Project Information

Project Title

Kilbourne Graphite Project

Sector

Sector:Mining

Project Location Address

Coordinates

• Latitude: 44°14’51” N
  Longitude: 75°23’50” W

Project Sponsor Contact Information

• Company Name/Agency: Empire State Mines LLC
  Project Sponsor: Empire State Mines LLC
  Street Address 1 : 408 Sylvia Lake Road
  City: Gouverneur
  State: New York
  Zip Code: 13642
  POC Name: Rita Adiani
  POC Title: President & CEO
  POC Phone: 480 562 1833
  POC Email Address: radiani@titanminingcorp.com

Alternative Point Of Contact (Optional)

No 

Project Purpose

The Kilbourne Graphite Project seeks designation as a covered project under Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41). This $360-million capex investment for an integrated mine and processing facility will establish U.S.A’s leading domestic natural flake graphite supply chain in more than 70 years, directly advancing federal energy, defense, and supply-chain security priorities. The Project has secured significant support from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and is pursuing additional support through DOE and DOD critical minerals programs. With existing and future significant interest for financing from federal organisations , multiple required federal authorizations (including a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit and an Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA), and designation of graphite as a federally recognized critical mineral, the Project fully meets FAST-41 criteria. FAST-41 designation will ensure the necessary interagency coordination, transparent schedules, and timely permitting required to deliver this strategically significant domestic supply chain initiative.

ESM is advancing development of the Kilbourne Graphite Project (the Project) in St. Lawrence County, New York. The Project will establish a fully integrated U.S. natural flake graphite mine and processing facility in more than 70 years, producing up to 40,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate along with purified and micronized products for industrial, energy, and defense applications.

At present, the United States is 100% import-dependent for natural graphite, a mineral identified on various Federal Agencies' Critical Minerals List. Graphite is essential to the production of energy storage systems supporting large-scale AI data centers, and national defense applications. indicators.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), demand for graphite in rechargeable batteries and grid-scale energy storage is significant, continues to rise and this material is 100% imported. By establishing a U.S.-based integrated operation, the Kilbourne Project will help eliminate foreign supply-chain vulnerabilities, provide critical inputs for the Defense Industrial Base, and strengthen America’s capacity to meet rising demand for advanced technology materials.

ESM is currently advancing feasibility studies, while commissioning a demonstration processing facility at its Empire State Mine site to validate downstream processing. The Project will require a Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for wetland impacts associated with mine development. ESM anticipates initiating NEPA review and Section 404 permitting in 2026, with the goal of achieving a coordinated federal permitting schedule under FAST-41. ESM requests FAST-41 designation to ensure interagency coordination, transparent timelines, and accelerated delivery of this strategically significant domestic graphite project.

Project Description

The Kilbourne Graphite Project is located in the Town of Fowler, St. Lawrence County, New York, approximately 6 miles south of Gouverneur and adjacent to the operating Empire State Mine (ESM) zinc complex. The project area lies within the northern Adirondack Lowlands, with good access to state highways, rail infrastructure, and power from the New York Power Authority grid.

The proposed project footprint includes an open-pit mine, associated waste rock and tailings management facilities, and an on-site processing plant. The deposit is hosted in high-grade metamorphic rocks with coarse flake graphite mineralization. Total project disturbance is expected to be approximately 600–800 acres, depending on final mine and facility design.

Geospatial / Environmental Context:
• Wetlands & Waters: Preliminary delineations indicate the presence of wetlands and streams within and adjacent to the project area that may be subject to state and federal jurisdiction and that may require Clean Water Act Section 404 and state permitting.
• Cultural & Historic Resources: The area has been subject to previous mineral development (Empire State Mine and historic iron mining), with no designated National Historic Landmarks within the immediate footprint. A Phase I cultural resources survey will be conducted as part of NEPA/Section 106 review.
• Wildlife & Habitat: Baseline surveys are in progress. While no federally designated critical habitat or state-mapped rare plants or animals and significant natural communities have been identified to date within the project boundary, standard consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation will be required.
• Land Use: The project is located in a rural, historically mining-oriented area with a skilled workforce, existing industrial infrastructure, and strong community support.

Technical and Financial Ability

Titan Mining Corporation (TSX: TI, OTCQB: TIMCF) is the parent company of ESM, a North America–focused mining company with an established track record of developing, operating, and financing underground and open-pit mining projects. ESM currently operates, an underground zinc operation in St. Lawrence County, New York, with a 3,000-tonne per day mill, modern infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. The successful restart and ongoing operation of ESM demonstrates our technical capability to execute complex mining projects in New York State.

