[8:50] On the sixth day, she came out.
[8:52] They took her off the ventilator
[8:53] and she was getting stronger,
[8:55] the night she came out, the next
[8:58] day, we got a call in the room
[8:59] and cruse and adams were
[9:00] downstairs and asked could they
[9:01] come up and see her.
[9:04] And I said, by all means, they
[9:05] came up.
[9:07] And so they all greeted each
[9:08] other, and we stood around her
[9:10] bed, my son was present, and
[9:12] when they got ready to leave,
[9:14] adams said, do you mind if we
[9:14] pray?
[9:17] And I said absolutely.
[9:19] So we all held hands around her
[9:21] bed and he led us in one of the
[9:23] most beautiful prayers I've ever
[9:24] heard.
[9:26] To me, those things I mentioned
[9:28] are going above and beyond of
[9:31] just the regular call of duty.
[9:33] It touched me and my time while
[9:34] I was in the hospital I just
[9:36] said I had to do more than just
[9:38] say thank you.
[9:41] How do you say thank you to
[9:41] these folks?
[9:44] That saved her life?
[9:46] who gave us this opportunity to
[9:46] be here tonight?
[9:49] Just a few weeks ago, we
[9:51] celebrated our 28th wedding
[9:51] anniversary.
[9:53] And we wouldn't have celebrated
[9:56] it if it weren't for these three
[9:56] folks.
[9:59] I just want to present them
[10:01] award tonight, just to let them
[10:04] know from the bottom of both of
[10:08] our hearts what they mean to us.
[10:10] I'll read one of the plaques.
[10:12] And I'll let my wife present
[10:12] them.
[10:15] It says life saving award
[10:17] presented to paramedic christina
[10:21] cruse, in recognition of your
[10:23] courageous and life saving a in
[10:25] a medical emergency, on MAY
[10:28] 23rd, 2023, your outstanding
[10:29] efforts gave someone another
[10:31] chance at life.
[10:34] Gaston county ems MAY 23rd,
[10:39] 2023.
[11:02] [Applause]
[11:05] Thank you, again for allowing us
[11:07] to be here.
[11:09] >>chair: cliff, I wanted to say
[11:10] something that you said, not
[11:13] just your family, we're all
[11:13] family.
[11:15] You guys go above and beyond
[11:16] every day.
[11:17] We're especially grateful for
[11:19] that day, but we're also
[11:20] especially grateful for what you
[11:21] do for our community and what
[11:23] you do for our county, mark, you
[11:24] guys have put together one of
[11:25] the best programs around.
[11:28] And this is an example we get to
[11:31] see it on live tv today, but one
[11:32] thing it is, is this love for
[11:34] what you do, that we're very
[11:35] appreciative of what you do, and
[11:37] cliff, appreciate what you do
[11:38] and your wife as well for --
[11:40] that's a service, giving family
[11:43] and we're very proud of you
[11:44] guys, so thank you again.
[11:46] >> my pleasure.
[11:46] Thank you.
[11:52] [Applause]
[11:54] >>chair: the next recognition
[11:56] is for MR. Donny hicks, economic
[11:58] development director.
[12:01] Upon his receiving of the north
[12:03] carolina economic development
[12:06] association award.
[12:09] I'll let MR. Bob hovis,
[12:14] vice-chair present MR. Hicks.
[12:18] >> it's a distinct honor for me
[12:22] to recognize another of our
[12:25] exemplary gaston county staff.
[12:29] Donny hicks finished college in
[12:31] 1983.
[12:33] Immediately upon graduation, he
[12:35] came to work for gaston county.
[12:39] Within a year, he was named
[12:42] director for the economic
[12:44] development commission.
[12:47] And I can't sit here and begin
[12:51] to tell you the accomplishments,
[12:54] the impact, the positive
[12:56] entities that he has brought to
[12:57] gaston county because we can't
[12:59] stay here all night.
[13:02] And I would only begin to start
[13:03] by midnight.
[13:05] We have been the beneficiary of
[13:08] a very dedicated employee who
[13:13] has worked tirelessly in strange
[13:15] circumstances from time to time,
[13:18] because when you get these
[13:20] multinational -- multicultural
[13:23] businesses who are looking to
[13:24] relocate into the united states,
[13:27] let alone in the north carolina,
[13:29] it offers unique opportunities.
[13:31] And I think that is an
[13:32] understatement at best.
[13:35] But donny has navigated those
[13:35] waters, like he's sailed this
[13:38] ship 1,000 times.
[13:40] And I happen to be present at
[13:42] the north carolina association
[13:44] of the economic developers, the
[13:46] group that does that statewide,
[13:48] they had an annual meeting and i
[13:51] had happened to be in wilmington
[13:52] when he was presented the
[13:54] PRESIDENT's award.
[13:55] He's twice won the developer of
[13:56] the year award.
[13:57] For the state.
[14:00] But this year, he was the
[14:03] PRESIDENT's award recipient.
[14:05] With that, that is a recognition
[14:07] of his peers, others that do the
[14:09] same thing across the state,
[14:11] that donny does, people that
[14:13] donny does battle with, from
[14:15] time to time, and I use that
[14:16] word battle in parentheses,
[14:18] because I don't think there's
[14:19] any bloodshed, although, some
[14:21] would probably like to shed
[14:23] donny's blood, because he's beat
[14:25] them out on so many different
[14:25] things.
[14:28] But this man is so incredibly
[14:29] humble, I was glad when I found
[14:32] out about it, actually the night
[14:33] before, I made the decision that
[14:34] I was -- somebody from our staff
[14:36] and our board was going to be
[14:39] present with MR. Hicks when he
[14:41] received this very pristine yous
[14:43] award, so I told my wife, dear,
[14:45] I can't wash dishes tomorrow,
[14:46] I've got to go to wilmington and
[14:49] she looked at me with this
[14:51] puzzled face and said, okay,
[14:53] because she knew it was
[14:53] something.
[14:54] And never looked back, but I was
[14:56] very honored to be there and be
[14:57] a part of that.
[14:58] But I wanted gaston county to
[15:00] know and the rest of this board
[15:01] to express their appreciation
[15:03] for all of the hard work that
[15:04] donny hicks has done, all of the
[15:06] things that he's brought to us
[15:08] to diversify our tax base, and
[15:09] put us back to where in the last
[15:12] two years, we're just about
[15:15] where we were before the textile
[15:18] recession, and all of the text
[15:19] tile business left gaston
[15:21] county, the big sucking sound
[15:24] that ross pe ro used to talk
[15:24] about it.
[15:25] We took it on the chin and had
[15:28] it on the chin, and we've
[15:28] recovered and we're doing so
[15:29] much better, but this man right
[15:32] here as created 90% of that, we
[15:34] have given a little money and
[15:35] incentives along with the state
[15:37] to help some of this happen but
[15:39] most of it has been on his
[15:40] shoulders and his staff's
[15:41] shoulders and we appreciate all
[15:45] that he's done and I wanted to
[15:47] recognize him before the
[15:50] television awed you knows
[15:51] -- audience and
[15:53] you're welcome to toot your hon,
[15:55] you won't, but you're welcome
[15:55] to.
[15:56] >> 930 members and they gave it
[15:58] to me, that's a pretty sad
[16:00] statement in a way.
[16:01] But what commissioner hovis
[16:03] didn't tell you was the people
[16:04] that got different awards before
[16:06] me made some very pointed and
[16:08] negative comments about county
[16:10] commissioners, which I didn't
[16:10] partake in.
[16:12] But it really showed me how
[16:13] lucky I was to walk into a
[16:15] system like we have here, we're
[16:16] very well supported.
[16:18] Supported financially, and we
[16:20] have had a major hill to climb
[16:22] to get where we're at today and
[16:23] especially I think that's
[16:26] recognized in the aaa bond
[16:28] rating, we've done things
[16:29] differently, there's a lot that
[16:31] -- I got the award for an
[16:32] individual but the collection of
[16:33] work and the body of work that
[16:34] the county has done for a long
[16:34] time.
[16:36] And if you go back and look at
[16:37] where we started, when I came
[16:39] here, there was no zone, we had
[16:40] relatively limited water and
[16:42] sewer capacity, almost no
[16:42] extensions.
[16:44] And we have done a lot of work.
[16:45] And I think that's reflected in
[16:48] that award, but it's also a
[16:49] reflection of the consistency in
[16:51] our approach that we've had.
[16:52] Consistent investment in it.
[16:53] Having good county commissioners
[16:54] that believed in what we're
[16:55] going to do.
[16:56] And thought that we could make
[16:58] this comeback and get to where
[16:59] we wanted to be.
[17:00] And that's a great gift to me
[17:02] and to everyone in this county.
[17:04] A lot of communities have fits
[17:06] and starts, and they take
[17:07] directions and they lose
[17:10] momentum, we've never lost that
[17:11] momentum, we've had it
[17:12] consistently t commissioners
[17:14] have given us a lot of support.
[17:15] Four county managers have given
[17:18] us a lot of support and
[17:19] authority, and autonomy to do
[17:21] what we needed to do.
[17:23] I've had the luxury of waking up
[17:24] every morning for 39 years and
[17:25] not ever really wanting to be
[17:27] anywhere else but here, and
[17:29] that's a true gift, so thank
[17:30] you.
[17:30] [Applause]
[17:33] >>chair: donny?
[17:34] Donny?
[17:36] You can take your recognition.
[17:38] >> and I will add one note, MR.
[17:40] CHAIRMAN, if I can.
[17:43] Gaston county was the only
[17:45] county represented at this
[17:48] auspicious occasion by a county
[17:48] commissioner.
[17:49] That tells you something.
[17:51] That tells you something.
[17:52] And that's -- we're here to
[17:55] support you donny, and we mean
[17:55] that.
[17:55] thank you.
[17:58] >>chair: donny, I wanted to say
[18:00] something before it got too
[18:04] mushy for you, don't think this
[18:05] is easy for you.
[18:06] For the people who don't know
[18:10] what donny does, he goes out
[18:12] with companies, they're wanting
[18:15] to come and expand their
[18:18] companies, overseas or inside of
[18:20] the inside the united states
[18:23] domestically to come into gaston
[18:26] county, donny oversees that to
[18:29] have the I's dotted and the t's
[18:31] crossed, these are given by code
[18:33] names so the governor can have
[18:37] the splash of saying what the
[18:39] company is.
[18:41] And I think that's wrong.
[18:42] I think that donny should be
[18:44] able to say those things because
[18:46] I'm going the tell a story on
[18:48] donny, last year, a couple of
[18:51] year as ago, you guys ride down
[18:52] dallas cherryville highway,
[18:55] you'll see a company called gnt.
[18:57] Gnt was met with some issues
[18:59] here, not by us, by the state.
[19:03] And we had to do a about face
[19:04] right there that night, we
[19:06] changed out by next morning, we
[19:07] had them over there, they're in
[19:08] gaston county, had their
[19:09] headquarters here.
[19:10] And they're expanding.
[19:12] And that's because of donny and
[19:12] his team.
[19:14] And when I mean they're making
[19:16] an about face, you change asking
[19:21] and going to work as a police
[19:23] officer and the milkman
[19:23] tomorrow.
[19:24] A total change.
[19:26] That's the examples that we see.
[19:27] If you think about
[19:28] infrastructure, you think about
[19:31] all of the things that go
[19:36] alongwater, sewer and land and
[19:38] find large parcels.
[19:39] Donny, you're well deserved of
[19:41] that award and I'm just very
[19:42] thankful that you work for us.
[19:44] But you're not done.
[19:47] So I expect something in two
[19:48] weeks, you get --
[19:48] [Laughter]
[19:49] I'm going to -- .
[19:52] >> more time than I need.
[19:53] [Laughter]
[19:53] >>chair: I like it.
[19:55] Thank you, donny.
[19:56] >> thank you.
[20:01] [Applause]
[20:03] >>chair: and I guarantee, we
[20:05] will have an award -- something
[20:07] come out in the next two week,
[20:09] y'all listen up.
[20:09] Certificate of appreciation is a
[20:10] great pleasure for the gaston
[20:14] county commissioners to honor
[20:15] citizens who have given of their
[20:17] time, talent and skills and
[20:19] energy and service to an a point
[20:21] tee of one of the many boards
[20:22] and commissions, this type of
[20:23] service is the foundation of
[20:24] citizen involvement in our
[20:25] county government and helping
[20:27] shape the future of gaston
[20:27] county's community.
[20:29] We gratefully acknowledge the
[20:31] work of the following
[20:33] individuals and certificates of
[20:34] appreciation have been garded on
[20:35] to them.
[20:38] DR. Edward smith, adult care
[20:39] community advisory committee.
[20:43] Vincent ginski, gary washington,
[20:44] JR., and transportation advisory
[20:50] board.
[20:51] This will be a quick little
[20:53] update for everybody, anybody
[20:56] who is not speaking on anything
[20:58] to do with the piedmont lithium
[20:59] issue tonight, you will have the
[21:00] opportunity now, is there
[21:02] anybody on that list?
[21:02] Okay.
[21:05] So we'll go ahead and skip that
[21:08] portion for citizens comments on
[21:09] anything other than that.
[21:13] Moving on to the presentation.
[21:14] You will have a chance to speak,
[21:17] just that was on totally
[21:19] something different, we're going
[21:21] to have that.
[21:22] Also, I want to make sure that
[21:24] we are the quorum tonight, mrez
[21:27] do not clap, do not gesture, do
[21:28] not do anything, let each side
[21:29] or whoever wants to speak, let
[21:30] them have their turn, so
[21:31] everybody can hear.
[21:33] There's going to be a lot of
[21:34] questions tonight, especially
[21:34] from our board.
[21:38] And so I ask you to please bear
[21:39] with me, and the people up here,
[21:41] so we can hear tonight and that
[21:42] way we can get all of this
[21:43] together.
[21:45] But I will now go to the next
[21:48] agenda item, piedmont lithium
[21:50] presentation, MS. Erin sanders,
[21:51] senior vice PRESIDENT, corporate
[21:53] communications and investor
[21:55] relations along with malissa
[21:55] gordon, vice PRESIDENT Of
[21:57] government affairs.
[21:58] Ladies?
[21:59] >> thank you.
[22:02] Good evening, CHAIRMAN Brown,
[22:05] fellow commissioners, county
[22:07] manager, DR. Eagle, county
[22:09] attorney MR. Stetzer and other
[22:10] staff members.
[22:12] I'm erin sanders, CHAIRMAN Brown
[22:16] just mentioned but I will make a
[22:17] correction, monique parker will
[22:20] be presenting with me and she'll
[22:21] introduce herself shortly.
[22:23] We appreciate the opportunity to
[22:25] speak with you tonight.
[22:27] It's been almost two years since
[22:29] we've had the chance to appear
[22:29] before you.
[22:32] But a lot has happeneded in two
[22:32] years.
[22:34] I think for all of us.
[22:36] I believe that piedmont lithium
[22:37] is a different company than the
[22:41] one that appeared before you in
[22:42] 2021.
[22:44] And a different company than
[22:45] maybe many of you have met in
[22:47] the years prior.
[22:51] Today, piedmont lithium is a $1
[22:53] billion market cap company,
[22:55] publicly traded on nasdaq with
[22:57] projects in canada, ghana,
[22:59] tennessee, and here in north
[22:59] carolina.
[23:02] And we are proud to be
[23:03] headquartered here in gaston
[23:05] county.
[23:07] We celebrated a significant
[23:09] milestone last week.
[23:12] As our joint venture in quebec
[23:14] made its first shipment of
[23:16] lithium product marking our
[23:18] shift from lithium developer to
[23:22] a lithium producer and a revenue
[23:23] generating company.
[23:25] Piedmont now has a leadership
[23:27] team that together has extensive
[23:28] experience in the mining
[23:31] industry, the lithium industry,
[23:33] and in manufacturing the
[23:34] environment, and community
[23:37] engagement on projects such as
[23:38] these.
[23:40] But perhaps most importantly, we
[23:44] have done extensive work since
[23:44] 2021.
[23:47] To further develop and refine
[23:49] our project plans for our
[23:51] proposed carolina lithium
[23:52] project.
[23:54] Including a significant testing
[23:56] and studies and meetings with
[23:59] the county staff, about
[24:01] utilities and how we plan to
[24:04] mitigate the impact on neighbors
[24:06] and the environment.
[24:07] We've also met with countless
[24:08] neighbors.
[24:10] Whether over their kitchen
[24:10] tables.
[24:12] In our cherryville office.
[24:15] Or out in the community.
[24:17] talking about concerns and
[24:18] answering their questions.
[24:19] We recognize that there were a
[24:22] lot of questions that we
[24:25] couldn't answer in 2021.
[24:28] And perhaps that we didn't
[24:30] communicate properly.
[24:32] Prior to that.
[24:34] We've been working hard to
[24:35] correct those errors.
[24:37] And to help prove it, we will be
[24:40] a good steward and a responsible
[24:42] steward of this project and
[24:43] within this community.
[24:45] We hope to answer as many
[24:47] questions as possible tonight.
[24:50] To mitigate your concerns, and
[24:51] potentially hopefully to open
[24:52] the door to more dialogue.
[24:53] That's our goal tonight.
[24:56] And we appreciate the
[25:00] opportunity.
[25:01] So let me begin with our
[25:02] proposed project.
[25:04] Carolina lithium is what we call
[25:07] it.
[25:09] It's designed to create nearly
[25:11] double the current U.S.
[25:13] Production of battery grade
[25:15] lithium, all coming from just
[25:17] down the road right now, in
[25:19] bessemer city and kings
[25:20] mountain. But it is desperately
[25:22] needed by the U.S. Electric
[25:24] vehicle supply chain.
[25:25] Combined with our tennessee
[25:28] project, which is now permitted,
[25:29] this would make piedmont lithium
[25:32] one of the key producers of
[25:34] american-made battery grade
[25:34] lithium.
[25:37] We are designing the project on
[25:38] 1548 acres.
[25:42] To be one of the world's most
[25:44] sustainable lithium hydroxide
[25:44] operations.
[25:47] Using modern technology,
[25:49] practices and systems.
[25:51] And we only contract another
[25:53] 2000 acres will help to provide
[25:55] buffer around the project site.
[25:57] We are targeting construction
[26:00] for 2025 and first production in
[26:02] 27, of course, subject to
[26:04] permitting approvals and
[26:05] financing.
[26:07] And as we are currently two
[26:10] years away from potential
[26:10] construction, we are still
[26:12] developing and refining our
[26:12] plan.
[26:14] So we MAY need to update and
[26:16] develop further specifics over
[26:17] the next two years.
[26:19] But we want to answer as many
[26:20] questions as possible with the
[26:25] information that we have today.
[26:28] I think it's helpful to talk
[26:30] about quickly the three primary
[26:31] parts of the operation.
[26:33] As we see on the right hand
[26:36] corner of this map, the first
[26:39] thing we do, it will do is
[26:40] excavate the ore, that's the
[26:42] rock containing the lithium,
[26:43] call ed
[26:46] called hodge mean and move it
[26:49] and an enclosed conveyor some
[26:53] where the rock is crushed and
[26:55] the by-products of quarts, and
[26:58] mikeca are separated out.
[26:59] And then that crushed
[27:02] concentrate will be conveyed to
[27:03] a conversion facility that's
[27:05] number 3 on the map to be
[27:07] processed into lithium
[27:08] hydroxide.
[27:12] Or lithium salt, the battery
[27:15] grade lithium that will sell to
[27:18] auto makers or battery
[27:19] manufacturers.
[27:21] Now, people ask us fairly often,
[27:22] why here?
[27:26] Is this an important resource?
[27:28] It absolutely is.
[27:32] The belt is a geological wonder,
[27:34] there is nothing like this known
[27:37] currently in the U.S.
[27:39] It is the most resource in the
[27:42] U.S. In terms of rise -- size
[27:44] and infrastructure, it runs from
[27:45] virginia to south carolina but
[27:49] its wider portions is linking
[27:50] gaston county and cleveland
[27:50] county.
[27:52] Many of you know the history of
[27:53] the belt.
[27:55] That it once provided nearly all
[27:57] of the world's lithium supply.
[28:00] But then the U.S. Sent business
[28:00] overseas.
[28:02] To other countries.
[28:05] And that is why today, china
[28:07] produces 80% of the battery
[28:11] grade lithium in the world.
[28:14] But as we look to bring these
[28:16] resources and jobs back to the
[28:19] U.S., these resources in the
[28:21] belt are extremely important.
[28:23] This belt is believed to
[28:24] potentially contain more than
[28:28] three times the current known
[28:29] resources in the united states.
[28:32] And our geologists believe it's
[28:36] only been 20% commercially
[28:37] explored.
[28:38] So that's why it's important to
[28:41] us and to the U.S. Supply chain.
[28:43] But we also believe that this
[28:45] project could be an important
[28:47] contributor to the economic
[28:49] health and the prosperity to
[28:49] gaston county.
[28:50] We're planning to invest more
[28:53] than $1.2 billion into building
[28:54] the project.
[28:56] And the construction will create
[28:58] 200 new jobs.
[29:00] We will utilize a host of
[29:03] vendors and suppliers as many
[29:04] local as possible.
