20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080502 (2642)

DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
Subject: DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
From: "Harrison, Jim & Toni" <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:47:44 -0400
To: <[e-mail]>
CC: "Harrison, Jim" <[e-mail]>
Mr. John Dorney
401 Development Unit Supervisor of NCDENR
2321 Crabtree Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27604
Dear: Mr. John Dorney
My name is Jim Harrison and I am a resident of the Town of Badin, which is located on the banks of
the beautiful Badin Lake. Badin Lake is the most scenic and deepest of all the lakes on our Yadkin
River Basin. I was born in the Badin Hospital and have been a resident of Badin the majority of my
life. I have always considered my association with this wonderful area as one of God's greatest
blessings for my life. The Yadkin River and Badin Lake are really what makes our life here so
special. Recently there have been a group of folks from our nearby county seat saying a lot of
damaging things about our area and our one and only industry, Alcoa, Inc. I have heard negative
statements made that I can't understand. These statements were never made when Alcoa was pouring
our County's largest payroll into this area and spending money with local businesses. Why is it that
our human nature can change so rapidly when a good individual or a good corporate friend can no
longer do anything for us?
Alcoa's responsible for Badin Town being built, Badin Lake exists because of Alcoa's Narrows Dam,
Fall's pristine reservoir is formed by Alcoa's Falls dam, our abundant clean supply of drinking water
(even in extreme drought) is because of Badin Lake and Tuckertown Lake, and our recreational
choices abound, all mainly because of Alcoa, Inc. and A.P.G.L. I don't understand being so critical of
someone who has given so much to the quality of our lives and our livelihoods. Even with all of this,
Alcoa, Inc is no more perfect than any of us. Alcoa, Inc. has unknowingly buried materials in the past
that are now considered hazardous. All of these areas are well documented with the Federal and State
environmental caretakers, and I have faith that they will make Alcoa, Inc take care of these as needed.
I hear our county leaders say Alcoa's operation of the dams they built and maintained for over ninety
years have a negative impact on our citizens and even our area wildlife. We live near Alcoa's power
line across from their plant and we are visited nightly by deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons and untold
species of birds. I put out about fifty pounds of sunflower seed and twenty five pounds of nyger seed
monthly. We have to plant things that are uninviting to wildlife to keep flowers in our yard. I hear
that we are supposed to have sickness from Alcoa's hazardous materials, but many former Alcoans and
others have moved back to Badin to retire. We have the complaint made that Badin has too many
older folks and therefore the young folks don't feel welcome or comfortable here. Many of our citizens
have made their one hundred plus birthdays.
I hope all this didn't lull you off into a deep sleep, but I don't understand what is going on around us in
assassinating the character of someone that has given so much to our entire county (largest payroll,
largest charitable contributor, and largest taxpayer for over ninety years) and been such a good steward
of land provided to the citizens and wildlife alike. I guess when the bankers and county leaders turn
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DWQ Project Number 2007-0812
all our surrounding area into gated communities with million dollar homes everything will settle back
down, but to me Badin Town and a good friend will have died a silent death in the process.
Deeply concerned by what is going on round about us,
Jim Harrison, Mayor of Town of Badin
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