HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080501 (2228)Apri129, 2008
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor
NC Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
2321 Crabtree Boulevazd
Raleigh, North Cazolina 27604
Re: Section 401 Water Quality Certification
DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
Deaz Mr. Dorney:
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MAY 1 2008
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y,~T~ANDS AND STpRMWAT~ BRAN
I am writing to you in response to Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s ("APGI") request for a
Section 401 water quality certificate in connection with its current relicensing of the
Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2197. As a citizen, I am concerned
about the impact the proposed Yadkin Project activities may have on Badin Lake and
related water bodies in the Yadkin River, as well as the citizens of Stanly County.
Our County Commissioners have raised environmental questions pertaining to the lake
system that is a part of the "APGI Yadkin" Project. Alcoa/APGI gave testimony before
the Superior Court of King County, Washington, that after 70 plus years of free stack
emissions and buried toxins associated with Aluminum smelting, the estimated costs of
cleaning up the contamination associated with its smelting operations in Badin, NC
would exceed $50 million dollazs. In a contested case proceeding in the Office of
Administrative Hearings, we learned that the information that our community had sent to
DENR for review was not given serious review. MIT rates Aluminum as one of the 10
most toxic manufacturing processes on the planet. It is well known that the operation of
the Badin Works resulted in contamination both on the site of the facility and in the close
by water supply.
Stanly County, our local government, has sent to DENR the results of its studies, as well
as the new information about the situation at Badin that we have just recently discovered.
After you read these materials, I am confident, that if all the information is reviewed, that
the state of North Carolina, as a responsible government unit, will not issue a Section 401
water quality certificate unless it has assured the safety and well being of its citizens to
use Badin Lake and other Project reservoirs for drinking, recreation, fishing, swimming
and other human activities, with adequate conditions and monitoring requirements, for at
least the next 50 yeazs, which is the term that Alcoa is asking for its new license.
To make certain the job is done right, 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 (and to utilize
all available means to accomplish that important task).
Sincerely
Rev. Hugh Biggers
Mrs Doris Biggers
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