[29:06] And we know that in addition to
[29:09] those suppliers and vendor,
[29:11] potentially customers, that
[29:14] there will be a need for hotels,
[29:15] restaurants, commercial space,
[29:17] retail shops, on and on.
[29:20] And once we're up and running,
[29:23] we expect to employ 428
[29:24] employees directly.
[29:27] at a compensation that averages
[29:28] $82,000.
[29:30] And we're aiming to hire as many
[29:32] local community members as
[29:32] possible.
[29:35] And that is why we will partner
[29:36] with gaston college and the
[29:39] school system to set up training
[29:41] programs.
[29:44] Beyond the 428 direct jobs, we
[29:46] believe we'll create 1,000 jobs
[29:49] in this community related to the
[29:52] ripple effect of the project.
[29:54] And according to our fiscal
[29:58] impact study, $45 million in
[29:59] fiscal revenue to gaston county
[30:02] in the first five years.
[30:05] And a total impact of nearly $4
[30:12] billion in the first five years.
[30:14] Now, I think the important thing
[30:16] today, we're going to answer a
[30:18] lot of questions and monique
[30:20] will talk about the details of
[30:21] water, and air and traffic, and
[30:23] all of those things.
[30:25] But I think what's important
[30:27] right now is that over the past
[30:29] two years, of working with the
[30:31] staff, we're determined to make
[30:34] four key commitments.
[30:37] Commitments to neighbor
[30:39] assurances, water line
[30:41] extension, reclamation and
[30:43] community funding.
[30:45] So neighbor assurances.
[30:48] We plan to put a financial
[30:50] instrument in place that will
[30:51] allow a property owner, if
[30:53] they're unable to sell their
[30:56] home or property, because of the
[30:57] project, and a reasonable amount
[30:59] of time, fair market value.
[31:02] We will assist financially.
[31:04] And that's a commitment we're
[31:05] willing to make.
[31:07] We also know there's concerns
[31:08] about wells.
[31:10] And monique will talk about that
[31:13] more specifically, but if a well
[31:14] runs dry on one of our
[31:16] neighbor's properties,
[31:18] properties, due to the project,
[31:20] we will either drill a new well,
[31:23] drill a deeper well, connect the
[31:25] home to municipal water, and in
[31:27] the meantime, we'll supply
[31:27] water.
[31:30] But we will also make a payment
[31:31] to that homeowner.
[31:33] That can help pay for water
[31:35] bills and for their
[31:38] inconvenience.
[31:40] The water line extension.
[31:43] We need municipal water for our
[31:44] project.
[31:46] So we have already agreed to
[31:49] fund the engineering study.
[31:51] We will also fund the
[31:57] construction of the water lines.
[31:59] And that extension will not only
[32:01] help our project but it will be
[32:03] available to neighbors and to
[32:03] businesses.
[32:05] And including those in the
[32:06] future.
[32:08] And we would like to help
[32:09] establish a program that would
[32:11] allow the neighbors to opt in if
[32:14] they would prefer to connect to
[32:15] municipal water and those
[32:17] details will all be determined
[32:20] in the community development
[32:21] agreement.
[32:23] As far as reclamation, we've had
[32:25] a lot of questions about how
[32:27] we're going to reclaim the land
[32:29] that we work on.
[32:33] We know that the state has $1
[32:35] million maximum surety bond,
[32:37] we're willing to put out a much
[32:38] larger surety bond.
[32:40] To help make sure that that the
[32:42] long-term reclamation takes
[32:45] place, both for the mining pits
[32:53] and for the conversion facility.
[32:55] And last but not least, our
[32:57] community shared-value
[32:58] commitment.
[33:00] Piedmont lithium is committed to
[33:02] sharing value with communities
[33:03] that we work in.
[33:07] So we will be putting together a
[33:08] commitment that will be an
[33:10] annual payment to gaston county
[33:13] to help fund and support
[33:14] well-being in this community.
[33:16] All of the details of these
[33:17] commitments will be determined
[33:20] as we move forward with the
[33:21] community's development
[33:27] agreement.
[33:30] Okay.
[33:30] Okay.
[33:31] >> so I would like to go into
[33:33] some of the stuff that we've
[33:36] done from the environmental --
[33:36] yes, sir.
[33:38] My name is monique parker, I'm
[33:40] senior vice PRESIDENT Of safety
[33:41] environmental and health for
[33:41] piedmont lithium.
[33:43] One of the things that I wanted
[33:46] to start with is, you know, when
[33:48] I first came out of college, I
[33:48] moved to gaston county.
[33:50] My son was born in gaston
[33:50] county.
[33:52] So coming back to be able to
[33:53] support this project is
[33:54] extremely important to me.
[33:56] I've done safety environmental
[33:57] and health for the last 20
[33:58] years, and I've done things
[34:00] globally for the last 15.
[34:02] And then the last almost 10
[34:04] years worked in the lithium
[34:04] market.
[34:06] So again, when I joined, this
[34:08] was near and dear to my heart to
[34:10] one to come back to where I
[34:11] started my career and also, to
[34:12] be able to help build a project
[34:14] that's going to be sustainable
[34:16] for the economy and globally for
[34:17] the world.
[34:19] One of the things that I feel is
[34:20] important and we want to share
[34:21] tonight is all of the work that
[34:22] we've done as erin mentioned
[34:24] over the last two years to help
[34:26] us understand better the
[34:27] environmental impact and studies
[34:29] and other things, so this is a
[34:31] very extensive list of studies
[34:33] that we've completed, since
[34:33] 2019.
[34:36] And numerous tests on our
[34:37] products on our impact, having
[34:39] agency communications and
[34:40] providing that information
[34:41] publicly.
[34:43] We have a ton of binders over
[34:45] here about five thick binders
[34:48] with all of these studies and
[34:49] we'll also make these same
[34:52] available at the cherryville
[34:54] office, on main street, at the
[34:55] gastonia public library and
[34:56] also, we'll have a version
[34:59] online so that everyone can see
[35:00] any and any study that we've
[35:02] completed and the details of
[35:04] those studies.
[35:06] Now, we've been provided with
[35:07] question that we know have come
[35:08] from various locations and so
[35:10] I'm going to go through and try
[35:11] to answer each one of those
[35:12] questions and obviously, if
[35:14] there are more that come, we're
[35:15] happy to answer those following.
[35:17] The first question we have is,
[35:18] how will piedmont use municipal
[35:21] water at carolina lithium?
[35:22] As erin mentioned, we have to
[35:25] have water, we have to have
[35:28] municipal water for the lithium
[35:29] hydroxide conversion plant,
[35:29] because of the purity of the
[35:31] water is extremely important.
[35:33] So this picture here, the
[35:34] circular process to show how
[35:35] that water will be integrated
[35:37] into our site, and how we will
[35:39] discharge that water.
[35:40] And as you can see, at the
[35:42] beginning on the left-hand side,
[35:44] this water will be supplied from
[35:46] cherryville with a backup from
[35:49] two rivers intooshgs, into a
[35:53] circular process, a people and
[35:54] process and fire prospective.
[35:55] Fire, short and sweet to the
[35:56] point, we bring that water in
[35:59] and we fill our fire tank, that
[36:00] will be there for emergency
[36:01] response and other activities
[36:03] that I'll go into later.
[36:05] When we look at people,
[36:06] obviously, we have to have
[36:08] restroom, showers, drinking
[36:11] water t list goes on in regards
[36:13] to municipal water and then our
[36:14] manufacturing process.
[36:19] As I noted our lithium hydroxide
[36:20] conversion plant needs water,
[36:22] once we use the water in that
[36:23] process, we will have an on site
[36:24] waste water treatment facility
[36:25] that will treat that water, and
[36:29] then, we will send it to a waste
[36:32] water pump station will it be
[36:33] combined with the sewer water,
[36:34] that will then be discharged
[36:35] back to two rivers.
[36:38] So one of the key points is, any
[36:40] processed water from this
[36:41] process, will go back into a
[36:42] waste water treatment system
[36:43] through our sewer lines.
[36:45] I want to make a point there,
[36:47] there's no discharge to streams,
[36:48] and water ways, from our
[36:50] processed water, I think that's
[36:51] a very important part to make.
[36:54] And one of the reasons why we
[36:56] want to invest in including
[36:59] water and sewer lines to our
[37:00] property to support this effort.
[37:01] The next question is.
[37:03] How will the project impact the
[37:05] water quality in wells,
[37:07] groundwater and rivers and
[37:07] streams?
[37:09] So we've done extensive tests
[37:10] that we've already showed and
[37:11] talked about a little bit.
[37:13] But one of things that we have
[37:14] learnd is we will not materially
[37:16] change the composition of the
[37:16] groundwater.
[37:17] So what does that really mean
[37:18] and how do we say that?
[37:20] One of the things I want to make
[37:21] sure when I say we won't
[37:23] materially change it, that means
[37:25] we're not going to contaminate
[37:26] wells.
[37:28] I know that that's been, you
[37:29] know, a question or a thought
[37:30] that we continually get, how are
[37:32] we going to impact the wells?
[37:34] But based on the studies, we
[37:35] should not have any
[37:36] contamination to the wells.
[37:39] And I mean, I think everyone
[37:39] knows.
[37:40] There's stringent regulations
[37:42] that we have to meet in order to
[37:44] even have our process and our
[37:45] operations, we're going to do
[37:46] extebsive monitoring and testing
[37:49] throughout the operations of our
[37:49] plant.
[37:51] I'll show in a little bit of a
[37:52] different pictorial that shows
[37:53] how we're using the groundwater
[37:55] and we're going to recycle that,
[37:56] because when we open up the
[37:57] mine, groundwater will come into
[38:00] the pits and there's a recycled
[38:01] process that we'll use.
[38:03] We also have the two rivers that
[38:05] I mentioned that all of our
[38:07] process will go to.
[38:09] And then one thing that I want
[38:12] to make sure that we fine, a lot
[38:14] of the mining operations have
[38:16] ponds, the waste water that gets
[38:17] stored in a pond and there's
[38:19] failures associated with that.
[38:22] Our project has no pond.
[38:23] So that is something that we
[38:25] will not have, and we'll talk
[38:27] about how we'll do reclamation
[38:29] and how -- where our waste will
[38:33] go and how we will treat it.
[38:34] The next question.
[38:36] How will the project impact
[38:36] local wells and water
[38:38] availability for residents and
[38:40] local businesses?
[38:42] As I mentioned, studies indicate
[38:43] there will be no widespread
[38:45] drying up of wells.
[38:46] I say we wouldn't contaminate
[38:48] the wells but this is talking
[38:49] about how are we going to impact
[38:51] them from the quantity of water
[38:53] that they're going to get?
[38:55] We've done these studies and one
[38:56] of the analogy
[38:57] ies I want to give
[38:59] is some people think that the
[39:01] water table is like a bath
[39:01] bathtub.
[39:02] So you have this water table
[39:03] sitting there and just waiting
[39:05] for wells to come and pump out
[39:05] of it.
[39:07] But the reality of it is, you
[39:09] know, when you have a bathtub
[39:11] and you open up the drains and
[39:12] all of that water flows out.
[39:14] That's not what the water table
[39:15] really is.
[39:18] The water table sits in a layer
[39:19] above hard rock and even the
[39:22] material that we're going to
[39:22] mine.
[39:23] And therefore, that's how it
[39:23] works.
[39:25] And I'm going to show a
[39:26] pictorial that gets into a
[39:27] little bit more detail to be
[39:29] able to see that pick toirly.
[39:31] But I'll get back to the wells
[39:32] and water availability.
[39:34] Through the studies, there's
[39:36] maybe ten parcels that are
[39:38] nonpiedmont owned that could be
[39:39] impacted by draw down of our
[39:40] mining operation.
[39:43] And so, with that, we've already
[39:44] had the well mitigation plan,
[39:47] which erin went into details of
[39:48] how we will mitigate any wells
[39:50] that are impacted but we also
[39:51] have one of the solutions, which
[39:52] is the extension of the water
[39:54] and sewer lines to come to that
[39:54] area.
[39:56] So when we talk about wells
[39:58] being impacted, and groundwater,
[39:59] we feel we've put a good plan in
[40:01] place to be able to understand
[40:02] and support what that looks like
[40:05] and ready to immediately
[40:07] respond.
[40:09] So fresh water, I mentioned,
[40:11] what are we doing with
[40:11] groundwater?
[40:14] And I talked about the bathtub
[40:14] analogy, with where the
[40:15] groundwater is.
[40:16] We open a mine.
[40:18] That water is going to flow into
[40:18] our pit.
[40:21] Once it comes into our pits, we
[40:23] will pump that water out, and it
[40:25] will go into what we call
[40:26] sedimentation pond.
[40:27] Those sedimentation ponds are
[40:29] there to rest, and allow us to
[40:32] treat, and if we need to, we
[40:35] will also -- ills I'm sorry,
[40:36] rest, test and treat if we have
[40:36] to.
[40:37] Once it's in those ponds, we
[40:39] plan to reuse that water.
[40:41] So we're going to have a need
[40:43] for water for dust suppression
[40:46] and for our chemical and for our
[40:48] concentrator plant, that's the
[40:50] number two that we showed in the
[40:52] pictorial of mining concentrate
[40:52] tor.
[40:53] We don't need the same quality
[40:56] of water for the concentrator
[40:56] prathss so that groundwater will
[40:58] be able to source the water
[40:59] that's necessary for that
[40:59] process.
[41:01] And any residual water that's
[41:02] left in those sedimentation
[41:04] ponds would then be discharged
[41:06] to the streams and water ways
[41:07] nearby.
[41:08] But again, remember, we're going
[41:10] to be testing and we will treat
[41:12] if necessary, prior to those
[41:13] discharges.
[41:15] Now, once the water leaves our
[41:16] concentrator plant, similar to
[41:18] our chemical plant, we are also
[41:21] going to pretreat on site any
[41:22] processed water that comes from
[41:24] that concentrator plant.
[41:25] That processed water will then
[41:27] be pumped to two rivers to the
[41:29] waste water treatment system.
[41:31] So that circular process starts
[41:32] with groundwater, but ends from
[41:34] a processing perspective, at the
[41:37] two rivers for waste water
[41:37] treatment.
[41:38] On top of our pretreatment that
[41:41] we're going to do on site.
[41:44] So I mentioned sedimentation
[41:45] ponds in the previous slide.
[41:47] We have what we call
[41:48] sedimentation basins and
[41:50] sedimentation ponds.
[41:52] And sometimes those can be used
[41:53] interchangeablely, but they're
[41:54] actually very different.
[41:56] Our sedimentation basins are
[41:58] what we use for basically
[41:58] stormwater.
[42:01] Our erosion and sedimentation
[42:01] control.
[42:03] So the stormwater actually goes
[42:05] into those basin, we will then
[42:07] test, as that water is going in
[42:08] and before it goes out to
[42:10] understand and treat, if
[42:12] necessary, before release, and
[42:14] that's the water, again, solely
[42:16] stormwater from the site.
[42:17] Now, our sedimentation pond,
[42:19] that's the ponds that we use for
[42:20] groundwater and stormwater.
[42:22] From a combination of
[42:23] understanding what that looks
[42:23] like.
[42:26] That's the same water that we'll
[42:28] reuse at our concentrator plant
[42:29] and the dust suppression and
[42:30] then any water that's left would
[42:32] be discharged into streams.
[42:34] both of these discharges are
[42:35] going to be covered under a
[42:37] permit through the mpds system
[42:38] with the state of north
[42:38] carolina.
[42:40] So we will have good
[42:40] understanding of what's going
[42:42] into these areas, and what's
[42:43] going out of and make sure we
[42:45] have stringent requirements
[42:49] around them.
[42:50] Arsenic, I know we've heard
[42:51] many, many times about arsenic
[42:54] and so the question is, well
[42:57] will carolina lithium create or
[42:58] release arsenic into the local
[42:59] groundwater?
[43:01] I think that there's a
[43:04] misconception that arsenic is
[43:05] used in lithium mines that, is
[43:07] not true, we do not create,
[43:10] release or use arsenic from our
[43:10] operation.
[43:12] When I talk about that,
[43:13] obviously, I think many people
[43:15] are very aware there's naturally
[43:17] occurring arsenic in the
[43:18] groundwater around us in gaston
[43:21] county and other neighboring
[43:21] counties.
[43:23] That naturely occurring arsenic
[43:25] comes from the rock, the soil,
[43:27] and the groundwater due to
[43:30] volcanic rock activity in that
[43:30] region.
[43:32] So it's not there because we're
[43:33] mining it, because obviously we
[43:35] haven't mined yet, but it is
[43:39] there just naturely due to the
[43:41] -- anomaly of the geology that's
[43:41] there.
[43:43] This helps me explain the thing
[43:45] I was talking about earlier.
[43:47] As you can see here we have the
[43:49] water tables, the blue line that
[43:52] is there, and below is the
[43:56] volcanic rock and hosts the
[43:56] spodumene ore.
[43:58] It is below the water table.
[44:00] We're going to be removing that
[44:02] material and then pump or
[44:03] dewater al of that water from
[44:05] the mine or the pit area into
[44:07] the sedimentation ponds that I
[44:07] discussed.
[44:09] So therefore, water can't drain
[44:10] back into the water table.
[44:12] Once it comets out, it's not
[44:14] going to go back in, one of the
[44:15] analogies that was given to me
[44:16] is, you know, water likes the
[44:17] path of least resistance, so
[44:19] when it comes out, it's not
[44:21] going to go into those tiny kref
[44:22] sass that it came from, it's
[44:24] going to go to where the large
[44:24] spaces are.
[44:27] And the that's why it comes into
[44:30] the pit.
[44:31] How will waste be disposed and
[44:34] will it be hazardous?
[44:35] I'm going to go through the
[44:36] various waste, the first is like
[44:38] any other plant, just normal
[44:39] dumpster waste from our offices
[44:40] and other areas.
[44:42] Those things will go to a land
[44:44] fill and be disposed of
[44:46] properly, we will have a lab on
[44:46] site.
[44:48] That lab will have chemicals
[44:50] that would be deemed hazardous
[44:51] once we dispose of them.
[44:53] There will be small amounts of
[44:54] hazardous waste that come from
[44:57] the site, primarily from the lab
[44:57] operations.
[44:58] Our conversion tailings.
[45:00] So again, our conversion is that
[45:02] lithium hydroxide plant, there
[45:04] are waste and we call them
[45:06] tailings that come from that
[45:06] operation.
[45:08] And those tellings MAY have some
[45:09] beneficial reuse that we're
[45:10] currently exploring and looking
[45:12] for aggregate recycled.
[45:14] But in the interim, they will be
[45:16] disposed of off site, at a
[45:18] properly permitted disposal
[45:18] location.
[45:20] And the last two pieces of waste
[45:22] we have are what we call waste
[45:22] rock.
[45:24] Which is the rock that doesn't
[45:26] have lithium or any of our
[45:28] by-product materials in them.
[45:32] That rock will going into the
[45:33] comingling process to go back
[45:36] into the pit, when I talked
[45:40] about reclamation and erin was
[45:42] mentioned the reclamation pond.
[45:44] We will refill that pit with our
[45:46] waste rock and our concentrator
[45:48] tailings that is a very fine
[45:49] sapped that comes from that --
[45:50] sand that comes from that
[45:51] operation.
[45:52] Neither one of these are
[45:53] hazardous, that material will go
[45:53] back.
[45:55] And again, I think it's poshlt,
[45:56] you know, I talked about a
[45:58] tailings pond earlier.
[46:00] We won't have those tailings
[46:02] ponds on our properties to host
[46:02] this material.
[46:05] It one is not hazardous, and
[46:08] two, we have for reuse from a
[46:10] reclamation perspective.
[46:11] How will the project impact the
[46:16] air quality in the area?
[46:18] One of the things that's most
[46:19] important to understand is there
[46:24] will be no change to the air
[46:24] quality that currently exists
[46:24] differently from our property
[46:25] boundaries today.
[46:26] So the air that people are
[46:28] breathing in that area is the
[46:29] same air they're going to
[46:30] breathe once to operations are
[46:31] there.
[46:32] We've done testing and modeling
[46:33] to understand what is going to
[46:34] come from our operations, and
[46:35] looking at the controls we're
[46:37] going to have in place, and
[46:39] looking at our permit boundaries
[46:40] to understand the extent of
[46:41] that.
[46:43] We have a lot of emission and
[46:45] control equipment, we do
[46:46] monitoring and testing, and
[46:47] right now, we're in the process
[46:49] of working with department of
[46:51] air quality daq to obtain our
[46:54] air permit to be able to run our
[46:58] operations.
[46:59] Will piedmont leave behind large
[47:03] open pits?
[47:04] The quick answer to that is no,
[47:06] there will be one pit that will
[47:07] remain open that we'll fill with
[47:11] water, but again, as I've
[47:12] mentioned previously, we're
[47:14] going to be doing progressive
[47:15] reclamation and back fill, we
[47:17] will have one pit open at a
[47:18] time, as I mentioned and then
[47:19] the north pit, which you'll see
[47:22] in this picture, noted 4 for
[47:23] those that can see, will remain
[47:24] open.
