20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080502 (2640)

ALBEMARLE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Trusted
Choice
Joe R. Kluttz, Jr.
April 30, 2008
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unite 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:
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2 2008
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I am writing to you in response to Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. ("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 cost of cleaning up the contamination
associated with its smelting operations in Badin, NC would exceed $50 million dollars. 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 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, fixing, swimming and other human activities, with adequate
conditions and monitoring requirements, for at least the next 50 years, which is the term that
Alcoa is asking for its new license.
We ask that you not issue this certificate until appropriate time is taken to fully evaluate the
environmental impacts to the Yadkin basin and our region form the Badin Works operations and
APGI's hydro dams.
Sincerely, 1
cc: Mr. Jerry D. Myers, County Manager, Stanly County
1# 146 East Main Street Post Office Drawer 370 Albemarle, N.C. 28002-0370 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
AM.
Email: [e-mail]

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ASHEBORO ELASTICS CORPORATION
Tel. [phone], Fox 336-629-3782 • 150 North Park Street • P.O. Box 1143 • Asheboro, NC 27204
April 30, 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:
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DENR - ViNfER QUAUIY
ryMWM AND sTORWATER BPA CH
My name is J. Keith Crisco and I am a citizen of Asheboro in Randolph County, North
Carolina. Also, I am a native of Stanly County and a City Council member in Asheboro. I write
to you in response to Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.'s ("APGI") request for a Section 401 water
quality certification. 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. Many
people of Randolph County, 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 (my relatives were involved in the 1918
construction and worked for Alcoa over the years). 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.
I 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 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.
4
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ASHEBORO ELASTICS CORPORATION
Tel. [phone], Fax [phone] • 150 North Pork Street • P.O. Box 1143 • Asheboro, NC 27204
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor
North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
April 30, 2008
Page 2
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.
If you have any questions, I would be glad to discuss this subject with you.
Sincerely,
J. Keith Crisco
President
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cc: Mr. Jerry D. Myers, County Manager, Stanly County