Where things stand for proposed mining operation near Charlotte

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Piedmont Lithium Inc. is trying to navigate a multi-layered approvals process and harsh public blowback to its massive proposed Gaston County lithium mine. Over the six months since the company held its first public meeting with county leaders last summer, the timeline for the project remains foggy.

First, Piedmont Lithium needs to secure a state mining permit from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources. After that, it must receive approval from the county to rezone its land for the project, which is expected to span well over 1,500 acres.

The county must also approve a special-use permit for the project. Piedmont Lithium leaders have said previously they hope to start construction this year, but the company is at the mercy of the approvals timeline on that front.

Brian Risinger, a spokesperson for Piedmont Lithium, acknowledged as much to the Charlotte Business Journal this week. He said the company does not have a firm construction timeline set, as construction cannot begin until the state and county approvals are secured.

The best-case scenario for Piedmont Lithium, Risinger said, would likely be a state mining permit approval coming in the time range of April. If that were followed by a county approval process with no major hurdles, it could mean a construction start in late summer or sometime in the third quarter. But that is purely a projection, Risinger emphasized, because the exact timeline for the state mining permit is unclear.

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