[47:26] And we plan to own that area in
[47:29] perpetuity, so we will always
[47:30] understand what's there, what's
[47:31] the quantity and quality there
[47:32] and how we will control it.
[47:35] One of the things that I think
[47:37] is important is that from a
[47:39] reclamation perspective, we want
[47:42] to be able to free use this land
[47:44] once it's done.
[47:47] How loud and how long will each
[47:50] blast be?
[47:52] Modern blasts last seconds.
[47:53] So I know in the past, there's a
[47:56] lot of history of mining in this
[47:56] area.
[47:57] And there's stories we've heard
[47:59] of when the blasts go off,
[48:00] people having to go under deck
[48:04] and those types of things,
[48:05] today's modern technology does
[48:07] that give that same result so
[48:08] they last seconds. There's a
[48:09] lot of federal regulatory
[48:12] standards set in place and based
[48:14] on studies over 40 years,
[48:16] there's proof to show that if
[48:17] blasting is done within these
[48:19] federal regulatory standards,
[48:22] there's no structural damage.
[48:23] Obviously, you know, those
[48:25] studies not done by us, because
[48:26] we haven't been around for 40
[48:28] years are evidence of what can
[48:29] happen as long as you're
[48:31] following in the guidelines.
[48:32] When we talk about blasts
[48:33] there's two things that we
[48:34] normally hear, or get asked
[48:35] about, structure and nuisance.
[48:37] So I've mentioned structure.
[48:39] And how that 40 year study and
[48:40] we're going to less than 50%
[48:42] below those federal standards.
[48:44] But then there's nuisance, what
[48:46] happens around the nuisance with
[48:47] blasts?
[48:48] There's a lot of factors in what
[48:49] people are going to feel.
[48:50] The factors come from the
[48:52] direction that the blast is
[48:53] coming.
[48:54] What's the weather conditions
[48:54] for that day?
[48:56] How far are they from the
[48:57] blasting?
[48:58] Where are they located, indoors
[49:01] or outdoors?
[49:04] What we know based on studies is
[49:06] those 2,000 feet from the blast
[49:07] MAY have a wind or vibration
[49:08] that they feel.
[49:09] And the farther away you get
[49:11] from that, the quickly it
[49:13] rapidly diminishes that impact.
[49:14] So I think that's important and
[49:17] we have again many studies in
[49:20] our book to show what that looks
[49:20] like.
[49:22] We're often asked how often and
[49:24] will blasting occur?
[49:25] Initially, we plan to start
[49:26] blasting once a day, no more
[49:28] than twice a day.
[49:30] But there are also some
[49:30] scheduling requirements that
[49:32] will determine what that looks
[49:33] like.
[49:34] Due to the ordinance that was
[49:37] put in place in 2021, we know we
[49:39] can't blast one hour after --
[49:41] until one hour after sunrise.
[49:43] And we must stop one hour before
[49:45] sunset, so that's a very short
[49:47] window, depending on the season.
[49:49] Of when blasting can occur into
[49:50] that time frame.
[49:52] And you'll note, no sundays and
[49:53] certain holidays that have
[49:54] already been defined, we will
[49:59] follow those rules stringently.
[50:01] If lithium high -- is lithium
[50:02] hydroxide flammable?
[50:04] I can say from a standpoint of
[50:06] the chemistry of it, the answer
[50:07] is no.
[50:11] Lithium the high docks --
[50:12] hydroxide is not flammable.
[50:14] There's understanding, recently
[50:16] lithium fires in the area, those
[50:19] are were lithium metals, we will
[50:20] not have them on the site, we
[50:22] will not produce, manufacture
[50:24] anything to do with lithium met
[50:27] cals so we don't have that same
[50:28] flamability profile.
[50:29] It doesn't occur naturally in
[50:29] nature.
[50:31] So it's not like when you mine
[50:33] it, you unsource lithium metal,
[50:37] we unsource spodumene that host
[50:38] lithium, that same risk isn't
[50:38] there.
[50:40] And as I mentioned and as erin
[50:42] said earlier, lithium hydroxide
[50:45] is a salt so the flamability
[50:46] factors and the chemistry of it
[50:48] don't allow it to do that.
[50:49] The product that we produce will
[50:51] go into batteries, we do not
[50:52] produce batteries.
[50:54] We produce the salt.
[50:56] And then we sell it to battery
[50:57] manufacturers or car
[50:58] manufacturers that then put it
[50:59] into batteries.
[51:01] so there will be no batteries on
[51:05] our property.
[51:06] What is piedmont emergency
[51:07] response plan?
[51:08] As I mentioned earlier, we'll
[51:10] have a fire tank.
[51:12] We are a company that is
[51:13] currently working on developing
[51:14] our process, developing what our
[51:15] site looks like.
[51:18] So we are also developing that
[51:19] emergency response plan.
[51:20] What are we going to do?
[51:22] How are we going to do it?
[51:24] We're going to be like any other
[51:25] manufacturing plant and have
[51:26] that plan in place, we're going
[51:28] to work with the local fire
[51:28] departments and work with the
[51:29] local emergency planning
[51:30] commission, and so we can make
[51:32] sure that we're meeting
[51:34] everybody's needs and we have
[51:34] the right procedures in place
[51:36] and we can support each other.
[51:38] From a volunteer perspective in
[51:41] many cases or from an on site
[51:41] perspective.
[51:42] The protections we do have in
[51:44] place as I mentioned is the fire
[51:50] water tank, will be fully
[51:52] sprinklered and fire hydrants
[51:53] and visual and audible alarms to
[51:55] make sure everyone knows what is
[51:57] going on within the property.
[52:00] What is the expected life span
[52:02] of the carolina lithium project?
[52:04] So I'm going to talk about the
[52:07] mine and the lithium hydroxide
[52:07] facility.
[52:10] The lithium hydroxide facility
[52:12] has a 30-year life, typical
[52:13] manufacturing facilities put a
[52:16] 30 year life from a financial
[52:17] perspective on their
[52:19] manufacturing sites, we're no
[52:19] different.
[52:22] Now, the mine right now has an
[52:24] 11.5 year life span.
[52:25] One of the reasons that that is,
[52:28] is in order to define a mine,
[52:30] you have to have what's called
[52:32] technically available or
[52:35] reserved -- ore reserves.
[52:37] Base on what we know, it's 11
[52:39] pat 5 years but as erin
[52:41] mentioned, we know there's
[52:43] double that amount of ore in the
[52:44] ground versus what we have been
[52:47] able to allocate for this 11.5
[52:47] years, and because of that,
[52:49] there is a potential that this
[52:51] life span would extend.
[52:53] But again, from a technical
[52:55] legal perspective, ore reserves
[52:56] have a very special definition,
[52:58] which is why we had to give it
[53:01] an 11.5 year life.
[53:03] How will the facilities be
[53:05] decommissioned at the end of
[53:07] their useful life?
[53:08] One of the things that I think
[53:10] is important, we talked about
[53:11] economic impact.
[53:12] Once, you know, when and if this
[53:14] plan is ready to be decommission
[53:16] td, we will have a very skilled
[53:17] workforce that will be able to
[53:18] continue working in other
[53:20] industries in the area, or go
[53:21] other places.
[53:22] Hopefully stay here because
[53:23] obviously once you come to
[53:25] gaston county, you never want to
[53:27] leave.
[53:29] But from a concentrator
[53:31] perspective, we alled anticipate
[53:33] removing that where the
[53:35] concentrator plant is.
[53:37] For the lithium hydroxide, that
[53:39] could be repurposed if it cannot
[53:41] be converted or repurposed, we
[53:42] will have that surety bond in
[53:44] place that, will ensure we have
[53:45] the necessary funding to remove
[53:49] and reclaim that land as
[53:51] appropriate.
[53:52] Property values.
[53:54] What kind of impact does
[53:56] piedmont expect to have on
[53:57] nearby property values?
[53:59] Research shows that properties
[54:03] will not decrease but likely
[54:03] increase.
[54:04] So there's a phoenix center
[54:07] study that underlines this point
[54:07] --
[54:08] >> one second.
[54:11] We have already talked about
[54:13] this.
[54:13] Asked.
[54:14] This is why.
[54:17] I'm not going to allow it to
[54:17] happen again.
[54:20] I don't have -- you'll get your
[54:23] time and we'll keep moving
[54:23] forward.
[54:24] [Inaudible].
[54:26] >> I'm leaving.
[54:27] >> bye.
[54:27] >> make sure he's not coming
[54:28] back in.
[54:29] Go ahead, ma'am.
[54:31] >> research by the phoenix
[54:32] center under lies the point that
[54:34] I just defined.
[54:36] Results of higher economic use
[54:37] of land is also seen when it
[54:39] comes from the studies that have
[54:40] been done.
[54:42] As we talked about before, there
[54:44] will be a fund available for
[54:46] those that MAY be negatively
[54:48] impacted that MAY not be able to
[54:51] sell their homes or get a lower
[54:52] property value, we're trying to
[54:54] do everything possible to
[54:54] support what we're stating in
[54:55] that area.
[54:56] I want to thank you all for your
[54:57] time and attention, we
[54:58] appreciate the opportunity to be
[55:01] able to answer as many questions
[55:03] that we were provided, we are
[55:06] open and ready to take more, we
[55:07] thank you for your time.
[55:09] >>chair: thank you, ma'am.
[55:31] [Applause]
[55:34] >>chair: are there any
[55:35] questions from the board of
[55:37] commissioners on this matter?
[55:38] Commissioner fraley?
[55:41] >> I'll start with a couple, MR.
[55:41] CHAIRMAN.
[55:43] And MAY want to come back after
[55:47] we move through the board here,
[55:47] but.
[55:50] I was a little shocked to see
[55:52] 11.5 years, I heard it was going
[55:55] to be 11-25, that's more
[55:56] concerning that it's only going
[55:59] to be 11iers to disrupt all of
[56:02] these people and their homes and
[56:04] property and their water over
[56:06] 11-year project, but anyway.
[56:09] Most of my questions tonight are
[56:10] surrounding the water issue,
[56:12] some of them you've covered.
[56:14] Some of them you haven't.
[56:16] But from the water collected
[56:17] from the mine.
[56:18] Exactly where does it go?
[56:20] How is it treated?
[56:22] And how is it discharged into
[56:24] the streams and the water ways?
[56:26] >> so as I mentioned before, the
[56:28] water that's coming from the
[56:29] mines, the bottom picture on
[56:31] this screen, the sedimentation
[56:33] pond, any water that goes into
[56:35] the mine pit area will then be
[56:37] pumped into the sedimentation
[56:39] pont pond.
[56:42] That water will be there, sit,
[56:43] there, rest, test and treat.
[56:45] We will treat it, but it will
[56:47] also then be reused in our
[56:50] chemical -- in our concentrator
[56:51] plant for dust suppression.
[56:53] Prior to any releasing of that
[56:55] water to any water way, it will
[56:56] go through that testing, and
[56:59] then we have certain restriction
[57:00] -- stringent requirements we
[57:02] have to meet from a permitting
[57:03] perspective before we can
[57:03] release it.
[57:04] >> what is it treated with?
[57:06] >> it depends on what is in the
[57:07] water.
[57:08] obviously, you know, with this
[57:09] being pry
[57:09] imary
[57:12] ily groundwater, we
[57:14] anticipate there being arsenic
[57:16] in the water, once we get it and
[57:18] test it f the arsenic is there,
[57:19] there's various methods that can
[57:22] be used in order to treat it.
[57:23] Sometimes it's the acid addition
[57:25] in order to have a reaction and
[57:27] settle out into a salt that we
[57:28] will then collect and dispose.
[57:29] But there are various methods
[57:31] and we're exploring all of those
[57:32] options.
[57:34] So we can determine the best
[57:36] able to respond, depending on
[57:38] the concentration of the
[57:38] arsenic.
[57:40] >> I think it's important to
[57:42] note that in those cases where
[57:44] we might find elevated levels of
[57:46] arsenic because it's naturally
[57:48] occurring, and we rest it and
[57:50] test and it treat it before
[57:52] returning it, in those cases we
[57:54] will be returning the water
[57:55] better than when we found it,
[57:56] so.
[57:59] In those cases.
[58:03] >> if you say so.
[58:05] You talked of these discharge
[58:08] ponds and sediment basins
[58:11] designed for 20 five year flood
[58:13] specification, isn't it likely
[58:16] we will see one or more flood
[58:17] events that would overwhelm your
[58:17] design plan?
[58:21] >> right now, as you mentioned,
[58:23] designed to a 25 year flood
[58:25] event, that's the requirements
[58:27] and that's for the whole system.
[58:30] The way ours are currently
[58:31] designed, with the 25 year
[58:33] event, we have the capacity for
[58:34] five times the amount that's
[58:36] anticipated for one of those
[58:36] events.
[58:38] So if we were to have extensive
[58:40] flooding in the area, obviously,
[58:41] there will be things that we
[58:42] will be doing in order to
[58:43] control and manage it.
[58:46] But as a region, there will be a
[58:48] lot of other opportunities that
[58:50] would need to be maintaining not
[58:51] only on our facility but in the
[58:53] area to understand and be able
[58:55] to manage that.
[58:57] >> that would be a very scare
[58:59] are and I concerning time if
[59:00] that happened.
[59:03] And, you know, governor cooper
[59:05] said when you have two 500 year
[59:07] floods within two years of each
[59:09] other, it's pretty clear that
[59:11] it's not a 500 year flood, so,
[59:12] you know, there's a real
[59:13] potential that we're going to
[59:16] have to deal with that if this
[59:18] comes and what the fallout is
[59:21] going to be is very concerning.
[59:24] You answered my next question.
[59:25] Let's see.
[59:26] What are the processes that
[59:28] you're using to ensure that
[59:30] suspended materials in the basin
[59:32] don't escape?
[59:33] >> so anything that's -- so
[59:35] again, when we talk about the
[59:38] rest and test, so we have to
[59:40] have enough resting time for any
[59:42] solids to rest out of the water
[59:44] before it's discharged and so
[59:45] those sedimentation basins are
[59:47] designed to be able to allow
[59:48] that rest period, which I
[59:50] believe is three days.
[59:52] Before that it can be discharged
[59:55] into the water ways near them.
[59:57] >> well, and, you know, some of
[59:59] the words that I've heard, you
[1:00:01] know, used that we expect, it's
[1:00:04] our intention, we plan to, those
[1:00:07] are -- those are worrying words
[1:00:08] because they're not definite,
[1:00:10] they're not giving definite
[1:00:13] answer, we are intend to do
[1:00:14] something and we're going to
[1:00:15] try, we're going assist with
[1:00:20] fund anding -- funding and
[1:00:21] helping and we have to know
[1:00:22] definite answers and what's
[1:00:25] going to happen for sure, not
[1:00:26] anticipating, because it's too
[1:00:29] big of a deal, it's too big of a
[1:00:30] project and it's, you know,
[1:00:31] those things are a little
[1:00:31] concerning, too.
[1:00:34] But let me finish with a couple
[1:00:36] of these other questions.
[1:00:38] How many wells are within one
[1:00:40] mile of the currently proposed
[1:00:40] mine?
[1:00:41] Do you know the answer to that.
[1:00:42] >> I don't know the answer to
[1:00:42] that.
[1:00:43] But one of the reasons we don't
[1:00:45] know the answer to that is many
[1:00:46] wells aren't registered.
[1:00:46] >> right.
[1:00:48] >> so we don't know, unless we
[1:00:49] go and knock on every neighbor's
[1:00:50] door, that's the only way we'll
[1:00:53] have a true accurate count of
[1:00:54] that.
[1:00:57] I can tell you with not right
[1:00:58] now, but we do have the number
[1:01:00] based on the wells that are
[1:01:01] registered, I just don't have
[1:01:03] that information ready available
[1:01:03] today.
[1:01:05] >> well, I would think over the
[1:01:06] years that you've been working
[1:01:07] on it, that would be a very
[1:01:09] important thing to know, and to
[1:01:11] be able to -- if you had to
[1:01:12] knock on all of those neighbor's
[1:01:14] doors and go to all of that
[1:01:15] property, I think that should
[1:01:17] have already been done,
[1:01:18] personally.
[1:01:19] >> so if I could respond to
[1:01:19] that?
[1:01:21] One of the things that we are
[1:01:23] doing and one of the reasons why
[1:01:24] we haven't connected that dot
[1:01:27] for you yet, is because we are
[1:01:28] doing a draw down study of that
[1:01:30] area, working with the county
[1:01:31] and their expert DR. Spurl,
[1:01:33] we're looking at what impact our
[1:01:35] mining operations will have, and
[1:01:37] so we want -- obviously, when
[1:01:39] you say one mile of our project,
[1:01:41] mining only happens on a very
[1:01:42] small portion of the overall
[1:01:43] 1500 acres.
[1:01:45] And the so the draw down impact,
[1:01:47] if any, will happen on that
[1:01:48] portion of the mining
[1:01:49] operations.
[1:01:50] And we're working through to
[1:01:53] validate that study so that we
[1:01:56] can then do the door to door
[1:01:57] knocking to understand the
[1:01:58] long-term impact ts.
[1:01:59] >> well, since you were not sure
[1:02:02] of that answer, the next one I
[1:02:06] can skip.
[1:02:08] And you kind of went over the
[1:02:11] possible impacts.
[1:02:11] Discussed water lines --
[1:02:13] discussed the water lines for
[1:02:15] homes, what about the people
[1:02:17] that do not want to be put on
[1:02:17] municipal water?
[1:02:19] You talked about digging deeper
[1:02:21] wells, and doing that, but I
[1:02:23] mean, I don't know that you can
[1:02:25] out run, you know, a mine, I
[1:02:26] mean, you just keep going deeper
[1:02:27] and deeper and deeper, how deep
[1:02:29] is the mine going to be and how
[1:02:30] far can you actually go down
[1:02:32] with new wells?
[1:02:37] >> the water drawdown study that
[1:02:40] monique referred to, preliminary
[1:02:42] results show that only 10
[1:02:45] properties will be impacted with
[1:02:48] a draw down over 12 inches.
[1:02:50] We don't know.
[1:02:52] So there is not expected --
[1:02:55] based on these tests which
[1:02:57] DR. Sprul will comment on and
[1:02:59] confirm, there's not expected to
[1:03:02] be widespread drying up of these
[1:03:02] wells, so.
[1:03:03] >> not expected.
[1:03:04] >> yes.
[1:03:05] >> yeah.
[1:03:06] >> and I'll comment, on your
[1:03:07] question about that.
[1:03:10] As a publicly traded company,
[1:03:11] and my general counsel is
[1:03:13] sitting here, we are legally
[1:03:15] obligated to say expected to.
[1:03:18] Should, we're not allowed to say
[1:03:18] will.
[1:03:20] Or has until we've done it.
[1:03:22] So please understand that's the
[1:03:24] language that we are required to
[1:03:26] use as a publicly traded
[1:03:27] company.
[1:03:29] There's a lot of people out
[1:03:31] there who like to see people for
[1:03:32] saying it incorrectly.
[1:03:35] So we would work with each of
[1:03:38] those homeowner ifs their wells
[1:03:40] were impacted, and we're talking
[1:03:42] about 12 inches or more, so we
[1:03:44] would take each of those cases
[1:03:45] individually.
[1:03:47] And work with them.
[1:03:50] >> okay.
[1:03:51] If there has to be a water line
[1:03:54] built, how long after a well
[1:03:58] would go dry or was contaminated
[1:03:59] contaminated, which you said
[1:04:01] that wouldn't happen, would a
[1:04:03] person be able to get connected
[1:04:03] to a water line?
[1:04:05] >> I mean, to be able to say how
[1:04:06] long, so right now, based on the
[1:04:08] design of the engineering study
[1:04:09] that's being done, we will have
[1:04:11] a ring around our property.
[1:04:12] And then there will be -- what
[1:04:14] we're calling rural spurs that
[1:04:14] come from that.
[1:04:17] So depending on the location of
[1:04:18] where that house is, would
[1:04:19] really determine how long it
[1:04:20] would take.
[1:04:22] Once we were notified of the
[1:04:24] issue, we would immediately
[1:04:26] provide and make sure they have
[1:04:28] water valuable to available to
[1:04:30] them, so there would be no
[1:04:31] interruption of clean water to
[1:04:33] them x once we understand that
[1:04:35] and understand where the closest
[1:04:35] connection is, we will
[1:04:37] immediately start the process.
[1:04:38] Again, it's going be very case
[1:04:39] by case, depending to understand
[1:04:41] how long it will take.
[1:04:44] Because it just depends on how
[1:04:46] close they are to one of the
[1:04:46] spurs that we will.
[1:04:48] >> when you say available clean
[1:04:50] water, taking bottled water to
[1:04:51] their house or what are you
[1:04:51] talking about.
[1:04:53] >> it could be a water truck, it
[1:04:55] could be a water tank that sit
[1:04:57] there is, but it will be some
[1:04:58] type of water, we're not going
[1:05:01] to be bringing in, you know, I
[1:05:04] don't know the right term, but
[1:05:06] 40 bottles of water to their
[1:05:08] home, it will be a more
[1:05:09] substantial way in order to
[1:05:10] maintain their water.
