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Celebrating Six Years of Safety Excellence at Albemarle
Kings Mountain |
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Albemarle is celebrating a major milestone; six years without a recordable safety incident at the Kings Mountain site. Site leaders say the achievement reflects a shared commitment to Albemarle’s core values and a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. “This isn’t just the result of the safety department, it’s the outcome of a collective mindset,” said Gabe Merritt, a safety professional at the Kings Mountain site, “Our goal is simple: make sure everyone goes home safely to their loved ones, just as they arrived.”
The site keeps safety top of mind through daily tailgate meetings, proactive reporting and leadership engagement in the field. New employees undergo a multi-day onboarding program focused on unsafe behaviors or key individual actions that can prevent at-risk conditions and site-specific policies, followed by structured on-the-job training. Leaders emphasize that maintaining a strong safety culture requires continuous investment and communication. “Safety education isn’t a one-time event, it’s an ongoing process,” Merritt said, “We remain committed to improving every day.” |
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Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions |
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Transparency and ongoing community engagement are essential to responsibly reopening the proposed Kings Mountain Mine. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. For the full set of Q&As, please follow the link below. If you have questions that are not addressed, please visit our project center, give us a call, email or connect with us on Facebook. All contact details are also found via the link.
Q: HOW WILL THIS PROJECT IMPACT THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF RESIDENTS?
A: Albemarle is taking steps to resume mining operations at the site in an environmentally protective and socially responsible way. For the proposed Kings Mountain Mine, Albemarle will include measures for social impacts such as visual impact reduction, dust suppression, noise mitigation and community giving programs. Albemarle plans to continue to seek community input throughout the mine life, including completing a voluntary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to better understand and to develop environmental and social management plans that are designed to minimize adverse impacts and enhance benefits from the mine.
Q: WHAT IS THE GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS TYPE OF PROJECT?
A: Albemarle, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., operates the only producing lithium resource in the United States in Silver Peak, Nevada. The proposed Kings Mountain Mine project is expected to provide a domestic source of lithium to meet the U.S.’s growing demand for this critical mineral.
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| Project Overview |
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Meet Randall Walker, Productions Operator at Kings Mountain |
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Randall Walker has been a production operator at the Kings Mountain site for nearly three years. He supports several active projects including mine pit dewatering, clearing vegetation and transferring tailings from the legacy mine. Walker joined Albemarle after completing the heavy equipment operator academy at Cleveland Community College and said it’s nice to be using those skills on-site.
Growing up in nearby Shelby, Walker said he never realized mining was part of the region’s history until joining the team. He’s proud to be part of Albemarle and appreciates how the company supports its employees, noting the paid parental leave he received when his first child was born. |
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Mine Pit Dewatering |
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Approximately 80% of the mine pit has been dewatered with over 1.3 billion gallons removed. The water that is being discharged is in compliance with state permits. |
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April 2024 |
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September 2025 |
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Winner of our Leaf Blower Giveaway! |
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Congratulations to Natalie Lutz Bolin, winner of Albemarle’s lithium-battery operated leaf blower giveaway at the Cleveland County Fair. Leaves are not included, but that shouldn’t be a problem this time of year. |
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Last year we awarded 21 local grants in honor of the City of Kings Mountain's 150th Anniversary. This year, we will continue to highlight a few of these recipients every month to follow the contributions they are making to their communities: |
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VIA Health Partners |
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With support from the grant, VIA Health Partners implemented a pharmacy dispensing system to improve medication safety and efficiency. The automated technology streamlines workflows and ensures timely delivery of pain medication to patients. As Cleveland County’s oldest hospice provider, VIA remains committed to compassionate, patient-centered care for all who qualify, regardless of age, condition or ability to pay.
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Sound the Alarm |
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Our team partnered with the American Red Cross and the Kings Mountain Fire Department to provide fire safety education and install free 10-year lithium-ion battery smoke detectors for local residents. Smoke detectors were installed in 29 homes, ten of which did not have working smoke detectors.
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Mountaineer Day |
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We’re honored to support events like Mountaineer Day Heritage Festival at Patriots Park. It was great being able to celebrate the rich heritage of Kings Mountain with the community! |
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Feeding Kinds Cleveland County |
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This Thanksgiving season Feeding Kids Cleveland County is bringing neighbors together for a shared meal across six locations. Everyone is welcome to join us. |
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