HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080430 (85)121 Woodland Drive
Concord, NC 28025
April 28, 2008
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:
I write to you in response to Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s ("APGI") request for a Section 401 water
quality certification. As a citizen of North Carolina, 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.
The environmental issues are of great concern 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. It is my belief that their operation will
continue to cause damage to our eco-system, and I respectfully 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,
Kathy R. Vntine
cc: Mr. Jerry D. Myers, County Manager, Stanly County