[1:05:12] >> you know, we had a deal with
[1:05:13] the coal ash situation and there
[1:05:14] were people for years that
[1:05:15] actually had to have bottled
[1:05:18] water taken to their house until
[1:05:19] that was corrected.
[1:05:21] And I don't want to see any of
[1:05:23] our citizens put in that
[1:05:23] position again.
[1:05:25] How would you like to wake up
[1:05:26] one morning and your well is dry
[1:05:28] and you don't have any water
[1:05:29] available to you, and at least
[1:05:31] they were -- they had water,
[1:05:33] they just couldn't drink it.
[1:05:35] This case, if it's gone, it's
[1:05:35] gone.
[1:05:37] And if there's not water to
[1:05:38] them, then, you know, that's
[1:05:39] going to be a really bad
[1:05:40] situation.
[1:05:40] >> one thing that I would like
[1:05:42] to note, we are going to have
[1:05:44] monitoring wells around our
[1:05:44] property.
[1:05:47] so if wells are starting to lose
[1:05:49] volume, we are going to know
[1:05:51] before they would know, just
[1:05:52] from a proximity to the location
[1:05:53] of our operations.
[1:05:56] So those wells around our
[1:05:58] property are for monitoring
[1:05:59] purposes to understand the depth
[1:06:01] of the water and we will
[1:06:03] understand the draw down before
[1:06:05] it extends past our property.
[1:06:06] >> you made the statement that
[1:06:07] your process wouldn't
[1:06:08] contaminate any wells, but let's
[1:06:12] say 11.5 years and the project
[1:06:13] is over with.
[1:06:16] And water starts coming back up
[1:06:19] into the mine or the pit or
[1:06:21] whatever and it starts flowing
[1:06:22] back into the rock, the water,
[1:06:24] the, you know, the potentially,
[1:06:27] would that not be contaminated
[1:06:28] water at that point?
[1:06:29] When you're long gone and
[1:06:30] everybody has moved away but
[1:06:32] everybody here is still dealing
[1:06:34] with it, what's the potential of
[1:06:36] those mines being contaminated
[1:06:38] way down the road?
[1:06:40] 15, 20 years down the road?
[1:06:41] >> I apologize.
[1:06:44] So as I mentioned previously,
[1:06:45] water goes the path of least
[1:06:46] resistance so in the pictorial I
[1:06:49] have or the graphic on the
[1:06:50] screen, now, once that pit is
[1:06:52] open and even if it starts
[1:06:53] filling with water, if it were
[1:06:55] to get to the water table, water
[1:06:58] doesn't flow backwards into the
[1:07:01] water table, because the decree
[1:07:03] kref vas it comes from is so
[1:07:04] small, based on what the
[1:07:05] engineers have told me, that
[1:07:06] deal with hydrology constantly,
[1:07:09] not my field of study, they said
[1:07:11] it's just not possible,
[1:07:12] technically possible for that to
[1:07:13] happen, to back flow in.
[1:07:15] But what I will tell you, the
[1:07:17] water that's in those pits, is
[1:07:18] going to be the same groundwater
[1:07:21] that those wells are pumping
[1:07:21] from.
[1:07:22] It's just going to be in one
[1:07:24] central location, versus in that
[1:07:27] water table that's sitting
[1:07:27] there.
[1:07:29] >> I know in lincoln county now,
[1:07:31] there was an old lithium mine
[1:07:34] there, and a lot of the
[1:07:35] residents and citizens are
[1:07:37] finding that the wells they're
[1:07:38] operating now are contaminated
[1:07:41] with high levels, unacceptable
[1:07:42] levels of arsenic and I believe
[1:07:44] that was in the 50s so fast
[1:07:45] forward and that's what we're
[1:07:46] dealing with, and we don't want
[1:07:48] to put, you know, our children,
[1:07:49] or grand children in that
[1:07:51] position to be dealing with that
[1:07:53] on this land that's been owned
[1:07:55] by these people for some
[1:07:55] generations.
[1:07:57] And been paying taxes for a long
[1:07:57] time.
[1:07:58] And, you know, when you live in
[1:08:01] a rural area, like we do,
[1:08:02] that's, you know, you live there
[1:08:04] for the reasons that you don't
[1:08:06] want the deal with the stuff
[1:08:07] that this mine is going bring,
[1:08:09] it's very important that we get
[1:08:10] all of these questions answered
[1:08:13] and answered properly.
[1:08:15] I'll yield for right now, MR.
[1:08:16] CHAIRMAN.
[1:08:17] >>chair: thank you.
[1:08:18] Commissioner worley?
[1:08:21] >> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[1:08:23] You mentioned in the answers to
[1:08:26] commissioner fraley, about 1500
[1:08:27] acres.
[1:08:27] The mine.
[1:08:30] And I've had the maps.
[1:08:31] That the primary mine is
[1:08:33] approximately 1500 acres, but
[1:08:35] piedmont now controls over twice
[1:08:35] that many.
[1:08:36] >> uh-huh.
[1:08:38] >> about 3600 acres.
[1:08:38] >> yes, sir.
[1:08:41] >> and including several that
[1:08:43] are noncontiguous tracts, is it
[1:08:46] your intention to acquire all of
[1:08:48] the land between the mine and
[1:08:50] the disconnected tracts?
[1:08:52] >> so the tracts that we own as
[1:08:53] you mentioned that are not
[1:08:54] connected, those were acquired
[1:08:56] in order to do exploration
[1:08:58] drilling, so as we mentioned
[1:08:59] before, right now, within our
[1:09:01] mine permit boundaries, we
[1:09:03] understand that there's twice as
[1:09:05] much of the spodumene that we
[1:09:07] can call reserves, that give us
[1:09:10] that 11.5 year life, now as we
[1:09:11] continue mining operations and
[1:09:13] we grow, we would like to
[1:09:13] explore further.
[1:09:15] Where that goes, and how that
[1:09:17] goes, I can't speak to today
[1:09:18] because right now we're working
[1:09:22] on the 11.5 year mine but we
[1:09:24] want to exend the life of our
[1:09:24] operations, I don't know if
[1:09:25] there's anything that you would
[1:09:27] like to add, erin.
[1:09:27] >> no.
[1:09:29] >> well, that does bring me to
[1:09:30] the next question.
[1:09:30] That's I had.
[1:09:33] Are you actively looking to
[1:09:35] expand beyond this 3600 acres
[1:09:36] that you now control?
[1:09:37] So that's as yes, right.
[1:09:38] >> currently, we are not doing
[1:09:41] any exmroer ration work in --
[1:09:45] exploration work in the area.
[1:09:47] >> so it's not the bottom line
[1:09:50] that you want to buy all of the
[1:09:52] land in the ten spodumene build
[1:09:54] that you possibly can, that's --
[1:09:56] could you say yes or no to that.
[1:09:58] >> not currently at this time,
[1:10:01] we have plenty of -- as we've
[1:10:02] said, the ore reserves that we
[1:10:05] have defined are 11.5 years, we
[1:10:07] believe we have twice that just
[1:10:11] within the project boundary.
[1:10:12] So, you know, we -- we continue
[1:10:15] to look actually all over the
[1:10:17] world for further spodumene
[1:10:19] resources. Because as we
[1:10:21] mentioned earlier, 80 percent of
[1:10:25] the processed lithium, lithium
[1:10:29] hydroxide is made by china,
[1:10:31] we're looking for spodumene to
[1:10:32] support the U.S. Supply chain.
[1:10:34] As far as here, we're not
[1:10:35] actively pursuing anything
[1:10:36] further.
[1:10:37] To my knowledge.
[1:10:40] >> not out beyond that 11.5
[1:10:43] years but -- you're saying the
[1:10:46] 11.5 year is sort of the ceiling
[1:10:49] for now, but it could expand.
[1:10:50] >> well, let me say this.
[1:10:52] As erin mentioned, within our
[1:10:54] boundaries, where we're saying
[1:10:57] 11.5 years now, there is more
[1:10:58] spodumene that is underneath the
[1:10:59] ground today.
[1:10:59] >> sure.
[1:11:02] >> so that 11.5 years as we mine
[1:11:04] just what we have in our mine
[1:11:06] permit today, will likely grow.
[1:11:07] Past 11.5 year mark.
[1:11:10] We just can't speak to what that
[1:11:10] looks like.
[1:11:12] Because technically, we haven't
[1:11:14] done the work to be able to
[1:11:17] transition those reserves and --
[1:11:19] the indicated amounts that's
[1:11:20] there into reserves that would
[1:11:22] allow us to expand that life.
[1:11:23] >> okay.
[1:11:24] Well, maybe let me ask -- sort
[1:11:25] of another way.
[1:11:28] So if we were to approve this
[1:11:30] initial project, later on,
[1:11:32] gaston county could be asked to
[1:11:35] approve a project -- a project
[1:11:36] that is two to three times
[1:11:38] larger than this, is that
[1:11:38] feasible?
[1:11:40] >> I wouldn't -- I wouldn't
[1:11:42] speculate about the size.
[1:11:44] but, you know, some of that land
[1:11:46] is buffer.
[1:11:49] For right now, all of it is
[1:11:49] buffer.
[1:11:53] So we are only looking at the
[1:11:55] 1548 currently.
[1:11:58] If we wanted to expand beyond
[1:12:01] that, yes, we would have to come
[1:12:02] before you again.
[1:12:06] >> and the followup to that, if
[1:12:08] and when that the state mining
[1:12:11] permit is issued, would you say
[1:12:14] it would be easier to get
[1:12:17] further approval from the state
[1:12:18] to expand?
[1:12:20] Would you think that would be an
[1:12:21] easier process or the same?
[1:12:26] >> so based on where the -- how
[1:12:28] dimler is managing the mine
[1:12:29] permit today, I can't say it
[1:12:31] would be easier, we would have
[1:12:33] to do the same due diligence we
[1:12:33] have done to understand any
[1:12:35] environmental impact, all of the
[1:12:36] studies and update all of our
[1:12:39] permits so it is not a slam dunk
[1:12:41] I'll say that we get this mine
[1:12:43] permit if we were to -- that any
[1:12:45] expansions or modifications
[1:12:46] would be easy.
[1:12:50] I would not say that.
[1:12:53] >> would piedmont agree to any
[1:12:54] sort of agreement with the
[1:12:57] county to limit the scope of the
[1:12:59] project in any way?
[1:13:00] Initially?
[1:13:01] Would that be something.
[1:13:03] >> beyond the current project
[1:13:03] boundaries?
[1:13:05] I think that -- that would have
[1:13:07] to be discussed in the community
[1:13:08] development agreement or some
[1:13:10] other form.
[1:13:16] >> okay.
[1:13:18] I will have just one more follow
[1:13:21] up question, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[1:13:21] >>chair: yes, sir.
[1:13:25] >> what would you see has the
[1:13:27] potential options for
[1:13:29] redevelopment of reclaimed land
[1:13:32] once it was -- once the mining
[1:13:33] operation were through, what
[1:13:34] would be the value or what would
[1:13:37] be any redevelopment options
[1:13:41] that you would -- could see
[1:13:41] further?
[1:13:43] Because, you know, a lot of us
[1:13:44] kind of feel like that this land
[1:13:47] is going to be worthless when
[1:13:48] piedmont leaves.
[1:13:50] But if there's some options out
[1:13:52] there that you see that's a
[1:13:53] possibility, I would like to
[1:13:53] know.
[1:13:55] >> I mean, I think we have one
[1:13:56] example in our backyard, with
[1:13:58] the kings mountain mine, where,
[1:13:59] you know, after they ceased
[1:14:02] operations, I believe in the 80s
[1:14:04] or 90s where they reclaimed it
[1:14:06] to have trails and greenway,
[1:14:08] this area could be used for the
[1:14:09] same type of purpose in regards
[1:14:12] to having greenways and trails
[1:14:13] and other outdoor opportunities
[1:14:14] for that area.
[1:14:16] >> and that -- that's around the
[1:14:16] mining area.
[1:14:18] That's where people tend to
[1:14:18] focus.
[1:14:21] We will reclaim those, once
[1:14:22] those pits are filled back in,
[1:14:25] we'll cover it back up with the
[1:14:26] soil.
[1:14:28] And we replant.
[1:14:29] But the other parts of the site,
[1:14:32] if they were no longer in use,
[1:14:34] could be repurposed for
[1:14:36] industrial use or whatever use
[1:14:38] the community wanted.
[1:14:39] >> right.
[1:14:39] Okay.
[1:14:41] Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[1:14:42] Thank you.
[1:14:44] >>chair: commissioner
[1:14:44] cloninger.
[1:14:47] >> my questions relate to
[1:14:47] blasting.
[1:14:49] So I would like to know how many
[1:14:50] people live now on the property
[1:14:53] that they own within a half mile
[1:15:03] of the future mine pit?
[1:15:05] >>chair: can you step up,
[1:15:06] please, so we can hear and state
[1:15:08] your name for the record?
[1:15:11] >> hi, I'm emily blackburn
[1:15:13] winter, I'm a geologist and
[1:15:15] community relations for piedmont
[1:15:16] lithium.
[1:15:17] And we have sent out community
[1:15:19] mailers to engage with neighbors
[1:15:20] of our project.
[1:15:22] And the number that I can give
[1:15:25] you is within 1500 feet from our
[1:15:27] permit boundary.
[1:15:31] There are roughly 550 parcels in
[1:15:32] that area.
[1:15:35] >> that's the entire project not
[1:15:36] just the mining area.
[1:15:37] >> okay.
[1:15:39] So that includes the buffer and
[1:15:40] all of that?
[1:15:41] That includes everything?
[1:15:42] >> anything outside of our mine
[1:15:44] permit boundaries.
[1:15:45] >> okay.
[1:15:45] All right.
[1:15:47] >> again, that's for the entire
[1:15:49] 1500 acres, not just the eastern
[1:15:51] side, where the mines will be.
[1:15:51] >> okay.
[1:15:54] So how many homes will feel any
[1:15:56] effect from the blasting done on
[1:15:59] -- at the site?
[1:16:03] >> we do have our blasting
[1:16:05] expert here, he agreed to come
[1:16:07] tonight to ask any questions
[1:16:08] that were beyond our purview,
[1:16:11] MAY we ask him to come up?
[1:16:12] >>chair: please.
[1:16:12] >> thank you.
[1:16:14] >>chair: sir, state your name
[1:16:16] and your occupation there,
[1:16:17] expertise for the record.
[1:16:20] >> good evening, sir.
[1:16:22] My name is stuart bra sheer, I'm
[1:16:24] technical service manager for
[1:16:26] austin powder company out of
[1:16:28] cleveland, ohio.
[1:16:30] If you could rephrase your
[1:16:32] question, I'll fly
[1:16:32] try to -- .
[1:16:34] >> how many homes will feel any
[1:16:36] effect from the blasting done at
[1:16:36] the site?
[1:16:39] >> I haven't been involved as
[1:16:41] closely, obviously, as the
[1:16:44] people that have talked here.
[1:16:48] So I don't numbers other than we
[1:16:50] have looked at the whole site
[1:16:53] and we've -- we've used other
[1:16:54] quarries and operations in this
[1:16:56] part of north carolina as a
[1:16:58] model for how fast the
[1:17:03] vibration, the energy a ten u
[1:17:06] waits and we know typically a
[1:17:08] 3,000 foot distance where
[1:17:10] there's no perception of
[1:17:11] blasting.
[1:17:14] Now, people are very sensitive
[1:17:15] to vibration.
[1:17:17] So some people will feel stuff
[1:17:19] that others might not at the
[1:17:20] same distance.
[1:17:23] A lot of it has to do with
[1:17:24] activities, if you're busy, you
[1:17:25] don't notice it.
[1:17:27] If you're sitting, and not doing
[1:17:29] anything and waiting for it to
[1:17:30] happen, you'll notice it.
[1:17:32] So there will be -- I mean,
[1:17:33] there will be perception, some
[1:17:35] people surrounding the property
[1:17:36] will know when we blast.
[1:17:38] There's no doubt about that.
[1:17:40] >> so is there a map that is
[1:17:43] involved that can -- that will
[1:17:46] impact or show that blasting
[1:17:47] amount?
[1:17:50] >> I believe that's --
[1:17:51] >> we are working on two things,
[1:17:52] so to answer your question, you
[1:17:57] know, there are four pits.
[1:18:00] And we will be blasting at
[1:18:02] different times because we'll
[1:18:04] only open one pit at a time.
[1:18:06] So we'll be blasting in one part
[1:18:06] of the pit.
[1:18:10] And modern blasting is very
[1:18:11] precise.
[1:18:12] so, you know, it depends on what
[1:18:13] part of the pit you're in and
[1:18:15] how deep it is.
[1:18:17] And so we could help provide
[1:18:20] some radiance of an example, if
[1:18:22] we're blasting in this pit at
[1:18:24] this particular depth, what
[1:18:26] direction the blast is going on,
[1:18:26] etcetera.
[1:18:28] But as monique explained
[1:18:30] earlier, we will be -- we expect
[1:18:33] to be less than 50% of what the
[1:18:37] federal regulations are.
[1:18:42] And that is partly to reduce the
[1:18:43] level for thol folks.
[1:18:46] We know if we're within the
[1:18:47] prescription of the federal
[1:18:48] regulation, we will not do
[1:18:49] damage to homes.
[1:18:51] But the other side of it is
[1:18:53] nuisance, people feel something,
[1:18:57] or hear something, so it is a
[1:18:58] little bit difficult to answer
[1:19:00] because there's four pits,
[1:19:01] different depth and different
[1:19:01] times.
[1:19:04] Different types of homes.
[1:19:06] Homes -- it depends on the
[1:19:08] weather, if there's cloud cover.
[1:19:09] That creates a different
[1:19:09] scenario.
[1:19:12] But we're happy to put more
[1:19:13] information together.
[1:19:15] The other thing that we're doing
[1:19:17] is we're looking at our austin
[1:19:19] powder is doing a study on each
[1:19:21] property that is touching the
[1:19:23] boundary of the mining side of
[1:19:24] the project.
[1:19:26] And we will have that
[1:19:27] information available for each
[1:19:29] of those homeowners, that's
[1:19:31] specific to their property.
[1:19:33] So they're working on that.
[1:19:34] And we will make that available
[1:19:37] to those homeowners.
[1:19:40] >> okay, will that be a public
[1:19:42] demonstration so people will
[1:19:42] know what to expect?
[1:19:44] >> we can do that.
[1:19:46] we -- part of what we want to
[1:19:48] do, going forward, this fall, is
[1:19:50] hold town halls where people can
[1:19:53] come and ask more questions and
[1:19:54] talk to people like stuart and
[1:19:56] really put their hands on
[1:19:56] things.
[1:19:59] But, yes, we can -- we can help
[1:19:59] with that.
[1:20:02] >> and if I MAY, we've been
[1:20:04] talking about damage to
[1:20:06] structures from blasting and
[1:20:08] it's important to realized the
[1:20:10] standards that we're held to are
[1:20:13] not based on structural damage.
[1:20:14] It's what's called threshold
[1:20:16] damage, which is literally
[1:20:18] anything, any extension of a
[1:20:21] hairline crack, any opening up
[1:20:23] of a crack in a little mortar
[1:20:24] joint.
[1:20:26] The way the regulations are
[1:20:27] basically read.
[1:20:28] And it's based on over 40 years
[1:20:31] of research that we have very
[1:20:33] finite standards.
[1:20:34] For blasting.
[1:20:37] And we know, again, based on 40
[1:20:38] years of these standards, never
[1:20:40] being shown wrong, that if our
[1:20:43] levels stay below that, we have
[1:20:45] statistically zero chance of
[1:20:46] causing even cosmetic damage to
[1:20:48] a structure.
[1:20:50] Not structural damage.
[1:20:51] But any change of condition as a
[1:20:52] result of the blasting.
[1:20:55] And that's what we stick to.
[1:20:57] And the mine will be required to
[1:21:03] have multiple size ma graphs out
[1:21:05] and traced to the standards and
[1:21:06] everything, they're very
[1:21:07] accurate and give us realtime
[1:21:10] data and our blasting operations
[1:21:12] are changed shot by shot by
[1:21:15] shot, based on the previous
[1:21:15] results and we're constantly
[1:21:17] changing, there's amazing things
[1:21:19] that we can do in cancellation,
[1:21:20] much like noise cancellation
[1:21:21] headphones, we can do the same
[1:21:22] thing in the ground.
[1:21:25] Change the timing of our blasts
[1:21:28] to cancel vibration out.
[1:21:30] Things have changed a lot in the
[1:21:32] last 20 years so we're very
[1:21:33] adept to being a good neighbor
[1:21:35] and minimizing the perception of
[1:21:36] blasting, and that's our goal.
[1:21:39] We don't worry about protecting
[1:21:41] structures w e know we're going
[1:21:42] to do that.
[1:21:43] We're not going to hurt
[1:21:43] anybody's property.
[1:21:45] Our goal is to minimize
[1:21:46] perception as much as possible
[1:21:48] to get as close to 0 perception
[1:21:50] in a community as we can.
[1:21:51] >> what impact will blasting
[1:21:54] have on pets or livestock?
