20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080505 (915)

DAVIDSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ROBERT C.HYATT
COUNTY MANAGER
LARRY W.POTTS,CHAIRMAN
BILLY JOE KEPLEY,VICE-CHAIRMAN
LARRY ALLEN
FRED D.MCCLURE
DON W.TRUELL
DR.MAX WALSER
SAMUELL.WATFORD
April 30, 2008 MAY 5 2008
MW-WATER OUAM
WETLANDS AND STORMNATER BRANCH
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:
Well over a year ago, I met with you in your office to talk with you about Alcoa Power
Generating, Inc. as they pursued re-licensing with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission. Subsequent to that meeting with you, as a Commissioner I invited members of
your Division and other Divisions such as Fish and Wildlife to a meeting in Davidson County.
At that time, we expressed serious concerns about water quality issues and equally
important, granting a fifty year license to Alcoa.
Subsequent to my meeting with you, I met with Secretary Bill Ross to express similar
concerns. I found Secretary Ross to be very receptive and well versed on the issues
regarding this re-licensing.
Our primary concern was centered around water levels, which to this date,.Alcoa has
been unwilling to meet the standards which we feel are important to water quality. As you
well know, Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. is requesting a Section 401 Water Quality
Certification. As a lifelong citizen of Davidson County, former Superintendent of the
Davidson County Schools and presently a sitting Commissioner, I want to once again
express my strong reservation about Alcoa receiving this certificate.
As Governor Easley has stated in his recent letter to FERC, there are some continuing
issues that have been raised with respect to this operation. The various dams on the Yadkin
River have, over the past fifty years, had a negative impact on our ecosystem. I grew up on

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April 30, 2008
the Yadkin River and have observed first hand what these dams have done to water quality
and fish and wildlife.
I am asking that you not issue this Water Quality Certificate until further studies have
taken place. In the final analysis, it is my request that you deny the 401 Water Quality
Certification.
Sincerely,
W. Max Walser, Davidson County Commissioner
cc: Governor Michael F. Easley
William G. Ross, Jr. Secretary, NCDENR
Jerry Myers, Stanly County Manager
Robert Hyatt, Davidson County Manager
Davidson County Board of Commissioners