Lithium mining permits were mostly approved while waiting on citizens to stop resisting.
"Piedmont Lithium stock soars on approval for a mining permit"
https://invezz.com/news/2024/04/15/piedmont-lithium-stock-soars-mining-permit/
Pesky Citizens~
"Piedmont Lithium: More Lithium Processor Than Integrated Miner - Permitting And Legal Problems Abound" "This site has faced heavy opposition from the public and county officials and is lacking both state and county permits."
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4487521-piedmont-lithium-permitting-and-legal-problems-abound
"Tesla supplier Piedmont Lithium has officially obtained a North Carolina state mining permit after posting a $1-million reclamation bond to develop an open-pit mine that would become one of the largest US sources of the key battery metal."