[1:21:58] Because this is a very rural
[1:21:58] community.
[1:22:00] >> understood.
[1:22:02] Experience has shown personal
[1:22:03] experience, as well as -- I
[1:22:05] don't like to get into a lot of
[1:22:06] studies because we all know
[1:22:07] about studies you hate hearing
[1:22:08] about them.
[1:22:11] But animals are very adaptable.
[1:22:13] A lot more than people in a lot
[1:22:14] of cases.
[1:22:16] And typically, they get used to
[1:22:18] it real quick, and most animals
[1:22:21] don't react to it at all.
[1:22:23] Originally.
[1:22:25] But those that do, pretty
[1:22:28] quickly figure out it's no big
[1:22:32] deal, and there's plenty of case
[1:22:35] cases, aberdeen proving grounds
[1:22:37] outside of baltimore where the
[1:22:38] army does the munitions testing
[1:22:40] is one of the largest
[1:22:41] concentrations of bald eagles on
[1:22:43] the east coast, because they
[1:22:43] realized that nothing is going
[1:22:45] to bother them there and they're
[1:22:46] in the wide open, they have
[1:22:50] gotten used to the racquet,
[1:22:52] which is magnitudes greater than
[1:22:54] what we would do, there should
[1:22:55] be no problem at all with that.
[1:22:58] >> or even with dogs who MAY be
[1:22:59] terrified with fireworks or
[1:23:00] anything else like that, that's
[1:23:01] not going to --
[1:23:03] >> typically not because the
[1:23:05] sounds are very different from
[1:23:06] fireworks.
[1:23:08] It's -- we're just putting a
[1:23:09] basically a pressure wave
[1:23:10] through the air, it is like a
[1:23:12] gust of wind more than anything,
[1:23:14] it's barely audible.
[1:23:16] And my experience with my own
[1:23:18] pets and having everything from
[1:23:19] horses to chinchillas, I live
[1:23:22] very close to a quarry myself.
[1:23:23] And there's -- they don't seem
[1:23:25] to have an issue with it.
[1:23:26] >> okay.
[1:23:28] MR. CHAIRMAN, that's all of my
[1:23:28] questions.
[1:23:31] >>chair: commissioner hovis?
[1:23:34] >> thank you, sir.
[1:23:38] My questions are going to be
[1:23:41] centered around your chemical
[1:23:43] processing, what -- how you're
[1:23:45] going to differentiate your
[1:23:47] process versus other processes
[1:23:50] that are used to take spodumene
[1:23:53] and turn it into refine it?
[1:23:59] And I think that the auto tech
[1:24:02] process is what you're looking
[1:24:05] at and I have a couple of
[1:24:05] questions.
[1:24:07] I believe that you're looking at
[1:24:09] using this in tennessee and
[1:24:10] maybe you've already started it
[1:24:11] in tennessee.
[1:24:13] Because you said you've already
[1:24:15] produced ore.
[1:24:17] >> so we have -- so we don't
[1:24:19] have any operations that
[1:24:20] currently working, we.
[1:24:20] >> okay.
[1:24:22] >> permits in tennessee.
[1:24:23] >> gotcha.
[1:24:24] >> but we haven't started any
[1:24:24] construction.
[1:24:25] >> will it be using that
[1:24:25] process?
[1:24:27] >> yes, sir.
[1:24:29] >> okay.
[1:24:32] And my -- in conjunction with
[1:24:35] that, where is it being used in
[1:24:35] production?
[1:24:38] I understand it's pretty much a
[1:24:41] table top lab design concept,
[1:24:42] and hasn't been put into place
[1:24:43] to my knowledge.
[1:24:45] In a production basis producing
[1:24:47] the volumes that we're talking
[1:24:49] about needing to produce, to
[1:24:51] meet the demand.
[1:24:51] And the market.
[1:24:55] Is it being done elsewhere?
[1:24:57] >> so right now, auto tech
[1:24:59] process is not in production for
[1:25:01] lithium hydroxide production.
[1:25:04] They do use the auto tech
[1:25:06] pressure relation technology in
[1:25:08] others such as gold.
[1:25:11] And so to your point there is no
[1:25:15] commercial operation using
[1:25:15] technology.
[1:25:18] >> that's because we're -- it's
[1:25:19] kind of a little bit of a
[1:25:20] leading edge question and that's
[1:25:22] the reason I asked because be
[1:25:24] nice to know it was proven and
[1:25:25] you knew what the results and
[1:25:29] all of the other unintended
[1:25:30] consequences of that process and
[1:25:33] what it will yield in terms of
[1:25:35] this by-products because every
[1:25:37] action has an equal and opposite
[1:25:38] reaction.
[1:25:40] I think I heard that somewhere
[1:25:42] back when I was in school, back
[1:25:45] when we used stone tablets and
[1:25:45] hammers.
[1:25:47] >> I'm there with you.
[1:25:49] >> with that being said, it's
[1:25:50] important to understand.
[1:25:52] Because I happen to live
[1:25:55] one-third of a mile from -- I've
[1:25:58] lived one-third of a mile from
[1:26:00] that processing plant ever since
[1:26:02] -- well, excuse me, all of my
[1:26:02] adult life.
[1:26:05] That plant was built the year I
[1:26:05] was born.
[1:26:07] So it's been around for 69
[1:26:08] years.
[1:26:11] So I'm a little familiar with
[1:26:13] the standard processing of
[1:26:15] spodumene and the ore and this,
[1:26:17] that and the other and you made
[1:26:18] one comment earlier in your
[1:26:20] comments, ma'am, that there
[1:26:23] would be no tailings from this
[1:26:24] process.
[1:26:29] Yet, on slide 15, we talk about
[1:26:30] tailings.
[1:26:35] Now, I'm not trying to beat you
[1:26:35] up.
[1:26:36] >> to worries.
[1:26:38] >> but explain to me why there's
[1:26:39] no tailings when tailings are
[1:26:40] mentioned on slide 15.
[1:26:42] >> so I mentioned there would be
[1:26:43] no tailings pond.
[1:26:46] So tailings are a waste product
[1:26:47] from the process.
[1:26:49] Normal mining operations has wet
[1:26:51] tailings that go into ponds.
[1:26:53] We will have dry tailings.
[1:26:55] So that's our concentrator plant
[1:26:58] will have tailings and our
[1:27:01] chemical -- lithium hydroxide
[1:27:04] will have tailings but dry
[1:27:06] tailings, that's the difference
[1:27:07] wet versus dry.
[1:27:09] >> will those be lined.
[1:27:09] >> what.
[1:27:14] >> will they be lined, mem lined
[1:27:16] so any precipitation of
[1:27:19] rainwater doesn't precipitate
[1:27:20] into the soil.
[1:27:22] >> the permit, I'm not sure if
[1:27:30] any have read the adi3, dimler
[1:27:35] is requiring us to put a liner
[1:27:36] under that waste rock pile.
[1:27:37] >> the conversion facility,
[1:27:38] excuse me, the conversion
[1:27:41] facility tailings are going off
[1:27:43] site.
[1:27:45] So what's coming from the
[1:27:46] conversion facility is not --
[1:27:48] those tailings are not being
[1:27:48] stored on site.
[1:27:49] >> off site where?
[1:27:52] >> so right now, we're working
[1:27:54] to get the testing, we know that
[1:27:54] it's not hazardous.
[1:27:57] So one of the first places that
[1:27:59] we will look to dispose of those
[1:28:02] tailings is the lab landfill.
[1:28:05] The conversion plant fills could
[1:28:07] be used as cover, there is
[1:28:09] potential reuse of that
[1:28:10] material, we're exploring those
[1:28:11] options.
[1:28:13] Aggregate uses.
[1:28:16] So we haven't defined 100% which
[1:28:17] landfill, because there's so
[1:28:19] many other options that we have.
[1:28:20] >> sure.
[1:28:21] Sure.
[1:28:26] And is there -- this technology,
[1:28:30] this new technology, does
[1:28:33] piedmont carolina lithium have
[1:28:34] rights to that?
[1:28:36] Have you purchased that?
[1:28:42] Do you have someone in your
[1:28:42] employ.
[1:28:44] >> a licensed technology, so we
[1:28:48] do not own the technology.
[1:28:49] >> okay.
[1:28:51] >> but we will purchase the
[1:28:52] technology.
[1:28:53] >> that's part of what I'm
[1:28:54] trying to say, so you're going
[1:28:58] to acquire the licensure to use
[1:28:59] that process?
[1:29:02] >> I wouldn't say licensure -- I
[1:29:04] don't know the right technical
[1:29:06] legal term for it.
[1:29:08] >> we will purchase the system
[1:29:11] from that, and I will go back to
[1:29:13] what you said earlier, we will
[1:29:15] not be the first to use it.
[1:29:17] One of our customers that's
[1:29:19] fairly well known is going to
[1:29:20] use it first.
[1:29:23] We will use it in tennessee.
[1:29:26] Prior to doing it here.
[1:29:29] So lessons will have been
[1:29:31] learned along the way by us in
[1:29:32] tennessee, that's our sister
[1:29:33] plant that will be very much
[1:29:34] like the one built here.
[1:29:34] >> right.
[1:29:38] >> but that one will go first.
[1:29:43] And it will be used by others
[1:29:44] before us.
[1:29:49] >> do you have a 90% surety in
[1:29:54] your mind set, this process will
[1:29:57] yield the volume of product at
[1:29:59] the cost necessary to market
[1:30:00] your final product and not have
[1:30:02] the other unintended
[1:30:04] consequences of something that
[1:30:07] you have -- that's unforeseen as
[1:30:07] a by-product.
[1:30:09] >> based on the pilot testing
[1:30:11] and again as you referenced, you
[1:30:12] know, the pilot testing is what
[1:30:13] we have done, we have confidence
[1:30:15] that we can produce the product
[1:30:19] we need at the cost that we've
[1:30:19] anticipated.
[1:30:19] >> okay.
[1:30:21] Those are all of my questions at
[1:30:22] this time, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[1:30:23] >>chair: thank you.
[1:30:24] Commissioner keigher?
[1:30:27] >> just a couple that have
[1:30:28] popped up.
[1:30:33] In another lifetime, I spent 25
[1:30:36] years -- one of my top ten
[1:30:38] accounts.
[1:30:40] For 25 years.
[1:30:44] And I actually had the
[1:30:47] unfortunate experience of being
[1:30:51] in a -- it wasn't an explosion,
[1:30:54] it was more piping, something
[1:30:56] happened, and piping just split
[1:30:59] and it pulled the valves off and
[1:31:01] I got burned pretty good.
[1:31:03] I did have a face shield on.
[1:31:06] But my clothes were burned so I
[1:31:07] understand there's -- when you
[1:31:10] mentioned that lithium hydroxide
[1:31:12] is not flammable or explosive,
[1:31:14] but what about the other
[1:31:15] materials that you will have to
[1:31:16] use?
[1:31:17] I didn't hear anything about
[1:31:18] those.
[1:31:20] They've got to be highly
[1:31:21] flammable and explosive.
[1:31:23] >> so the process that you MAY
[1:31:25] have been working around or been
[1:31:27] around during that time was more
[1:31:29] than after the leeching process.
[1:31:31] >> in the 80s, 90s.
[1:31:33] >> up until now, the production
[1:31:35] of lithium hydroxide was done
[1:31:37] with acid leaching, which is an
[1:31:39] acid that once you heat it, it
[1:31:40] will burn you.
[1:31:42] So not surprised, according to
[1:31:44] that, if that's the process that
[1:31:45] you were around.
[1:31:47] Our technology does not use acid
[1:31:49] leaching at all, that's why we
[1:31:52] have the metsal auto tech
[1:31:53] process, the pressure --
[1:31:56] >> no sulfuric or --
[1:31:58] >> we will -- the acid that we
[1:32:00] will have be pry marley used for
[1:32:02] -- primarily used for cleaning
[1:32:04] and in the waste water and not
[1:32:05] the chemical processing.
[1:32:06] >> okay, and the other thing,
[1:32:08] the other question I wanted to
[1:32:09] ask.
[1:32:09] Two part.
[1:32:12] Why is it taking so long for the
[1:32:16] state to issue a permit and in
[1:32:17] your opinion, is there any
[1:32:19] chance the state would deny it?
[1:32:19] .
[1:32:21] >> so we get obviously we get
[1:32:22] asked that question a lot.
[1:32:24] Why is it taking so long.
[1:32:25] One of the things that we
[1:32:27] understand is lithium mining
[1:32:28] hasn't been done in this area in
[1:32:31] a very long time and so the
[1:32:32] process that the state is going
[1:32:34] through to ep ensure that
[1:32:36] everything that we're doing is
[1:32:37] adequate, to me is
[1:32:38] representative of the diligence
[1:32:39] that the state is putting into
[1:32:40] it, to make sure it's done right
[1:32:43] and for our benefit to make sure
[1:32:45] that they -- there are minimal
[1:32:46] risks that we impacted by
[1:32:47] through our process.
[1:32:49] Am I surprised it's taking so
[1:32:49] long?
[1:32:51] Not really, I actually
[1:32:52] appreciate it, because I feel
[1:32:55] like the risk of being mitigated
[1:32:56] through this process.
[1:32:58] I forget your second question.
[1:32:59] I'm sorry.
[1:33:02] >> is there any possibility in
[1:33:03] your minds that the state would
[1:33:04] deny it.
[1:33:06] >> obviously, I don't have a
[1:33:08] crystal ball, if I did, I would
[1:33:09] have rubbed and gotten an answer
[1:33:10] for that.
[1:33:12] But what I will say is, I feel
[1:33:13] like we're doing everything we
[1:33:14] need to do to answer their
[1:33:14] questions.
[1:33:17] And as long as we do that, I
[1:33:20] can't -- I wouldn't -- I
[1:33:21] wouldn't anticipate them denying
[1:33:23] the permit.
[1:33:25] >> thank you.
[1:33:26] >>chair: thank you, sir.
[1:33:26] All right.
[1:33:28] I guess I get the rest of the
[1:33:28] time.
[1:33:31] Going to be a lot here.
[1:33:33] First of all, I want to say
[1:33:34] thank you to the ones that
[1:33:35] showed up.
[1:33:37] I want to let you know that this
[1:33:40] process today, like I stated
[1:33:42] from the very first time you
[1:33:44] came, can still possibly be the
[1:33:46] worst rollout I've ever seen of
[1:33:48] economic development.
[1:33:50] Please.
[1:33:52] I say that, look at all of these
[1:33:54] people here in this crowd.
[1:33:58] Your ceo refused to come
[1:33:58] tonight.
[1:34:00] He knew about this meeting
[1:34:01] months in advance.
[1:34:02] And we're sitting here today,
[1:34:05] and we still don't see him.
[1:34:06] and I've got to tell these
[1:34:08] people that y'all are
[1:34:10] trustworthy citizens that want
[1:34:13] to help them, they still never
[1:34:13] come.
[1:34:16] That, to me, kills me inside
[1:34:17] because I have to answer
[1:34:19] questions from these people
[1:34:19] every day.
[1:34:22] I have media call me, every day.
[1:34:23] About this issue.
[1:34:25] And I have to answer it.
[1:34:26] Your people, the only people
[1:34:28] that come, I've seen you, ma'am,
[1:34:30] two meetings, and now we come to
[1:34:33] this and he's not here.
[1:34:34] Is there any reason why -- does
[1:34:37] he think it's not important?
[1:34:39] Because this company is valued
[1:34:41] on what this commission needs.
[1:34:44] And it needs a leader, I promise
[1:34:44] you that.
[1:34:46] I'll go through my questions
[1:34:47] now.
[1:34:48] The commission will receive
[1:34:49] questions, every day from
[1:34:51] concerned citizens about these
[1:34:52] proposed projects and different
[1:34:53] thing, list of written
[1:34:55] questions, why not, you guys
[1:34:56] talked about open and
[1:34:58] transparent in the last meeting
[1:35:01] back in 2021.
[1:35:04] We have tried to work with you
[1:35:07] guys, we asked, hey, we had to
[1:35:09] hire a hydrologist and an
[1:35:10] outside communication, we asked
[1:35:11] for that, would you like to
[1:35:14] share that, so we could share
[1:35:14] information.
[1:35:15] Can you tell me why you guys
[1:35:17] didn't want to after your lawyer
[1:35:19] recommended that you should?
[1:35:22] >> a hydrologist?
[1:35:25] >> our hydrologist, we asked for
[1:35:27] shared costs on different
[1:35:29] outliers for the studies and
[1:35:30] different things.
[1:35:32] >> I'm not aware of that
[1:35:36] request.
[1:35:39] >>chair: the project has been
[1:35:42] based on a lot of promises, I'll
[1:35:43] ask, again, following this
[1:35:45] information, will you guys put
[1:35:47] this presentation on your
[1:35:48] website?
[1:35:50] Tonight's presentation?
[1:35:52] All documents that have been
[1:35:53] submitted from the state and
[1:35:54] federal government related to
[1:35:55] the required permits for the
[1:35:56] project?
[1:35:57] All of the studies that have
[1:35:59] been referenced in said proposal
[1:36:02] for this presentation tonight?
[1:36:04] And before?
[1:36:10] I noticed that we -- we raised
[1:36:13] issues on the hydrologist study
[1:36:15] by DR. Strul, you mentioned it
[1:36:16] tonight in your presentation,
[1:36:19] you failed to submit that.
[1:36:23] To the north carolina, when you
[1:36:27] were looking for their permit.
[1:36:30] >> it's not complete, we can't
[1:36:32] present it because it's not
[1:36:32] complete.
[1:36:34] >> you're meeting with sprul.
[1:36:36] >> this is why it hasn't been
[1:36:37] provided, as far as all of the
[1:36:39] other studies you referenced,
[1:36:40] yes, we brought the binders
[1:36:43] tooted, -- today, they will go
[1:36:45] in the library, in the
[1:36:46] cherryville and we offered to
[1:36:48] put them all online.
[1:36:50] So it's easier to access than
[1:36:54] having to go to the state.
[1:36:55] >>.
[1:36:57] >>chair: has our study not been
[1:36:57] completed.
[1:36:59] >> we are still -- they are
[1:37:01] finishing out the modeling that
[1:37:04] was done on the second study,
[1:37:06] the data has been collected.
[1:37:08] That they are back and forth
[1:37:12] with hdr and DR. Sprul go back
[1:37:14] and forth of the actual modeling
[1:37:15] to be given.
[1:37:16] >>chair: would you be willing
[1:37:17] to share that, what you guys
[1:37:19] found on your website as well,
[1:37:21] asking and yes or no
[1:37:21] questionnaire for that?
[1:37:23] On what is found out in the
[1:37:23] study?
[1:37:26] >> once it's final, yes.
[1:37:27] >>chair: okay.
[1:37:29] You had mentioned earlier and I
[1:37:31] might have to ask the blast
[1:37:33] expert, when there's a blasting
[1:37:36] situation, let's just say it's
[1:37:38] 25 feet deep.
[1:37:40] What are the visual aspects that
[1:37:42] I can see?
[1:37:44] Dust?
[1:37:46] What would I be able to see in
[1:37:50] -- if I were sit agoing --
[1:37:52] sitting away from it, what would
[1:37:54] be the characteristics that I
[1:37:55] would see?
[1:37:56] >> thank you for the question.
[1:37:59] In the type of mining that is
[1:38:01] done and will be done here, it
[1:38:03] will be very disappointing, you
[1:38:06] continue see much at all --
[1:38:07] won't see much at all.
[1:38:09] It's not like a quarry like at
[1:38:10] kings mountain where there's a
[1:38:12] kind of a ledge that we blast
[1:38:15] into for them to excavate,
[1:38:16] because of the deposits of the
[1:38:17] ore, they can't have the
[1:38:18] material shift a lot because
[1:38:20] they want to keep that
[1:38:21] differentiation between the ore
[1:38:24] and waste rock, otherwise,
[1:38:26] financially, it gets to be a
[1:38:27] mess so our blasts will be
[1:38:29] designed not to move.
[1:38:30] They will just fragment, lift
[1:38:32] up, and sit down.
[1:38:34] So there will be a minor amount
[1:38:36] of dust, much less than in a
[1:38:38] normal aggregate operation.
[1:38:39] >>chair: but just in case it
[1:38:42] could get into the air and shift
[1:38:45] into one of these said streams,
[1:38:46] ponds, that are nearby.
[1:38:48] People we were told earlier
[1:38:50] there would be nothing in the
[1:38:51] air quality had changed.
[1:38:53] >> there's no guarantees but
[1:38:55] that's just the top of the
[1:38:56] ground.
[1:38:58] Yes, sir.
[1:39:00] >>chair: with that, is it not
[1:39:02] true that lithium hydroxide d
[1:39:04] when it reacts with water, does
[1:39:06] it not become a corrosive?
[1:39:07] >> yes.
[1:39:10] It is a corrosive once it gets
[1:39:15] wet.
