HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070812 Ver 1_Public Comments_20080508 (837)April 29, 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:
U ?D
N"AY 8 2008
D6* -WATER
nANDSANOSTDRW TER BRANCH
My name is Misty Thompson and I am a citizen of Norwood in Stanly 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 and related water bodies in the Yadkin River.
Badin Lake serves as the primary drinking water source for the City of Albemarle. The
people of our area, 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. 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.
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, 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.
Sincerely,
cc: Mr. Jerry D. Myers, County Manager, Stanly County