GOUVERNEUR —  Empire State Mines, LLC (“ESM”), a subsidiary of Titan Mining Corporation announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the public comment period for ESM's Aquatic Resources Permit, a critical step in the process to create the first and only commercial-scale natural flake graphite mine in the United States.

The mine is anticipated to supply nearly half of all domestic natural graphite demand, a federally-recognized critical mineral. Graphite is an essential element in batteries, technology, and defense applications.

When completed, this mine will provide hundreds of construction and permanent jobs in the North Country, and contribute directly to the United State’s supply chain resilience and national security.

"The opening of the public comment period represents an important step in the development of the Kilbourne Graphite Project," Joel Rheault, Vice President of Operations at ESM said. "We welcome public participation and remain committed to working openly with our neighbors, local leaders and regulators as we advance a project that has the potential to create lasting economic opportunity for the North Country while strengthening America's critical mineral supply chain."

This new facility, to be developed entirely within ESM’s existing zinc mine in the Town of Fowler, builds upon ESM’s long-standing presence in the region, where the company has invested tens of millions of dollars, expanded employment and established an industry-leading strong safety record.

Graphite has emerged as one of the nation's most strategically important critical minerals, serving as an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, advanced manufacturing, and a wide range of defense applications.

Today, the United States is 100% import dependent on foreign sources of natural graphite, primarily from China, which dominates global graphite production and processing capacity. The project would directly support New York State’s electrification, aerospace, and defense industries.

The Kilbourne Graphite Project is designed to produce approximately 40,000 metric tons of natural graphite annually, nearly half of current U.S. demand. By establishing a secure domestic supply of this critical mineral, the project has the potential to strengthen America's manufacturing base, improve supply chain resilience and reduce strategic dependence on foreign suppliers. The project's national significance has been recognized through federal support, including participation in the FAST-41 permitting process and the Export-Import Bank of the United States' $5.5M support for feasibility work and a $120M Letter of Interest, that could provide funding for approximately 60% of the project’s anticipated capital requirements.

If approved, the Kilbourne Project would represent a transformational economic investment in the Town of Fowler, St. Lawrence County and the broader North Country. ESM expects the project to create hundreds of construction jobs during development and more than 150 permanent positions once operational.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment estimates a 13-year life of mine, which will generate long-term employment, create new opportunities for regional suppliers and contractors, and support sustained economic activity across the North Country.

The public comment period provides residents, stakeholders and community members the opportunity to review the project and provide input as regulators continue their comprehensive environmental review.

ESM encourages interested members of the public to participate in the process and remains committed to transparent engagement, science-based decision making and ongoing engagement with North Country communities throughout the permitting process.