[1:39:17] >>chair: you guys have
[1:39:20] mentioned canada, ghana, north
[1:39:23] carolina, tennessee, and
[1:39:24] obviously you guys should be
[1:39:26] very proud of that, but will you
[1:39:28] sell -- when you think about the
[1:39:29] entities that you have inside of
[1:39:32] the united states and talking
[1:39:33] about being a part of and
[1:39:34] looking for a second source for
[1:39:36] the next piece of the puzzle,
[1:39:39] how many companies do you think
[1:39:40] are in the united states right
[1:39:44] now who offer those to you?
[1:39:45] >> offer -- I don't know -- I
[1:39:46] donald nant.
[1:39:47] >>chair: what you would have to
[1:39:48] have to make your -- to be able
[1:39:50] to put with the battery, how
[1:39:51] many different companies are out
[1:39:52] there for resources that you MAY
[1:39:55] have as customers?
[1:39:56] To sell to?
[1:39:58] >> oh, okay.
[1:40:00] Well, there have been $80
[1:40:02] billion worth of commitments
[1:40:03] made by car manufacturers and
[1:40:08] battery manufacturers, there are
[1:40:09] numerous companies that we could
[1:40:10] sell to.
[1:40:11] We currently --
[1:40:15] >>chair: more than 100?
[1:40:17] >> I'll let our commercial --
[1:40:18] chief commercial officer.
[1:40:19] >>chair: I'm trying to figure
[1:40:21] out because my question is
[1:40:22] related to foreign entities
[1:40:24] after the fact, you go and do so
[1:40:25] much inside of the united states
[1:40:26] if there's only a few companies,
[1:40:27] so to speak.
[1:40:28] I want to know if you're going
[1:40:31] to sell this after you get a
[1:40:32] permit or are you going to sell
[1:40:32] it out?
[1:40:34] Is that going to be something
[1:40:36] that you guys look forward to,
[1:40:38] say, hey, we did the leg work
[1:40:39] and now we're going to sell it
[1:40:41] to some foreign entity?
[1:40:42] Or because we always want to be
[1:40:44] -- we keep talking about wanting
[1:40:45] to do everything inside of the
[1:40:45] united states.
[1:40:48] So that's why I'm trying to
[1:40:50] figure out now for everybody
[1:40:52] that we do, because I have
[1:40:54] 300,000 people I have to be
[1:40:55] responsibler at the end of the
[1:40:56] day, that's why I'm very
[1:40:57] diligent and making sure that we
[1:40:59] ask all of the questions,
[1:41:00] regardless of how harsh, how
[1:41:02] bad, I want these kids, and I
[1:41:03] want these parents to
[1:41:04] understand, that there's a
[1:41:07] future if we do this.
[1:41:09] >> thank you, CHAIRMAN Brown and
[1:41:11] commissioner, I'm austin, chief
[1:41:12] commercial officer for piedmont
[1:41:14] lithium t answer to your
[1:41:14] question, I've travelled all
[1:41:16] over the world, selling lithium.
[1:41:17] And I don't like traveling all
[1:41:18] over the world.
[1:41:20] My intent is to sell our lithium
[1:41:22] products here in the united
[1:41:22] states.
[1:41:25] And when you look at what future
[1:41:28] demand will be, erin referenced
[1:41:29] the amount of investments made
[1:41:31] by the automobile ev supply
[1:41:32] chain.
[1:41:33] And there are battery makers,
[1:41:35] that are within a few hours of
[1:41:36] our facility.
[1:41:40] There are battery makers in
[1:41:42] georgia, tennessee, they're in
[1:41:44] ohio and so our customer base
[1:41:46] and when you look at what the
[1:41:48] demand for lithium products will
[1:41:51] be, will far out strip the
[1:41:53] potential supply here in the
[1:41:53] united states.
[1:41:56] So all of our products will stay
[1:42:00] in the united states.
[1:42:01] >>chair: thank you.
[1:42:03] Back to you, if we self-test
[1:42:05] these -- if you guys are
[1:42:06] self-testing, what happens if a
[1:42:08] test comes back and it's not
[1:42:10] within your scope of work?
[1:42:12] If it comes out outside of the
[1:42:14] regular bound, will you shut
[1:42:16] down the entire plant or will
[1:42:19] you just work until you get that
[1:42:19] mitigated?
[1:42:20] >> which test?
[1:42:21] >>chair: this here is usually
[1:42:22] on the self-testing for the
[1:42:24] water, that you guys are doing.
[1:42:25] >> so with water, we will have
[1:42:27] the ability to retain, depending
[1:42:28] on which pond those are in, we
[1:42:30] will have the ability to retain
[1:42:31] that water.
[1:42:32] Before it's released so we're
[1:42:34] going to be testing as it goes
[1:42:35] into the pond and if those
[1:42:37] levels are high, we will as we
[1:42:39] talked about before, rest, let
[1:42:40] it sit, and test.
[1:42:43] And then treat if necessary
[1:42:46] prior to release.
[1:42:47] >>chair: thank you.
[1:42:50] I have questions on like 800
[1:42:52] different pages of -- back to
[1:42:52] the tailings.
[1:42:56] If the tailings are
[1:42:57] nonhazardous, why can't they be
[1:43:00] set back into the refilling pit?
[1:43:04] >> the lithium hydroxide plant
[1:43:06] tailings, we feel there's a
[1:43:08] potential for some items to
[1:43:09] leach, if ph isn't properly
[1:43:10] controlled and so therefore, we
[1:43:12] want to ensure that those
[1:43:14] materials are properly managed
[1:43:22] in the proper locations.
[1:43:23] >>chair: on to my last page, I
[1:43:24] guess this is it.
[1:43:25] >> here here as long as you need
[1:43:26] us here.
[1:43:27] >>chair: no, I just want to
[1:43:28] make sure that we get all of
[1:43:29] these questions out, and these
[1:43:33] are going to go back to some of
[1:43:37] the legal perspectives.
[1:43:39] Has pl given assistance or
[1:43:41] assurance to gaston county
[1:43:42] commissioners that they have
[1:43:43] already committed to approve
[1:43:44] this project?
[1:43:46] >> has who?
[1:43:48] >>chair: have you guys given
[1:43:49] the assurance that the gaston
[1:43:51] county commissioner has already
[1:43:53] approved this project to others,
[1:43:55] maybe stakeholders or anybody
[1:43:56] else, of that sort.
[1:43:57] >> no, sir.
[1:43:57] >> no, sir.
[1:43:58] >>chair: do you have any reason
[1:43:59] to believe that the gaston
[1:44:01] county commissioners are a
[1:44:04] biassed either and/or against
[1:44:06] piedmont lithium in any way?
[1:44:17] >> no, sir.
[1:44:18] >>chair: has anyone made any
[1:44:20] promises to anyone regarding the
[1:44:22] outcome of rezoning processes
[1:44:24] from our board or staff?
[1:44:25] >> no, sir.
[1:44:28] >> no, sir.
[1:44:29] >>chair: are you willing to
[1:44:31] work with our staff and
[1:44:33] attorneys to establish the land
[1:44:34] conditions that go beyond the
[1:44:35] minimums required for the use of
[1:44:38] the mining permit?
[1:44:39] >> we've already been doing so
[1:44:44] and we'll continue to do so.
[1:44:46] >>chair: I know there's a
[1:44:47] million dollar bond already for
[1:44:48] closure.
[1:44:50] Are you willing to accept the
[1:44:50] higher bond?
[1:44:53] >> yes, that's one of the four
[1:44:55] commitments we were willing to
[1:44:55] make.
[1:45:07] >>chair: okay.
[1:45:09] What enforceable promises can
[1:45:11] you provide to us that state
[1:45:13] that this -- if you are granted
[1:45:15] the mining permit, that will not
[1:45:20] be sold to a foreign operation?
[1:45:29] >> chief legal officer of
[1:45:30] piedmont lithium.
[1:45:31] First of all, I don't think that
[1:45:34] the mining permit can be sold or
[1:45:35] transferred.
[1:45:38] On its own.
[1:45:41] We do not intend and have put
[1:45:42] things in place from a corporate
[1:45:43] perspective that would make it
[1:45:46] difficult for other companies to
[1:45:47] buy us.
[1:45:49] But there's no guarantee that
[1:45:51] anyone can give that someone
[1:45:52] couldn't launch a hostile take
[1:45:54] over, but the terms of the
[1:45:56] permits themselves, would
[1:45:58] restrict any buyer from just
[1:46:00] coming in and operating, they in
[1:46:02] turn would have to get approved
[1:46:03] by whatever agency.
[1:46:05] >>chair: I guess I'll be
[1:46:06] looking for something on side
[1:46:09] the publicly traded aspect, if
[1:46:12] anyone were to acquire 51%
[1:46:12] through that.
[1:46:13] >> again, we're perfectly
[1:46:16] willing to work with you, and
[1:46:17] continue to work and maybe
[1:46:19] that's part of the community
[1:46:20] development agreement, and I
[1:46:23] know there's some commentary
[1:46:24] about, you know, some of our
[1:46:26] language not being firm.
[1:46:27] We expect to have all of these
[1:46:29] issues addressed in the
[1:46:30] community development agreement.
[1:46:33] And that's where we will have
[1:46:33] covenants and it will be a
[1:46:36] contract between us and you.
[1:46:37] >>chair: thank you.
[1:46:39] >> and one point on the mine
[1:46:41] life, I would just like to make,
[1:46:43] the U.S. Has very specific rules
[1:46:44] about reserves.
[1:46:46] And as a public company, we have
[1:46:49] to adhere to that, for example
[1:46:51] in canada and australia, two
[1:46:52] large mining jurisdictions,
[1:46:55] their rules are a little bit
[1:46:56] looser and they could -- our
[1:46:57] mine life would be a lot longer
[1:46:59] if we were following those
[1:46:59] rules.
[1:47:01] But we are in the U.S.
[1:47:02] And we follow the sec's rules.
[1:47:06] And that's the reason for the
[1:47:08] 11.5 year life, which as monique
[1:47:11] has said, we firmly believe in
[1:47:12] the mining area there's more
[1:47:14] there but we can't technically
[1:47:15] say it yet, so thank you for
[1:47:16] your time.
[1:47:18] >>chair: commissioner hovis?
[1:47:20] >> thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[1:47:22] Your comment about the community
[1:47:24] development agreement, that was
[1:47:26] your slide six in your
[1:47:28] presentation today.
[1:47:31] All of those asterisks, appear
[1:47:33] by every one of those important
[1:47:35] caveats that all of these people
[1:47:37] will understand and we certainly
[1:47:38] won't understand.
[1:47:40] So I think I understand this t.
[1:47:41] But you correct me if I'm wrong.
[1:47:44] That's the living document.
[1:47:46] It's developing, it's being
[1:47:47] fleshed out.
[1:47:49] And as we along with you and
[1:47:52] your legal staff, as we move
[1:47:54] down this corridor, those items
[1:47:57] will be discussed and written in
[1:48:02] a manner that's acceptable to
[1:48:04] this board prior to the issuance
[1:48:07] of any kind of conditional
[1:48:07] rezoning.
[1:48:08] >> yes.
[1:48:09] That is exactly right.
[1:48:11] And that's why we put the
[1:48:13] asterisk there, this has not
[1:48:14] been negotiated yet.
[1:48:14] >> no.
[1:48:15] >> our intentions.
[1:48:18] >> because those four points are
[1:48:20] the four major concerns, which
[1:48:22] you obviously understand.
[1:48:22] >> yes, sir.
[1:48:25] >> and if you have any draft
[1:48:27] language and you can put draft
[1:48:28] all over it, it would be good to
[1:48:29] see where you think some of
[1:48:32] those are earlier and then we
[1:48:34] can tweak it and morph it and
[1:48:35] when we get to that point to
[1:48:37] where it needs to be.
[1:48:40] That's part of of the
[1:48:41] transparency issue that the
[1:48:42] CHAIRMAN Was trying to speak to
[1:48:44] so that we all are talking
[1:48:46] openly and the public can see
[1:48:49] this openly.
[1:48:51] And we've got to make -- I do
[1:48:56] not want to see, and this is a
[1:48:58] hovis personal comment, I did
[1:49:00] not want to see northwestern
[1:49:02] gaston county become the next
[1:49:04] love canal.
[1:49:06] And that's the best
[1:49:07] interpretation and concern that
[1:49:11] I can express to you, to
[1:49:12] understand, because when the
[1:49:14] holloman b mine was constructed
[1:49:16] in 1954, and mined until the
[1:49:19] late 80s, there was no
[1:49:21] requirements for remediation,
[1:49:22] there was no requirements for
[1:49:24] return to use.
[1:49:27] And there was no overburden
[1:49:29] regulations and that overburden
[1:49:31] went up 280 feet.
[1:49:34] And for my son's farm on -- road
[1:49:36] in the winter time when the
[1:49:38] leaves are off of the trees, ki
[1:49:41] see those rocks and he lives 3.2
[1:49:44] miles away, and I say that just
[1:49:45] because of knowledge.
[1:49:48] And these people have very valid
[1:49:48] concerns.
[1:49:50] And it's our responsibility as
[1:49:52] their elected officials to
[1:49:54] address and mitigate those as
[1:49:55] much as possible.
[1:49:56] and that's the reason for our
[1:49:57] questions, that's the reason for
[1:50:00] the CHAIRMAN's comment about
[1:50:01] transparency.
[1:50:03] And from what I've heard today,
[1:50:05] it appears that you do wish to
[1:50:07] do that.
[1:50:09] And that's a good checkmark on
[1:50:10] your side.
[1:50:13] But I am the one who challenged
[1:50:14] your ceo from this dais and our
[1:50:16] meeting two years ago, to come
[1:50:19] and apologize to these people
[1:50:22] who he said, his words, had been
[1:50:24] strong armed by individuals
[1:50:26] working on behalf of acquiring
[1:50:28] these properties by piedmont
[1:50:28] lithium.
[1:50:28] He said that.
[1:50:31] Those are his words.
[1:50:32] You can pull the tape up and
[1:50:33] look at it again.
[1:50:34] But I challenged him to come and
[1:50:37] speak to these people
[1:50:38] personally.
[1:50:38] Face-to-face.
[1:50:40] And you heard what our CHAIRMAN
[1:50:42] Said prior to that, and that's
[1:50:44] -- that's kind of a little
[1:50:45] offensive to us.
[1:50:47] Because this is gaston county.
[1:50:49] And we are gaston county.
[1:50:52] And we will make the decisions
[1:50:54] that's right for gaston county.
[1:50:56] >> yes, sir.
[1:50:58] >> thank you.
[1:50:59] [Applause]
[1:51:02] >>chair: please don't.
[1:51:03] >> we're doing business.
[1:51:04] >>chair: commissioner fraley.
[1:51:05] >> yeah.
[1:51:08] A couple of followups, MR.
[1:51:09] CHAIRMAN.
[1:51:10] One, had been mentioned tonight
[1:51:12] is the lighting, the project
[1:51:14] apparently is going to be
[1:51:17] running 24/7, is that rights,
[1:51:18] 7-days a week, what kind of
[1:51:20] lighting are you using and what
[1:51:21] can the neighbors expect, you
[1:51:22] know, to have to deal with on
[1:51:24] that?
[1:51:26] Is it going to like the bank of
[1:51:27] america stadium every night and
[1:51:28] the noise and the trucks going
[1:51:29] and the lights on?
[1:51:31] I mean, how is that going to
[1:51:33] affect the, you know, the area?
[1:51:36] >> well, first of all, I believe
[1:51:38] you're aware, gaston county has
[1:51:40] an ordinance that dictates,
[1:51:41] light, noise and all of those
[1:51:43] things that have to be at our
[1:51:45] property boundary, and it is
[1:51:47] certain positions to residents
[1:51:49] or other properties, we will
[1:51:50] follow all of those ordinances
[1:51:52] so in regards to lights, our
[1:51:54] lights will be pointed down on
[1:51:54] our property.
[1:51:56] And they'll be set, they'll be
[1:51:58] many buffers around us.
[1:52:02] In regards to natural buffering,
[1:52:04] also, in natural buffering with
[1:52:05] berms and barriers and those
[1:52:06] types of things, so we're doing
[1:52:08] within our design, one, not only
[1:52:10] to meet your ordinance, but to
[1:52:12] be good neighbors in the area to
[1:52:13] make sure that we're not
[1:52:14] impacting negatively those
[1:52:17] around us due to noise and
[1:52:17] lights.
[1:52:19] >> so the 500 parcels that have
[1:52:21] been identified at night, at
[1:52:23] midnight, when the lights are
[1:52:25] on, they're not going to be
[1:52:26] looking out the bedroom window
[1:52:27] and seeing lights that's going
[1:52:30] to be dark outside?
[1:52:32] >> no, we can't say that -- .
[1:52:35] >> I can't shai -- say that it's
[1:52:37] going to be dark.
[1:52:41] I can say it will meet the
[1:52:41] ordinances for property.
[1:52:43] >> maybe we need to make the
[1:52:46] ordinances stricter.
[1:52:51] Also, this MAY be a question for
[1:52:51] the attorney.
[1:52:53] The contract that was signed
[1:52:55] with the city of cherryville,
[1:52:58] was it your intention that that
[1:53:00] contract with the city of
[1:53:02] cherryville is enforceable?
[1:53:08] >> -- we're using the word
[1:53:09] intention and intent a lot
[1:53:10] tonight so I thought I would
[1:53:11] throw that in.
[1:53:12] >> well, sure.
[1:53:13] Yes, it was our intent that it
[1:53:15] be enforceable and it is
[1:53:18] certainly my belief that it is
[1:53:19] enforceable.
[1:53:20] Enforceable.
[1:53:21] >> differences of opinion, so I
[1:53:22] just -- that's why I wanted you
[1:53:24] to get up here and make that
[1:53:25] statement.
[1:53:26] >> I'm happy to make it.
[1:53:29] I believe it is enforceable.
[1:53:31] We have fully intend and expect
[1:53:33] that we will fulfill our
[1:53:35] obligations under that contract
[1:53:37] and the only way you would even
[1:53:39] -- if we didn't do anything, and
[1:53:41] you sued to enforce it, I
[1:53:43] believe you would win in court.
[1:53:44] And that would be the only time
[1:53:46] you would have to do that.
[1:53:49] But we expect to fulfill our
[1:53:50] obligations and we've already
[1:53:52] started that, so.
[1:53:55] >> okay, thank you.
[1:53:58] >>chair: I have one other
[1:54:02] question.
[1:54:03] Obviously, you guys have
[1:54:04] agreements all across the board
[1:54:06] with a lot o of people.
[1:54:07] If someone were to want out of
[1:54:09] one of those agreements, would
[1:54:12] you -- would piedmont lithium
[1:54:15] will willing to let them out.
[1:54:17] >> you mean property owners.
[1:54:19] >>chair: under a
[1:54:19] confidentiality signing.
[1:54:22] >> I think that's more of a
[1:54:25] legal question.
[1:54:27] >> stay up here.
[1:54:28] >> sure.
[1:54:30] I can't speak on behalf of the
[1:54:32] whole company.
[1:54:34] But, you know, haven't forced
[1:54:35] anyone to close on any property
[1:54:37] that they didn't want to, so
[1:54:38] we've actually closed on a lot
[1:54:39] of properties.
[1:54:43] You know, at this point.
[1:54:45] I mean, again, I'm not aware
[1:54:48] that we've forced anybody to do
[1:54:50] anything.
[1:54:51] >>chair: so if I were to have
[1:54:54] someone call me and ask me that
[1:54:56] you had an agreement with, that
[1:55:00] they were told to get a
[1:55:02] appraisal, the appraisal came
[1:55:03] back that said let's use a round
[1:55:07] number, to
[1:55:07] $20,000.
[1:55:08] >>chair: and you guys valued at
[1:55:09] 6,000 and they said that wasn't
[1:55:12] a good idea, but yet, you said,
[1:55:14] well, we already have the
[1:55:14] agreement, we'll sue you and
[1:55:16] we'll get the property, is that
[1:55:18] something that could have been
[1:55:20] said on pl's behalf?
[1:55:23] >> I'm aware that we have
[1:55:25] agreements out there that have
[1:55:27] appraisal options in it for the
[1:55:28] seller.
[1:55:29] I know there's one in
[1:55:31] particular, and I'm not going to
[1:55:33] litigate it up here.
[1:55:36] But we are working with, you
[1:55:39] know, that person and that
[1:55:41] owner.
[1:55:44] My -- the way it usually work is
[1:55:46] if the appraisal is higher, it
[1:55:47] moves to that side of the
[1:55:49] ledger, not to our side of the
[1:55:49] ledger.
[1:55:53] So it's in fact in their favor.
[1:55:54] >>chair: I just wanted you to
[1:55:56] be on the record saying that,
[1:55:57] the problem I have as we all do
[1:55:58] this all together, we're trying
[1:56:00] to be good neighbors and we all
[1:56:03] want to be good citizens to each
[1:56:03] other.
[1:56:04] And the part that we've heard in
[1:56:06] different instances of whatever,
[1:56:09] like I said, my job is to
[1:56:11] protect this county at all costs
[1:56:12] and I want to make sure that you
[1:56:13] guys understand what you're
[1:56:15] doing is answering questions
[1:56:16] that people have asked us or at
[1:56:18] some point have come to us,
[1:56:19] obviously by us knowing the
[1:56:21] knowledge that we know, you guys
[1:56:21] see that as well.
