
Congressman Moore pens letter to EPA about lithium pit lake near KM
On January 17, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) penned a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Jane Nishida, urging the agency to assist with monitoring emissions from the proposed Albemarle open-pit lithium mine near Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The request stems from concerns about the off-gassing of dihydrogen sulfide (H2S) caused by the dewatering process at the site.
“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has assured my district’s communities that the current concentration of H2S in the air is not harmful,” Congressman Moore wrote in the letter. “However, I am requesting the EPA’s assistance under the enforcement statutes of the Clean Air Act to monitor H2S levels to ensure they remain below potentially toxic thresholds.”
The proposed mine is critical to U.S. economic competitiveness due to its potential to supply lithium, a key component in high-density batteries and other energy technologies. Congressman Moore stressed the importance of balancing the mine's development with the safety of local residents.
“While I recognize the mine’s strategic importance, it is imperative to address the concerns of nearby residents and ensure their safety throughout the process,” he added.
Moore’s letter read:
“On behalf of the residents of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and the constituents of North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, I am writing to ask for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (EPA) assistance with an issue of pollutant off-gassing occurring at the proposed Albemarle open-pit lithium mine just south of Kings Mountain.
“The site, which is in the development stage, is currently draining rainwater that accumulated in the pit over 30 years of non-use. Although this process complies with a state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit under the Clean Water Act, it is producing an off-gassing effect as previously submerged reactive minerals are exposed to air, releasing dihydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S, a potentially harmful chemical compound, is highly corrosive and can be poisonous in high quantities. Its presence is evident from the “rotten egg” odor typically associated with sulfuric compounds that residents, including myself, have reported smelling.
“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has assured my district’s communities that the current concentration of H2S in the air is not harmful. However, I am requesting the EPA’s assistance under the enforcement statutes of the Clean Air Act to monitor H2S levels to ensure they remain below potentially toxic thresholds.
“I understand the importance of this proposed mine to the overall economic competitiveness of the United States, with its potential to supply critical minerals like lithium for high-density batteries and other energy technologies. While I recognize the mine’s strategic importance, it is imperative to address the concerns of nearby residents and ensure their safety throughout the process.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter - I welcome any assistance the EPA can provide,” he concluded.
Congressman Tim Moore represents the 14th Congressional District of North Carolina, including Cleveland, Gaston, Burke, and Rutherford Counties, as well as parts of Mecklenburg and Polk Counties.
“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has assured my district’s communities that the current concentration of H2S in the air is not harmful,” Congressman Moore wrote in the letter. “However, I am requesting the EPA’s assistance under the enforcement statutes of the Clean Air Act to monitor H2S levels to ensure they remain below potentially toxic thresholds.”
The proposed mine is critical to U.S. economic competitiveness due to its potential to supply lithium, a key component in high-density batteries and other energy technologies. Congressman Moore stressed the importance of balancing the mine's development with the safety of local residents.
“While I recognize the mine’s strategic importance, it is imperative to address the concerns of nearby residents and ensure their safety throughout the process,” he added.
Moore’s letter read:
“On behalf of the residents of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and the constituents of North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, I am writing to ask for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (EPA) assistance with an issue of pollutant off-gassing occurring at the proposed Albemarle open-pit lithium mine just south of Kings Mountain.
“The site, which is in the development stage, is currently draining rainwater that accumulated in the pit over 30 years of non-use. Although this process complies with a state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit under the Clean Water Act, it is producing an off-gassing effect as previously submerged reactive minerals are exposed to air, releasing dihydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S, a potentially harmful chemical compound, is highly corrosive and can be poisonous in high quantities. Its presence is evident from the “rotten egg” odor typically associated with sulfuric compounds that residents, including myself, have reported smelling.
“The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) has assured my district’s communities that the current concentration of H2S in the air is not harmful. However, I am requesting the EPA’s assistance under the enforcement statutes of the Clean Air Act to monitor H2S levels to ensure they remain below potentially toxic thresholds.
“I understand the importance of this proposed mine to the overall economic competitiveness of the United States, with its potential to supply critical minerals like lithium for high-density batteries and other energy technologies. While I recognize the mine’s strategic importance, it is imperative to address the concerns of nearby residents and ensure their safety throughout the process.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter - I welcome any assistance the EPA can provide,” he concluded.
Congressman Tim Moore represents the 14th Congressional District of North Carolina, including Cleveland, Gaston, Burke, and Rutherford Counties, as well as parts of Mecklenburg and Polk Counties.