HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080429 (4)Alcoa's Relicense
Subject: Alcoa's Relicense
From: Grover Thompson <grovthompson@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:44:46 -0700 (PDT)
To: john.dorney@ncmail.net
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor
North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources
2321 Crabtree Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Re: Section 401 Water Quality Certification
DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
Dear Mr. Dorney:
My name is Grover Thompson and I am a citizen of Stanly County, North Carolina. I
write to you in response to Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s ("APGI") request for a
Section 401 water quality certification. As a citizen, I am concerned about the
impact the proposed activities may have on Badin Lake and related water bodies in
the Yadkin River.
Badin Lake serves as the primary drinking water source for the City of
Albemarle. The people of our area, as well as many across the state, utilize Badin
Lake for fishing and swimming. Alcoa conducted aluminum smelting operations from
approximately 1918 at the Badin Works which is located next to Badin Lake. It is
well known that the operation of the Badin Works resulted in contamination both on
the site of the facility and in the water supply. I am also concerned about the
lack of interest Alcoa is demonstrating to the clean up of Alcoa's own hazardous
waste contamination of this area.
I am concerned with the environmental issues because of buried materials, water
leaching toxins from burial sites, lack of oxygen in the water, detriment to birds
and animals from toxic materials, and human sickness caused by exposure to these
dangerous materials. I believe that their operation will continue to cause damage
to our eco-system, and ask that you deny APGI's request for a Section 401 water
quality certification until these issues are corrected.
The operation of the hydroelectric dams has had and will continue to have a
negative impact on the citizens and wildlife of our area. I am aware that Stanly
County is presenting information to you that if fully reviewed, will convince the
State of North Carolina that APGI has not been a responsible steward of the
people's water.
I ask that you not issue this certificate until the appropriate time is taken to
fully evaluate the environmental impacts to the Yadkin basin and our region from
the Badin Works operations and APGI's hydro dams, including information that Stanly
County has uncovered in recent months. After doing so, I hope that you will deny
the 401 water quality certification or, at the very least, put the proper
conditions in place to protect the health of our region.
Sincerely,
Grover Thompson
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