20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080430 (76)

N/Ir..lohn Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor
North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources
,21 Crabtree Boulevard
Ralei, h. North Carolina ??60?
Re: Section 401 outer Qua!itl- Certification
D110 P/-0/ecl :Vumher 1007-081?
Dcar Mr. Do:nev:
uRt??Rflwt?
U
APR 3 0 2008
DENR • WATER QLWjTY
%fX4NDS AND SMRMWAMR BRANCH
\I? name is and I am a citizen of r f7letP in
Yl County, North Carolina. I write to you in response to Alcoa Power
Generating, Ia c.'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 fi-om approximately
191 S 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.
f 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 certi tication until
those 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 infonnation 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.
We 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
101 water quality certification or, at the very least, put the proper conditions in place to
protect the health of our reUion.
Sincerely,
Cc: fh. Jerrv D. Myers, County Manager, Stanly County