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Piedmont Lithium’s headquarters is seen in Belmont, Gaston County, North Carolina, U.S., July 16, 2021. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder
Aug 8 (Reuters) – Piedmont Lithium (PLL.O) on Tuesday drew skepticism and anger at a key meeting with local North Carolina officials about its plans for a lithium mine that would supply the electric vehicle battery metal to Tesla (TSLA.O).
The open-pit mine, if approved, would be one of the few lithium-producing sites in the United States, but there has been little progress in gaining approvals for the project, which the company has been trying to get up and running for more than two years.
At the public meeting with the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, which controls zoning changes, officials were irked that Piedmont CEO Keith Phillips did not attend and expressed concern that the mine could cause wells in the area, which many residents rely on, to run dry.
Piedmont said it does not expect “widespread drying up of wells,” although it admitted at least 10 of its neighbors could run out of water.
“I don’t want to see any of our citizens ever be put in that position,” Commissioner Allen Fraley said at the meeting, which was webcast. “How would you like to wake up one morning and your well’s dry?”
Piedmont said it would be open to helping its neighbors in those situations dig deeper wells or connect to municipal water supplies.
Piedmont said Phillips did not attend because its technical experts did instead. The company brought staff focused on environmental and legal issues, as well as experts on blasting, water and other technical areas.
The project, which has divided the county of roughly 230,000 just east of Charlotte, underscores broader tension in the U.S. as those who are resistant to living near a mine clash with those who believe the United States must lessen its dependence on China for lithium and other strategic minerals to cope with climate change.
Piedmont first signed a deal to supply lithium to Tesla in 2021 from North Carolina. That deal was paused before being renegotiated in January after Piedmont found a temporary source for the metal from a Quebec lithium mine in which it has an investment.
Piedmont will need the board to approve a zoning variance before it can build the project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and production facilities.
The board has said it will not consider such a change until the company receives a state mining permit. Piedmont has been seeking a permit for nearly two years and in May asked for a third extension to file the necessary paperwork.
Piedmont officials said they were open to financially assisting homeowners not able to sell their land because of the mine project and that the company would aim to not discharge processed water into local waterways.
In response to concerns from commissioners that the company could be sold amid rampant global demand for lithium, they said that steps had been taken to “make it difficult” for the company to be sold, without elaborating.
They added that Piedmont was also open to funding a surety bond for mine reclamation “much larger” than the $1 million required by state regulations in case the company failed, though they did not provide a specific amount.
Multiple residents spoke against the proposed mine. None spoke for it. Some said Piedmont, which moved its headquarters to Gaston County in 2021 from Australia, has done little to share project details with them.
“We’ve not heard from Piedmont Lithium in over two years,” said Warren Snowdon, whose land shares an 8,000-foot-border with the proposed site. “So I don’t know if they don’t care and I don’t know if they’re concerned about us.”
Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Edwina Gibbs
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Published 3:56 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2024
The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust has announced the successful acquisition of a breathtaking 2,921-acre property in Hyde County.
“This significant achievement, completed on March 28, 2024, marks a momentous step forward in conservation efforts in coastal North Carolina,” stated a news release from the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust.
The property, formerly held by the Glenn R. Currin and Sue A. Currin Revocable Trusts, boasts an impressive 50 miles of waterfront spanning Abel, Spencer and Rose bays. Its diverse ecosystems include pristine coastal marshlands, pond pine woodlands, oak hammocks and a substantial 215-acre waterfowl impoundment, making it a haven for a wide array of wildlife species.
“We are excited to have protected this spectacular property, which serves as a vital habitat for coastal wildlife,” remarked Harrison Marks, executive director of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust. “We extend our gratitude to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for their invaluable partnership and to the generous funders whose support made this conservation endeavor possible.”
Recognized by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as one of the state’s premier areas for biodiversity and wildlife habitat, the property is home to numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds, including the American black duck and various sandpipers. It may also provide refuge for imperiled wildlife such as the eastern black rail and northern big-eared bat, both federally listed as threatened species.
“Situated within the Swanquarter/Gull Rock Wetlands Significant Natural Heritage Area, its expansive coastal marsh plays a crucial role in protecting inland areas from storms and helps sustain local fisheries that are important for the local economy,” noted the release.
After completing the purchase, the Coastal Land Trust transferred the property to the State of North Carolina to be managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as part of the Gull Rock Game Land. “The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is committed to enhancing habitat for native wildlife on this property including management of vegetation and water levels in the 215-acre wetland impoundment,” stated Ben Solomon, assistant chief and land acquisition manager of the Wildlife Resources Commission. “We look forward to opening it for public hunting opportunities in the future.”
The acquisition of this property was made possible through the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, N.C. Land and Water Fund, Fred and Alice Stanback, and the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation, Inc.
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Manchester United are leading the race to sign Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan from North Carolina Courage.
The midfielder is out of contract when the National Women’s Soccer League season ends in November and would be available on a free transfer in January.
But Mail Sport understands United are expected to make a bid for O’Sullivan this summer.
The 30-year-old, who is a lifelong United fan, has previously been offered a new contract by her current club but it is thought she is open to the move.
Mail Sport reported in December that multiple clubs across Europe were interested in O’Sullivan ahead of her contract expiring this year.
Manchester United are leading the race to sign Denise O’Sullivan from North Carolina Courage
The midfielder is out of contract in November but the Red Devils will make a bid this summer
O’Sullivan has over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland and would add some experience to United’s midfield.
During her time at the Courage, she has won two NWSL Championships, two Challenge Cups and three NWSL Shields.
O’Sullivan has previously played in the WSL, having joined Brighton on loan in 2020.
The move came about in order for her to be available for Ireland’s rescheduled Euro 2022 qualifiers, as travelling back and forth from the US would have forced her to undergo three separate two-week periods of quarantine within nine weeks.
O’Sullivan started her career with local Irish side Wilton United before spells with Peamount United and Cork City.
She enjoyed three successful years with Glasgow City between 2013 and 2016 before making the move across the pond to join Houston Dash.
In 2017, she made the switch to the Courage but has had loan spells with Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers.
OXFORD, Ala. (WBRC) – Oxford police say they arrested a man accused of abducting a 16-year-old girl from North Carolina. Investigators say the man and the teen are second cousins and knew one another.
On Friday, May 3, the Oxford Police Department were notified by the sheriff’s office in North Carolina about a 33-year-old man named Richard Maybach, who had potentially abducted a 16-year-old girl from the area.
“The information we received again from Cabarrus County was that they were traveling in a rented white BMW SUV, they had a Nevada tag which officers were able to locate,” says Sgt. Butler.
While on patrol, Oxford investigators say Maybach vehicle was spotted at a local motel on South Quintard Avenue in the Oxford area.
“Officers were able to make contact with Mr. Maybach at a motel here in town, the Rodeway Inn. They were able to take him into custody and also secure the girl who was in good condition,” says Sgt. Butler.
Helping agencies in the North Carolina area, Sgt. Butler says law enforcement work together as part of a team, and that team stretches across the country.
“For law enforcement agencies to communicate with each other is vital for us to be successful in our rolls and our responsibilities in law enforcement by using different technologies and ways to communicate with one another, and be able to recover a missing juvenile potentially abducted from another state,” says Sgt. Butler.
Oxford investigators say the girl was sent to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for evaluation and later picked up by her parents. Richard Maybach is waiting to be extradited back to North Carolina.
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