20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080502 (2615)

234 Highland Drive
Wadesboro, NC 28170
May 1, 2008
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
2321 Crabtree Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27604
Re: Section 401 Water Quality Certification DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
Dear Mr. Dorney:
My name is Emmett S. Patterson and I am a citizen of Wadesboro in Anson 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, the Yadkin River and the Pee Dee River.
Alcoa conducted aluminum smelting operations for over 70 years at the Badin Works, which is located next
to Badin Lake. It is well known, and in fact acknowledged by Alcoa in Federal Court, that contamination
resulted both on the site and in the water supply as a result of these operations.
I am concerned because the Pee Dee River is the primary source of drinking water for Anson County and
we are down stream of this contamination. Before a certification is issued, there are many environmental
issues that need to be addressed due to the buried materials, leaching toxins from the burial sites and
continuing exposure to the environment. I believe that their operation will continue to cause damage and
contamination to the river system.
I respectfully request that you not issue a Section 401 water quality certificate until appropriate time is
taken to fully evaluate the environmental impacts to the Yadkin and Pee Dee River basins.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Emmett S. Patterson