[1:56:23] So I wanted to say thank you for
[1:56:24] coming tonight.
[1:56:24] On that behalf.
[1:56:26] I'm going to do citizens
[1:56:27] comments now, unless you guys
[1:56:29] have something that you want to
[1:56:31] finish with?
[1:56:33] The commissioners, are you good?
[1:56:34] So go ahead, ma'am.
[1:56:36] >> I think our closing remarks
[1:56:38] are first, since we mentioned
[1:56:40] earlier, we want to thank you
[1:56:42] all for your time tonight for
[1:56:43] allowing us to answer the
[1:56:44] questions that we had previously
[1:56:46] and during this time.
[1:56:49] We want to be good neighbors, as
[1:56:50] we stated before and do the
[1:56:52] right thing, so again, we want
[1:56:55] to thank you for your time.
[1:56:56] >>chair: thank you guys.
[1:56:56] >> thank you.
[1:56:59] And we'll be happy to answer any
[1:57:00] future questions.
[1:57:02] >>chair: we'll take citizens
[1:57:02] comments and then we'll kind of
[1:57:04] look and see how that looks for
[1:57:05] us on you guys.
[1:57:10] I don't want it to be a back and
[1:57:11] forth, I want to get information
[1:57:14] to you guys and we'll start
[1:57:15] there.
[1:57:20] The citizens -- I'm sorry.
[1:57:21] The citizens recognition comment
[1:57:22] period is not intended or
[1:57:23] required for the commission or
[1:57:24] the staff to answer any
[1:57:26] questions, provide a response,
[1:57:27] questions requiring a response
[1:57:29] shall be answered as soon as
[1:57:31] possible, through the county
[1:57:33] manager's office or otherwise
[1:57:33] directed.
[1:57:34] The comment period will be
[1:57:36] limited tonight, to three
[1:57:36] minutes per person.
[1:57:38] As I call your name, please step
[1:57:39] to the podium, state your name
[1:57:42] and address for the record, and
[1:57:44] we will also please adhere that
[1:57:46] that you'll see the green light,
[1:57:48] and it will go to the yellow
[1:57:49] light will start blinking and
[1:57:50] once we get to the red light, I
[1:57:52] don't mind you taking a few
[1:57:54] things over, but try to wrap it
[1:57:56] up as you see the red light,
[1:57:58] that MAY it makes it easy
[1:57:59] because I don't want to feel
[1:58:01] like I have to be mean, I try
[1:58:04] not to be mean, but it's in my
[1:58:04] nature, so.
[1:58:06] But what we'll do, I'll call you
[1:58:08] up, I'll go ahead and through
[1:58:09] the whole list, that way you
[1:58:11] guys will see that and then that
[1:58:12] way everybody will know where
[1:58:13] they fall in line, if you want
[1:58:15] to come right after another, as
[1:58:17] you see, when your time comes
[1:58:20] up, I'll keep doing as well.
[1:58:23] Sandra foster and brian harper,
[1:58:25] and locke bell.
[1:58:27] And lisa strap.
[1:58:28] Bryson lynn heart.
[1:58:30] Jessica lynn heart.
[1:58:32] Tim lynn hart.
[1:58:36] Rich and warren snowden, that's
[1:58:38] the way the group goes, if
[1:58:39] that's all right x. We'll start
[1:58:42] there and sandra, brian and
[1:58:47] locke.
[1:58:48] Locke.
[1:58:50] >> thank you, commissioners.
[1:58:52] My name is sandra foster.
[1:58:54] I'm at 108 adder holt road,
[1:58:57] that's in bessemer city.
[1:59:01] I am known as the buffer zone
[1:59:04] for the mine.
[1:59:06] i have tried to get answers,
[1:59:09] I've tried to get truth.
[1:59:12] And it's just been impossible.
[1:59:16] I work for ten years in the real
[1:59:19] estate sector so common sense
[1:59:21] tells you a lot of what's going
[1:59:23] on in our neighborhood. And my
[1:59:26] question to you tonight is why
[1:59:28] should gaston county allow
[1:59:30] piedmont lithium to come in to
[1:59:32] our neighborhood and financially
[1:59:35] devastate us and leave some
[1:59:36] families to be homeless or to
[1:59:40] live with poisons and dangers
[1:59:42] that are associated with this
[1:59:43] mine?
[1:59:45] My house is within walking
[1:59:47] distance of where I'm told the
[1:59:48] mine will end.
[1:59:53] I can see 133 adder holt road
[1:59:54] from my yard.
[1:59:57] Why should I be financially deaf
[1:59:58] stated so they can make --
[1:59:59] devastated so they can make
[2:00:02] billions of dollars?
[2:00:03] Thank you.
[2:00:08] >>chair: thank you, ma'am.
[2:00:10] >> good evening, I'm brian
[2:00:15] harper, live in 1953 church
[2:00:15] road.
[2:00:17] Thank you for the opportunity to
[2:00:17] speak.
[2:00:18] Piedmont says there will be no
[2:00:20] damage to homes and businesses
[2:00:21] from their blasting, yet, they
[2:00:24] have contacted or hired multiple
[2:00:25] businesses, everyone out of
[2:00:26] state to looking into the
[2:00:28] blasting operations, how can
[2:00:29] piedmont say there's no danger
[2:00:32] to homes, businesses and the
[2:00:34] environment when they do not
[2:00:36] know who or how the blasting
[2:00:39] will be done, you cannot know
[2:00:41] how far the shock waves will
[2:00:42] reach if the size of the blast
[2:00:43] is not known.
[2:00:45] Will piedmont tell us tonight
[2:00:46] the type and amount of
[2:00:48] explosives they will be using?
[2:00:50] and if not, then they can cannot
[2:00:51] say what damage will be caused
[2:00:54] to the wells, homes, businesses,
[2:00:57] and the environment.
[2:00:59] Also, piedmont has told the
[2:01:01] north carolina mining
[2:01:02] commission, lit monitor itself
[2:01:03] to ensure that it does not
[2:01:07] violate any environmental laws.
[2:01:09] Piedmont also says it will
[2:01:11] report itself of any violations.
[2:01:14] For years, piedmont has been
[2:01:15] violating county laws by
[2:01:20] allowing the erosion into the
[2:01:23] beaver dam creek from logging
[2:01:24] and -- that piedmont has
[2:01:25] created.
[2:01:27] If piedmont will not monitor and
[2:01:29] report itself on something as
[2:01:30] simple as erosion, why should we
[2:01:32] believe them to do so with
[2:01:34] chemicals going into the soil?
[2:01:36] Also, can you imagine any other
[2:01:38] mining or chemical producer not
[2:01:40] being monitored?
[2:01:42] Do you think that government
[2:01:44] does not monitor other similar
[2:01:47] industries such as fracking?
[2:01:49] Piedmont must pay gaston county
[2:01:51] for independent expert
[2:01:53] monitoring which will report
[2:01:54] directly to the county on at
[2:01:58] least a quarterly basis.
[2:01:59] And I will say that my
[2:02:02] statements are not followed by a
[2:02:04] disclaimer of forward looking
[2:02:08] statements.
[2:02:16] Thank you.
[2:02:18] >> wells will go dry, we just
[2:02:22] don't know how far out.
[2:02:25] This lady said tonight that
[2:02:26] piedmont lithium will look at it
[2:02:26] and piedmont lithium will decide
[2:02:29] what they're going to do.
[2:02:31] Here's some problems.
[2:02:34] Gaston county has a minimal
[2:02:35] housing code.
[2:02:37] It requires operable plumbing.
[2:02:40] The minute that well goes dry,
[2:02:42] the people in that house are in
[2:02:45] violation of the minimum housing
[2:02:45] code.
[2:02:48] That then jeopardizes their
[2:02:49] homeowner's policy.
[2:02:52] And when your homeowner's policy
[2:02:55] is cancel, you get foreclosed
[2:02:56] on.
[2:02:57] They will be deciding, it's
[2:02:58] taken go years and we have no
[2:03:00] answers for anything, we have no
[2:03:02] new answers tonight.
[2:03:05] They'll be deciding the fate of
[2:03:06] these folks.
[2:03:10] While they're in value
[2:03:11] iolation.
[2:03:11] I would like the answers to
[2:03:13] these questions.
[2:03:15] One, how do you wash your hair
[2:03:16] with bottled water?
[2:03:19] I mean, do you carry a case --
[2:03:20] while they're decide, they're
[2:03:22] going to give them bottled
[2:03:23] water, might bring a tanker in,
[2:03:24] how are you going to hook that
[2:03:27] up to the water line?
[2:03:29] Some of these houses you
[2:03:31] couldn't in there with a tanger,
[2:03:33] carry a case in there and
[2:03:35] halfway through, tripping over,
[2:03:37] how are you going to do it while
[2:03:38] they're deciding?
[2:03:43] How are you going to wash
[2:03:43] clothes
[2:03:44] clothes?
[2:03:44] Think about it.
[2:03:46] You're going to have stand in
[2:03:47] front of the washer and wait for
[2:03:48] the rinse cycle and then you're
[2:03:50] going to have to pour another
[2:03:52] case of bottled water in there,
[2:03:54] this is while they're deciding.
[2:03:56] I would like them to come up and
[2:04:00] explain how does a 7-year-old
[2:04:03] use bottled water to flush the
[2:04:04] toilet?
[2:04:06] These are things, they're going
[2:04:07] to be just debating.
[2:04:11] Whether to put you a new well
[2:04:13] in, debating and to run water, a
[2:04:17] water line, that's two years.
[2:04:18] it's been two years now, we have
[2:04:20] no idea, you have to noe idea
[2:04:22] where they want to run a water
[2:04:22] line.
[2:04:24] At least I've never seen any
[2:04:28] plans showing the water line.
[2:04:30] Two years people are out there,
[2:04:33] going to have a tanker parked on
[2:04:35] top of the septic line?
[2:04:37] No, this whole thing with the
[2:04:40] water is jeopardizing these
[2:04:42] folks and many others, it will
[2:04:46] happen, and these will be the
[2:04:46] losers.
[2:04:57] Thank you very much.
[2:05:00] >> bessemer city, I thank you
[2:05:01] for allowing me this moment to
[2:05:03] speak today, I do have
[2:05:05] questions, it does appear that
[2:05:06] the project scope shape and size
[2:05:10] has substantially changed from
[2:05:11] 2021 to now.
[2:05:14] My first question would be:
[2:05:17] given these changes, what
[2:05:20] regulatory permits have either
[2:05:21] have been amended or are
[2:05:24] required to be added to reflect
[2:05:26] these changes.
[2:05:27] How has the public been kept
[2:05:30] abreast and then allowed the
[2:05:31] availability to be able to
[2:05:33] comment on these permits?
[2:05:36] My second question will address
[2:05:37] what is considered a dead spot
[2:05:39] in the county currently?
[2:05:41] The area that the project is
[2:05:43] proposed to be in is kind of a
[2:05:45] geographically isolated area
[2:05:46] when it comes to cell phones and
[2:05:48] internet usage.
[2:05:51] We have spotty, very unstable
[2:05:54] cell phone capability.
[2:05:56] Pretty much nonexistent
[2:05:58] broadband internet.
[2:06:01] GOD forbid if this project does
[2:06:05] get underway, and the citizens
[2:06:07] who are stuck living around it,
[2:06:09] and the potential employees of
[2:06:13] this company, will be at
[2:06:15] immediate risk if there is not
[2:06:17] something put in place prior to
[2:06:20] any groundbreaking that
[2:06:23] establishes a stable, stable,
[2:06:26] stable cell phone signal and
[2:06:27] internet, communication cannot
[2:06:29] be cut off from anyone in that
[2:06:29] area.
[2:06:32] Mining is a dangerous business.
[2:06:33] I think that's very well known
[2:06:36] from everyone in this room.
[2:06:37] Not that we're wishing anything
[2:06:39] would happen, but for public
[2:06:40] safety, those things need to be
[2:06:41] in place.
[2:06:43] You can have emergency services
[2:06:45] sitting next door.
[2:06:46] That are absolutely useless if
[2:06:50] no one can call for help.
[2:06:54] My next question will be: in
[2:06:57] the air quality permit and the
[2:06:58] psd application submitted by
[2:07:00] piedmont, piedmont states that
[2:07:02] they were required to notify
[2:07:04] agricultural producers their
[2:07:07] emissions would affect crop
[2:07:08] yields.
[2:07:09] What crops will this affect, how
[2:07:12] will it affect them?
[2:07:14] And exactly how are you planning
[2:07:16] to notify the agricultural
[2:07:17] community?
[2:07:24] Thank you.
[2:07:25] >>chair: since you're a minor,
[2:07:26] you don't are to give your
[2:07:28] address on that, I have you
[2:07:28] already here, okay.
[2:07:29] >> all right.
[2:07:29] >>chair: thank you.
[2:07:32] >> my name is bryson lynn hart,
[2:07:33] I live on white side road in
[2:07:35] gaston county, the closest house
[2:07:37] to this proposed mine.
[2:07:39] I'm 15 years old.
[2:07:42] I spend the majority of my time
[2:07:44] outside, hunting, fishing,
[2:07:45] camping anything that ki enjoy
[2:07:47] in the fresh air, I don't think
[2:07:48] it's fair that my little sister
[2:07:50] and I have to worry about the
[2:07:51] creek we play in, will be
[2:07:54] polluted by hazardous chemicals
[2:07:56] or even be able to catch fish
[2:07:57] safely anymore?
[2:07:59] Will we be forced to stay inside
[2:08:00] in front of a screen because of
[2:08:02] the blasting noise and dust?
[2:08:05] How much of the woods around my
[2:08:08] house will I be able to enjoy
[2:08:10] because of the instruction from
[2:08:12] piedmont lithium?
[2:08:13] Piedmont lithium, the
[2:08:14] destruction piedmont lithium is
[2:08:24] trying to bring to my home.
[2:08:27] >> my name is jessica lynn
[2:08:29] heart, 115 -- in yous.
[2:08:32] And I have a lot here and I'm
[2:08:34] going try to get through all of
[2:08:34] it.
[2:08:36] Piedmont lithium an
[2:08:38] inexperienced exploratory
[2:08:41] company holding 3, -- five square
[2:08:42] miles of residently zoned
[2:08:43] property.
[2:08:46] Their end goal is the lithium
[2:08:47] hydroxide plant with an
[2:08:49] operating life of around 30
[2:08:51] years and deep mining pits
[2:08:53] operating for as we know now
[2:08:55] about 11 years APRIL of last
[2:08:56] year.
[2:08:58] According to their mining permit
[2:08:59] applications submitted two years
[2:09:01] ago, the estimated their water
[2:09:04] usage to be between 800 and
[2:09:10] 28,000 and 3 million 312,000
[2:09:12] gallons per day just for pit
[2:09:13] dewatering, when asked by the
[2:09:14] mining commission for
[2:09:15] clarification on the mitigation
[2:09:17] plan for residential locations
[2:09:18] and proximity to the mine.
[2:09:20] They state that it can take up
[2:09:22] to 45 days for them to drill a
[2:09:25] new will well or connected to a
[2:09:26] municipal water supply, how can
[2:09:28] you drill a well in 45 days if
[2:09:31] all of the local wells have run
[2:09:32] dry?
[2:09:34] What happens if they drag fair
[2:09:35] feet just like they have done
[2:09:35] with everything else they have
[2:09:37] been asked to do?
[2:09:38] Hooking to the water supply will
[2:09:39] take years.
[2:09:40] It's already been two years and
[2:09:43] they do not even have a fully
[2:09:45] implemented plan for obtaining
[2:09:45] water.
[2:09:47] City water would be yet another
[2:09:48] monthly burden that residents
[2:09:50] MAY have no choice in paying
[2:09:51] for.
[2:09:52] As piedmont has also stated in
[2:09:52] their application that they
[2:09:54] would not be paying our monthly
[2:09:55] water bills.
[2:09:57] Despite the fact that it will be
[2:09:59] directly caused by their
[2:10:00] operation.
[2:10:01] The proposed plan for the water
[2:10:03] lines according to their mining
[2:10:06] application will take up to 30
[2:10:06] months to complete.
[2:10:08] When piedmont was asked about
[2:10:10] arsenic in the water, they
[2:10:11] responded they do not use
[2:10:12] arsenic in mining.
[2:10:15] That answer is deliberately
[2:10:16] designed to mislead.
[2:10:18] Arsenic will leach in greater
[2:10:19] amounts into the water in the
[2:10:21] pits because of the mine.
[2:10:22] If piedmont truly does not
[2:10:24] believe that this is a common
[2:10:26] occurrence, I invite any of
[2:10:28] their employees to go over to
[2:10:30] bessemer city and drink a glass
[2:10:32] of water out of the open pit.
[2:10:34] For the chemical plant, do you
[2:10:36] know a website lithium hydroxide
[2:10:38] both powered and solution forms,
[2:10:41] as a toxic and flammable
[2:10:42] substance, please remember they
[2:10:43] want to build this facility
[2:10:45] neighboring a school and a
[2:10:47] daycare.
[2:10:48] Piedmont lithium and the direct
[2:10:49] quote says that in the future,
[2:10:51] our property could be used for
[2:10:52] future manufacturing
[2:10:55] developments, parks, trails,
[2:10:57] greenways, recreation areas,
[2:10:58] commercial developments and
[2:11:00] solar developments.
[2:11:02] Noticeably missing are family
[2:11:04] homes, residents and rural
[2:11:04] farming.
[2:11:05] Because they know that the land
[2:11:07] will be unfit for habitation.
[2:11:11] For hundreds of years, moving
[2:11:11] forward.
[2:11:13] Instead of the beautiful
[2:11:14] pastoral views of life
[2:11:15] sustaining crops that we now
[2:11:17] have, we are left with man made
[2:11:19] and filled craters.
[2:11:21] Per their application, a toxic
[2:11:24] leak of arsenic unfused unusable
[2:11:26] water and piles of waste rock.
[2:11:28] How does any of this in another
[2:11:29] direct quote, focus on the
[2:11:31] safety, health and well-being of
[2:11:32] the community?
[2:11:34] Seems to me that their focus on
[2:11:36] the safety, health and
[2:11:45] well-being of their paychecks.
[2:11:48] >>chair: to follow.
[2:11:53] >> I'm tim lynn hart, 115 -- I
[2:11:55] would like to start today by
[2:11:57] asking when will piedmont begin
[2:11:59] telling the truth about where
[2:12:02] the wells are around the
[2:12:03] properties?
[2:12:05] And where the closest neighbors
[2:12:09] are?
[2:12:09] Since they have done -- hold on,
[2:12:10] I'll just go with my thing.
[2:12:11] The current map says neither
[2:12:14] correct, two years ago, piedmont
[2:12:17] presented maps claiming all of
[2:12:19] the wells that neighboring land
[2:12:21] owners when shown that the maps
[2:12:26] were from around 1972, they came
[2:12:29] back and claimed that the map --
[2:12:32] came back with another map from
[2:12:33] 2005.
[2:12:36] My calculations, from now to
[2:12:38] then, is 15 years.
[2:12:41] Why do they not have a map for
[2:12:46] now days?
[2:12:49] let's see here.
[2:12:53] I know personally, my will, well
[2:12:56] is very shallow at 50 feet, not
[2:12:58] going to last long.
[2:13:00] And they would know this if they
[2:13:02] would come and talk to the
[2:13:03] people instead of sending
[2:13:06] cookies and saying, hey, come to
[2:13:10] our office.
[2:13:12] If they cannot get their public
[2:13:14] records right, then why should
[2:13:17] we as land owners believe
[2:13:20] anything that they say?
[2:13:22] And I personally believe that
[2:13:24] piedmont lithium does not care
[2:13:25] about the community, they only
[2:13:27] care about the money that they
[2:13:29] will make off of the -- of our
[2:13:30] homes.
[2:13:33] And that's the end of my
[2:13:34] comments.
[2:13:40] >>chair: thank you.
[2:13:43] >> good evening, my name is rich
[2:13:46] -- long shoals road, it's about
[2:13:48] a mile as the crow flies from
[2:13:51] the east pit.
[2:13:53] Piedmont intend to leave behind
[2:13:56] a mound of rock over 280 feet
[2:13:57] high.
[2:13:59] There'll be about three miles
[2:14:00] from cherryville, for how many
[2:14:02] hundreds of years will the
[2:14:04] citizen of gaston county have to
[2:14:06] look at that mess once piedmont
[2:14:09] has taken their money and moved
[2:14:10] away?
[2:14:11] Since the citizens of
[2:14:13] cherryville will be able to see
[2:14:15] it from their homes, will they
[2:14:19] get the naming rights to that
[2:14:21] mountain?
[2:14:25] And piedmont has burned down 30
[2:14:28] homes around me.
[2:14:31] These were homes people lived in
[2:14:33] until piedmont bought them out.
[2:14:35] People could still be living in
[2:14:36] these homes.
[2:14:38] If piedmont had not burned them
[2:14:40] to the ground.
[2:14:42] Piedmont goes to belmont, says
[2:14:45] it will hold -- it will help
[2:14:48] build one habitat house for
[2:14:48] needy family.