ESM's technical team includes professionals with deep expertise in mine engineering, geology, mineral processing, ecological assessments, environmental permitting, and project construction, supported by leading engineering and consulting firms such as BBA, SGS, and NCES. The Company has also commissioned a graphite demonstration facility at ESM to validate process flowsheets and downstream refining technologies, further underscoring its readiness to scale into full commercial production at Kilbourne.

From a financial standpoint, Titan and ESM benefit from the backing of the Augusta Group, a mining investment and development group led by Richard Warke that has raised over C$3 billion for resource projects over the past decade. Titan has demonstrated access to capital markets and government financing, including a recently announced $15.8 million direct loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for zinc operations. Titan is also advancing discussions with additional strategic partners, U.S. government agencies, and institutional investors to support Kilbourne project development.

Titan has invested over $22 million in capital expenditures over the last 7 years of mining at ESM and expects to complete financing for the Kilbourne project from a mix of debt and equity sources.

With an experienced operating team, existing infrastructure at ESM, demonstrated processing capabilities, and strong financial backing, Titan Mining Corporation possesses the technical expertise and financial capacity to successfully construct and operate the Kilbourne Graphite Project.

Summary of Financing, Reviews and Authorizations

The Kilbourne Graphite Project will require multiple federal reviews and authorizations to advance through construction and operations:

Federal Financing:

ESM is expecting a $5 million direct loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to fund graphite feasibility and critical path activities.

ESM further anticipates further engagement with EXIM under its Make More in America initiative and is exploring additional U.S. government programs, including potential support through the Department of War Industrial Base Fund and Department of Energy (DOE) loan and grant programs for critical minerals.

Environmental Reviews:

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required to assess impacts of mining, processing, and infrastructure development. The EIS will address land disturbance, wetlands, water resources, cultural resources, wildlife habitat, and socio-economic effects.

State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR): ESM anticipates the need to prepare an EIS to address potentially significant environmental impacts; consequently, ESM will request a joint EIS process between ACOE and NYSDEC so both SEQR and NEPA reviews can be satisfied with one document.

Endangered Species Act (ESA): Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to evaluate potential effects on listed species or critical habitat.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA): Section 106 review for potential impacts to cultural or historic resources.

Federal Authorizations: Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in consultation with EPA, for disturbance of jurisdictional wetlands and waters.

Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification – anticipated coordination between USACE and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

Other Federal Agency Engagement – potential coordination with DOE, DOW, and the Department of Commerce on industrial base and critical mineral supply chain considerations.

Taken together, these financing mechanisms, environmental reviews, and authorizations underscore both the complexity of the federal process and the importance of a coordinated permitting framework under FAST-41 for timely project advancement.

Project Assessment

The Kilbourne Graphite Project qualifies as a “covered project” under 42 U.S.C. §4370m(6)(A) of the FAST Act for the following reasons:

Sector Eligibility

The statute identifies mining as an eligible sector. The Kilbourne Project is an integrated natural flake graphite mine and processing facility, squarely within the scope of covered sectors.

Capital Investment Threshold

The Project’s anticipated capital investment exceeds $200 million and is in the range of $360 million, meeting the statutory monetary threshold.

Multiple Federal Authorizations Required

The Project requires approvals and authorizations from multiple federal agencies, including:

Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with EPA consultation).

NEPA Environmental Review (Environmental Impact Statement with CEQ oversight).

Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, if applicable).

National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Review (Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, as coordinated through USACE).

Federal funding: The Kilbourne mining project has received strong interest for financing from the U. S EXIM Bank and the company is pursuing additional U.S government support through EXIM's Make More in America initiative, DOE critical minerals programs and the DOW Industrial Base funding.

National Significance

Graphite is designated a critical mineral by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy.

The United States is currently 100% import-dependent on foreign sources of natural graphite, primarily from China.

The Kilbourne Project will establish a fully integrated domestic graphite supply chain , directly supporting U.S. economic security, defense readiness, and energy independence objectives.

Statement of Reasons:
The Kilbourne Graphite Project meets all statutory criteria for FAST-41 designation as a covered project. Its scale and complexity necessitate multiple federal authorizations, including a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit and a NEPA Environmental Impact Statement. The Project involves a capital investment well in excess of $200 million, in a covered sector, with demonstrated national and strategic importance. Designation under FAST-41 will ensure timely, transparent, and coordinated federal permitting for this critical U.S. supply chain project.

Form Submitter Contact Information

• Name: Rita Adiani
  Title: President & CEO
  Work Phone: 480 562 1833
  Email Address: radiani@titanminingcorp.com