HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080430 (42)04/30/08 09:30 UWHARRIE CAPITAL CORP 4 19197336893
NO. 780 001
April 29, 2008
Mr. John Dorsey
401 DevelopmentUnit 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. M. r. Domey:
Our names are Tamara and Bud Singletary, and we are citizens of Albemarle, in Stanly
County, North Carolina, and property owners on Badin Lake. We write to you in response to
Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s ("APGI") request for a Section 401 water quality certification.
As citizens, we are 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.
We are 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 Stauly 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.
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 401 water quality certification or, at
the very least, put the proper conditions in place to protect the health of our region.
Sincerely,
.?airra?a`'t't1
Tamara M. Singletary
CC. Mr. Jerry D, Myers, County Manager, Stanly County
APR-30-2008 WED 09:06 TEL:9197336893 NAME:DWQ-WETLANDS
H. Earl (Bud) Sin ,
P. 1