[2:14:50] It puts itself in the paper
[2:14:51] about it.
[2:14:53] What about the other 29 families
[2:14:56] with no place to live?
[2:14:58] Piedmont does not care about the
[2:15:02] poor people in gaston county.
[2:15:05] And finally, the air quality
[2:15:06] permit application says that
[2:15:09] piedmont intends to operate 24
[2:15:14] hours a day, 365 days a year.
[2:15:15] Is this true?
[2:15:18] Or is it more of piedmont's not
[2:15:20] caring what they say on forms
[2:15:23] and documents and just filling
[2:15:25] in the blanks.
[2:15:38] Thank you.
[2:15:39] >> so I don't know about the
[2:15:40] rest of my neighbors in the
[2:15:43] room, but I think I have more
[2:15:44] questions that I'm more
[2:15:45] concerned and more confused
[2:15:47] tonight than I was before I got
[2:15:47] here.
[2:15:49] I was hoping to get answers and
[2:15:50] hoping to learn more tonight,
[2:15:51] I'm really struggling because
[2:15:53] I've got so many questions that
[2:15:54] are unanswered.
[2:15:56] But let me go ahead and
[2:15:58] introduce mice, the
[2:15:59] commissioners, council staff,
[2:16:01] warren snowden, we own property
[2:16:04] at 611 adder holt road so we are
[2:16:07] -- we share over 8,000 linear
[2:16:08] feet of property line with
[2:16:09] piedmont lithium, we're not
[2:16:12] thousands of feet away, we are
[2:16:13] ground zero.
[2:16:17] We share property lines.
[2:16:18] We've not heard from piedmont
[2:16:20] lithium in over two years, so I
[2:16:22] don't know if they don't care, I
[2:16:22] don't know if they're not
[2:16:23] concerned about us.
[2:16:26] But I know that all of the
[2:16:28] reports by hdr refer to us as
[2:16:31] the tree farm buffer to the
[2:16:31] east.
[2:16:35] And so I come before you this
[2:16:35] evening
[2:16:37] evening, only having received a
[2:16:39] bag of -- box of cookies and a
[2:16:39] bag of coffee.
[2:16:41] And I would suggest to you, if
[2:16:42] they really knew who their
[2:16:43] immediate impacted neighbors
[2:16:45] are, they would know that we
[2:16:47] don't eat cookies.
[2:16:48] We like ice cream!
[2:16:51] We don't drink coffee, we drink
[2:16:52] bourbon.
[2:16:54] We don't -- they don't know us.
[2:16:56] And so it's really frustrating,
[2:16:59] two years later, we're still
[2:17:00] waiting piedmont lithium to tell
[2:17:02] this community how they intend
[2:17:03] to be a good neighbor, how are
[2:17:04] they going to protect the
[2:17:06] citizens, they don't have a
[2:17:10] north carolina mining permit,
[2:17:10] they don't have the proper
[2:17:12] zoning, no psd air permit, no
[2:17:13] site plan approval and years
[2:17:14] away from the having the
[2:17:16] necessary utilities, electric
[2:17:18] and gas to service this site.
[2:17:21] I learned yesterday, they don't
[2:17:24] even have a north carolina
[2:17:24] geological license.
[2:17:26] Let me repeat that.
[2:17:29] How many years have they been in
[2:17:31] our community the north carolina
[2:17:32] geological board does not hold a
[2:17:34] license for piedmont lithium or
[2:17:36] any of its gee
[2:17:37] ologist
[2:17:37] geologists, so
[2:17:39] tonight, I would like to address
[2:17:42] something as simple as dust,
[2:17:43] everyone knows that dust flows
[2:17:44] from the west to the east, with
[2:17:46] rethe immediate neighbors to the
[2:17:46] east.
[2:17:48] We have not been contacted.
[2:17:50] Every time piedmont lithium
[2:17:52] burns a house, they don't warn
[2:17:54] us, we can smell smoke for
[2:17:55] hours.
[2:17:57] It blows from the west to the
[2:17:57] east.
[2:17:59] We have crops, we have trees, we
[2:18:02] have wildlife, we have kids, and
[2:18:03] we have our health.
[2:18:05] And they don't reach out to us.
[2:18:06] And so it's very challenging to
[2:18:09] stand up here this evening.
[2:18:10] When keith phillips spoke two
[2:18:12] years ago in this room to these
[2:18:13] very citizens, he said thingser
[2:18:14] going to be different.
[2:18:16] He said that piedmont lithium
[2:18:18] would be happy to come every
[2:18:20] month and hold informational
[2:18:20] meetings, if needed.
[2:18:23] Two years later, passed, no
[2:18:25] meetings, no answers, and he's
[2:18:29] not even here tonight.
[2:18:32] So in piedmont lithium's MAY
[2:18:34] 2023 presentation, to their
[2:18:35] investors, they said this
[2:18:38] project will be a $456 million
[2:18:42] steady state project with a 27%
[2:18:44] annual return and a short
[2:18:47] project pay back of 3.5 years.
[2:18:49] Pretty lucrative.
[2:18:50] Yet, they continue to cut
[2:18:52] corners wherever they get a
[2:18:52] chance.
[2:18:54] When asked how they were going
[2:18:56] to discharge water from the
[2:18:58] site, they had four options and
[2:19:00] they have chosen the least
[2:19:02] expensive option, but the most
[2:19:06] dangerous for the citizens.
[2:19:07] Why does piedmont lithium
[2:19:09] continue to not provide answers
[2:19:12] and they choose profits over the
[2:19:13] environment?
[2:19:13] Over the community?
[2:19:16] And over our citizens?
[2:19:18] Why does piedmont lithium
[2:19:20] continue to choose not to be a
[2:19:21] good neighbor?
[2:19:23] Why?
[2:19:24] Thank you.
[2:19:28] >>chair: thank you, sir.
[2:19:30] Anyone wishing to speak that did
[2:19:33] not get a chance to speak?
[2:19:35] Yes, sir, please step up now.
[2:19:37] >> motion to accept his
[2:19:38] comments.
[2:19:38] >> second.
[2:19:39] >>chair: motion made by
[2:19:40] commissioner worley, seconded by
[2:19:42] commissioner hovis.
[2:19:43] All in favor?
[2:19:58] It is unanimous, MADAM Clerk.
[2:20:00] >>
[2:20:01] >>.
[2:20:01] >>chair: please state your name
[2:20:04] and address for the record, sir?
[2:20:10] >> bobby at the time -- my
[2:20:12] property board was lock bel's
[2:20:14] property and properties that
[2:20:15] have been sold.
[2:20:17] And there's one thing that MAY
[2:20:19] can stop this mine if this is
[2:20:20] true.
[2:20:22] Supposedly on hastings read
[2:20:26] where it mets hephzibah church
[2:20:27] road, if you look north there's
[2:20:28] a clump of trees and I've been
[2:20:30] told all of my life that that
[2:20:31] indian graveyard.
[2:20:33] If this is so, it needs to be
[2:20:35] checked into by each and every
[2:20:36] one of you.
[2:20:38] We've heard a lot of things
[2:20:41] about how good it is but we've
[2:20:45] not heard some of the bad parts.
[2:20:48] The columbia climate school used
[2:20:51] large amounts of water and
[2:20:53] specifically how much water was
[2:20:56] used to water per ton.
[2:20:59] Related pollution potential
[2:21:01] increase in carbon dioxide,
[2:21:04] mineral waste, increased
[2:21:09] respiratory problems, alternate
[2:21:12] high
[2:21:14] ydrology that messes with the
[2:21:15] water and the atmosphere also,
[2:21:17] and the atmospheric system.
[2:21:22] The concentration of lithium
[2:21:24] reduced or completely inhibit
[2:21:27] growth, causes necrosis on older
[2:21:29] leaves on the trees, reduces
[2:21:31] chlorophyll, which reduces plant
[2:21:34] shoot and root biomass, causes
[2:21:35] less purified oxygen to breathe.
[2:21:40] And all of the trees, know what
[2:21:41] trees do.
[2:21:44] The necrosis is a scientific
[2:21:46] term for the death of the plant
[2:21:49] tissues, in other words it kills
[2:21:51] the trees.
[2:21:52] Old enough to remember bessemer
[2:21:54] city when all of the tree was
[2:21:55] dead around there, they said it
[2:21:57] wasn't the mine, well, it wasn't
[2:21:58] beetles because we didn't have
[2:21:59] beetles then.
[2:22:01] You see what is coming out.
[2:22:03] And every time mined from what I
[2:22:05] understand, if this is correct,
[2:22:06] there's 15 tons of co2.
[2:22:09] Now, I stand to be corrected by
[2:22:10] you.
[2:22:13] That is admitted to the air.
[2:22:16] What's co2, is it good for you?
[2:22:18] No, MAY include headache,
[2:22:19] dizziness, pains and needles
[2:22:21] feeling breathing, problems,
[2:22:24] sweating increased heart rate,
[2:22:26] high blood pressure, coma,
[2:22:28] asphyxia and convulsions,
[2:22:31] displaces normal oxygen in the
[2:22:33] breathing air.
[2:22:35] Now, this could not be correct.
[2:22:38] But it says 400 to 2 million
[2:22:44] liters of water per kill lo of
[2:22:44] ton.
[2:22:46] I stand to be corrected.
[2:22:50] Where's the slurry going?
[2:22:54] Our water treatment plants can't
[2:22:58] con tall all of this surry.
[2:23:00] Causes damage to local
[2:23:00] ecosystems, and the army corps
[2:23:02] of engineers and y'all probably
[2:23:04] stop me o on this, the army
[2:23:07] corps of engineers say it won't
[2:23:10] harm the water supplies, well,
[2:23:12] they're government affiliated
[2:23:12] and the government out of
[2:23:14] washington lies every day.
[2:23:18] And that's a fact.
[2:23:22] The chile's solar ra mine caused
[2:23:27] the region to lose 65% of that
[2:23:29] region's water.
[2:23:30] Chile has the world's largest
[2:23:34] right lithium reserves.
[2:23:37] Air contamination to the water
[2:23:43] and the soil.
[2:23:48] -- toxicity of lithium is poor
[2:23:49] concentrations and diarrhea.
[2:23:50] From what I understand, else
[2:23:54] about it, this dust, now, don't
[2:23:55] correct me on this if I'm wrong,
[2:23:57] this dust escapes to the
[2:23:59] atmosphere it's explosive.
[2:24:00] And if there's enough moisture
[2:24:04] in the air, and humidity,
[2:24:05] there's a possibility that it
[2:24:05] can explode, as I said, y'all
[2:24:06] can correct me on these matter,
[2:24:07] that's all I've got, thank you
[2:24:09] for letting me have my time.
[2:24:10] >>chair: thank you, sir.
[2:24:11] >> but I would like to talk
[2:24:13] about the indian graveyard.
[2:24:15] >>chair: yesterday
[2:24:15] , sir.
[2:24:17] What we will do, for everyone's
[2:24:18] knowledge, I'm going to ask
[2:24:19] piedmont lithium, if you would
[2:24:20] like to rebut anything that you
[2:24:22] guys have heard?
[2:24:23] Give you that opportunity, but
[2:24:25] what we would like to do, we'll
[2:24:26] have once we get all of the
[2:24:27] questions that were asked, from
[2:24:29] the clerk's office, we'll have
[2:24:31] our staff send them to you guys
[2:24:33] and you can do it that way and
[2:24:34] we can post that and we'll send
[2:24:36] it out because we have the
[2:24:37] record of how they signed up for
[2:24:39] their questions, that way, we
[2:24:41] want to make it as transparent,
[2:24:43] if that's okay?
[2:24:43] >> yes.
[2:24:45] >>chair: make sure you're okay,
[2:24:46] first, because I've got to make
[2:24:47] sure you're good, would you care
[2:24:49] to rebut tonight, anything that
[2:24:51] you heard or talk or you would
[2:24:53] rather take it as it's up to you
[2:24:54] guys, usually we don't do this,
[2:24:55] but I want to make sure that
[2:24:57] everybody is on the table for
[2:24:58] what we need.
[2:24:59] >> certainly appreciate the
[2:24:59] offer.
[2:25:03] I think it would be best to not
[2:25:05] come back can rebut, very happy
[2:25:06] to answer the questions and have
[2:25:07] that be part of the public
[2:25:08] record.
[2:25:10] >>chair: what we'll do, just
[2:25:12] for everybody's forsake, if
[2:25:13] that's okay.
[2:25:15] We'll have -- once we get the
[2:25:17] tape, but the questions back in,
[2:25:18] send them to you this week,
[2:25:21] we'll get it by -- give me date
[2:25:22] there, esquire.
[2:25:23] Look down at what you have on
[2:25:26] your phone, what's that date on
[2:25:26] there?
[2:25:28] Next thursday?
[2:25:30] >> next thursday.
[2:25:31] 17th.
[2:25:33] >>chair: 17th, we'll have those
[2:25:34] to you guys, if you can have
[2:25:36] them back in ten days that, will
[2:25:36] be the 27th.
[2:25:37] And if that's okay?
[2:25:39] If that sounds good enough.
[2:25:41] That way we can post that, we'll
[2:25:43] send it -- make sure that if
[2:25:45] you're on this list, adam, can
[2:25:46] you just put a list over there,
[2:25:48] of anybody who spoke tonight,
[2:25:49] put your e-mail down, you'll
[2:25:50] have them directly to you.
[2:25:53] And we'll work on that.
[2:25:54] Because what we want to do is
[2:25:57] make sure transparency is
[2:25:58] covered through everything we
[2:25:58] have.
[2:26:05] That way, bill, you and tom can
[2:26:20] get with him and that way y'all
[2:26:20] can kind of put together some
[2:26:20] back and forth, I don't want to
[2:26:20] put anybody on the spot, but I
[2:26:20] want to make sure that we don't
[2:26:20] run from anything.
[2:26:20] But I want to thank you guys for
[2:26:21] coming.
[2:26:21] Like I said, it's a tough --
[2:26:21] it's a tough -- you knew that
[2:26:23] when you come in here.
[2:26:24] For folks in gaston county, our
[2:26:25] job as commissioners, we're
[2:26:27] going to make sure that we ask
[2:26:28] the questions that you want
[2:26:31] answered, you guys call, like I
[2:26:32] said, somebody called me the
[2:26:34] other morning at 5:00, it's
[2:26:35] okay, I don't mind.
[2:26:37] But we're going to listen.
[2:26:38] And I'm proud of the staff that
[2:26:40] we have, provided what you guys
[2:26:41] have done, but also I want to
[2:26:43] thank the board, for putting up
[2:26:46] with a lot that goes on with
[2:26:50] this, because it is a -- it's
[2:26:51] tiresome, but also intense but
[2:26:52] also has a lot of purpose.
[2:26:54] And you guys have to understand
[2:26:55] what they want.
[2:26:57] And it's what's best for what
[2:26:58] they have been doing for their
[2:27:00] whole lives and you guys know
[2:27:01] how it is when somebody comes in
[2:27:03] and intrudes on you, it's kind
[2:27:04] of different, you know, so we
[2:27:05] want to make sure we're
[2:27:06] respectful for everybody.
[2:27:07] And what we do.
[2:27:09] I want to thank you guys tonight
[2:27:11] for being respectful with each
[2:27:12] other.
[2:27:14] This is -- this is a hard time.
[2:27:15] But we're going to get it right
[2:27:16] and we're going to make it
[2:27:18] happen and make sure that we
[2:27:20] work hard to answer all of the
[2:27:21] questions that we have because
[2:27:23] we're going to keep firing them
[2:27:23] at you.
[2:27:26] And that way you guys, thank you
[2:27:30] for what's going on, you're good
[2:27:32] with where we are so far?
[2:27:32] Okay, good.
[2:27:34] Are there any other matters that
[2:27:36] need to come before this board
[2:27:37] at this time?
[2:27:40] >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I have another
[2:27:40] matter.
[2:27:41] >>chair: yes, sir.
[2:27:47] >> this matter concerns the fee
[2:27:50] of schedule for the new south
[2:27:53] point park in the south point
[2:27:55] township, the park that we
[2:27:56] approved the lease agreement
[2:27:58] duke energy, there's a fee
[2:28:00] schedule that has been proposed
[2:28:02] and I would like to discuss that
[2:28:02] fee schedule.
[2:28:04] >>chair: what I would like to
[2:28:08] do, if it's pertinent, do you
[2:28:10] have a problem if we delay that
[2:28:12] to in next meet, I want to make
[2:28:14] sure that everyone gets the same
[2:28:15] fee schedule.
[2:28:16] >> we table the fee schedule
[2:28:18] until such time as we can
[2:28:20] discuss it further.
[2:28:21] >>chair: --
[2:28:23] >> it's not in place now
[2:28:25] currently anyway, but there's
[2:28:27] nobody -- nobody charging a fee,
[2:28:27] but I want to see --
[2:28:29] >>chair: we can change it as we
[2:28:29] go forward.
[2:28:32] >> well, my main concern is,
[2:28:34] there's no other park in gaston
[2:28:37] county, that you pay to drive in
[2:28:38] and park.
[2:28:40] And the concern has been brought
[2:28:42] from many residents, that they
[2:28:43] feel like that if they would
[2:28:45] like to go to this park, and sit
[2:28:47] on a picnic table, and eat their
[2:28:49] lunch, during their lunch break
[2:28:50] and look at the nature and the
[2:28:52] lake, that they shouldn't be
[2:28:54] charged a $7 fee to get in to
[2:28:56] that park to do that.
[2:28:59] So that's the part that I'm
[2:29:00] concerned about.
[2:29:02] That any north belmont park, any
[2:29:04] of those parks, and sit down at
[2:29:07] a table and eat your lunch for
[2:29:09] an hour, but in this particular
[2:29:11] park, we're proposing a $7 fee
[2:29:12] and I just don't think that's
[2:29:13] reasonable to do that.
[2:29:17] So I find that we bring it up at
[2:29:19] a later time.
[2:29:19] >>chair:
[2:29:20] >> that's my concern.
[2:29:22] >>chair: can we table it the
[2:29:23] next meeting because that's our
[2:29:24] voting meeting.
[2:29:26] >> we can have it for discussion
[2:29:27] at that meeting.
[2:29:28] >>chair: we could do that, but
[2:29:30] I didn't want to have a vote or
[2:29:30] anything.
[2:29:31] >> I would like feedback from
[2:29:34] the staff to discuss what fees
[2:29:36] should be applicable but what
[2:29:39] should not be a fee for a
[2:29:41] citizen to have as I said just
[2:29:44] go and enjoy their lunch at a
[2:29:46] picnic table in one of our parks
[2:29:48] and that's right now what's
[2:29:50] proposed, we would charge people
[2:29:54] $7 and under this -- that's not
[2:29:54] reasonable.
[2:29:55] >>chair: DR. Eagle.
[2:29:55] >>manager: we've heard some of
[2:29:57] that concern, commissioner
[2:29:59] worley, and started some
[2:30:00] conversations internally about
[2:30:02] some options for you all to talk
[2:30:02] about.
[2:30:04] This park is a bit different
[2:30:06] because of the beach access.
[2:30:07] But we understand the concern
[2:30:10] and the need to differentiate.
[2:30:13] And are already working towards
[2:30:14] that discussion for the next
[2:30:14] meeting.
[2:30:16] >> that would be perfect.
[2:30:17] >>chair: get that to everyone
[2:30:18] and we'll add that to the
[2:30:20] agenda, MADAM Clerk for
[2:30:22] discussion.
[2:30:26] On the tuesday of next.
[2:30:28] Any other matters coming before
[2:30:30] the board?
[2:30:34] Well, I have one.
[2:30:36] Our esteem ed
[2:30:39] ed assistant county
[2:30:41] manager turned yesterday,
[2:30:42] vincent stand up.
[2:30:45] If y'all don't no vincent wong,
[2:30:47] if it's wong, I don't want to be
[2:30:47] right.
[2:30:51] Put his picture up there, 40th
[2:30:53] birthday, if y'all don't know,
[2:30:54] vincent works very hard for us
[2:30:55] and we poke fun, look at that
[2:30:57] picture of him and brian
[2:30:59] together, making -- if you don't
[2:31:00] know, they have the same shirt
[2:31:00] on.
[2:31:01] On the same day.
[2:31:02] So very good.
[2:31:03] But no, thank you.
[2:31:05] Vincent, thank you guys for what
[2:31:07] you do and brian, and tom, thank
[2:31:09] you guys for working diligently.
[2:31:12] Donny, congratulations, thank
[2:31:12] you for that.
[2:31:13] Many of our directors are here,
[2:31:15] thank you guys for the tireless
[2:31:17] work that you do, and being that
[2:31:20] way, but with that, this
[2:31:21] concludes our work session for
[2:31:23] tonighter our next regular
[2:31:26] meeting is tuesday AUGUST 22nd
[2:31:28] at 6:00 P.M. Here at the harl by
[2:31:30] b. Gaston public forum, thank
[2:31:32] you for watching, if you have
[2:31:34] questions, please send your
[2:31:37] comments or questions to donna
[2:31:41] s. Buff at 704-866-3196.
[2:31:43] Good night, wonger.