Carolina Lithium has applied to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality for for a PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) permit to construct and operate a new facility, consisting of equipment for mining, crushing and handling of spodumene ore, a key source of lithium for batteries, as well as processing and concentrating the ore into lithium hydroxide at on-site plants at:
Hephzibah Church Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
Gaston County
The facility is subject to review and processing under North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC), Title 15A, Subchapter 02D, Section .0530 “Prevention of Significant Deterioration” and Section 02D .0544, “Prevention of Significant Deterioration Requirements for Greenhouse Gases”, and Subchapter 02Q, Section .0300 “Construction and Operation Permits”. The facility is a new "major stationary source" for at least one regulated NSR pollutant (CO, NOx, PM). This new facility will also result in significant increases in emissions of PM10, PM2.5, and greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Carolina Lithium's application was reviewed by the Division of Air Quality, Raleigh Central Office to determine compliance with the requirements of the North Carolina Environment Management Commission air pollution regulations. The results of that review led to the preliminary determination that the project could be approved and the Division of Air Quality permit could be issued, if certain permit conditions are met.
Gaston County is designated as an attainment area for all promulgated National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Compliance with all ambient air quality standards and PSD increments are expected.
This notice serves as a Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity for Public Comment for this proposal. The Public hearing will be held at Gaston Community College, Dallas Campus, Myers Center Auditorium on October 13, 2026 at 6 pm located at 201 US Highway 321 South in Dallas.
A copy of all data and the application submitted by Carolina Lithium and other material used by the Division of Air Quality in making this preliminary determination are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the following locations:
NC DEQ
Division of Air Quality
Air Permits Section
217 West Jones Street, Suite 4000
Raleigh, NC 27603
Mooresville Regional Office
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
Information on the permit application and staff review are available by writing or calling:
Mark J. Cuilla, EIT, CPM or Joseph Voelker, P.E.
NC DEQ/Division of Air Quality
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1641
Telephone: 919-707-8400
Interested persons are invited to review these materials and submit written comments to Joseph Voelker, P.E. at the above address or to present oral or written comments at the Public Hearing. Persons wishing to present oral comments at the hearing should prepare their presentation to be three minutes or less. For those who are unable to attend, comments can also be submitted by email to daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with the subject line "CarolinaLithium.22A". You may also leave a voicemail comment at 919-919-707-8714. Comments will be accepted until October 16, 2026.