Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX:PLL, NASDAQ:PLL, XETRA:) has responded to new quarry and mining ordinances approved by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina, USA.
The ordinances are not specific to the company’s proposed Carolina Lithium Project but consider all quarry and mining operations in the county as part of a more comprehensive update of Gaston County’s Unified Development Ordinance.
PLL says that the ordinances align with its operational plans and believes its safety and environmental proposals exceed the county's expectations.
“Align with core values”
Piedmont president and CEO Keith Phillips said: “The new ordinances enacted by Gaston County's Board of Commissioners are in the best interests of Gaston County's citizens and its environment, and we appreciate the guidance and clarity the ordinances provide.
"We believe the safety and environmental standards currently outlined in our proposed Carolina Lithium Project will meet or exceed the standards set in the newly passed regulations, which align with Piedmont Lithium's core values and initiatives for sustainable social and environmental practices.
“The company will continue working with the Gaston County Board of Commissioners for potential future rezoning and with the State of North Carolina regarding Piedmont Lithium's State Mining Permit application, which was submitted on August 31, 2021."
Public hearing
Phillips added: "We welcome the Commission's request for a public hearing regarding our State Mining Permit application, and we have also, in fact, formally requested a public hearing ourselves.
"These hearings are common in such permit application proceedings and provide another opportunity for us to receive feedback regarding our Carolina Lithium Project application from the County and members of the community."
About Piedmont
Piedmont Lithium is developing a world-class, multi-asset, integrated lithium business focused on enabling the transition to a net-zero world and the creation of a clean energy economy in North America.
The centrepiece of the company’s operations is the Carolina Lithium Project, which is in the renowned Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt of North Carolina, and when combined with equally strategic and in-demand mineral resources from long-term supply contracts and equity investments in lithium-based assets in Quebec and Ghana, positions PLL to be one of the largest, lowest cost, most sustainable producers of battery-grade lithium hydroxide in the world.
Piedmont operations are strategically located to best serve the fast-growing North American and European electric vehicle and battery storage supply chains.