20070812 Ver 1_Coastal Conversation League and American Rivers_20080507

THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND AMERICAN RIVERS
May 7, 2008
Mr. John Dorney
401 Wetlands Certification Unit
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
2321 Crabtree Boulevard,
Raleigh, NC 27604
RE: Alcoa Power Generation Inc., Yadkin Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No.
2197) Section 401 Water Quality Certification Application (DWQ # 2007-0812)
Dear Mr. Dorney:
American Rivers and the Coastal Conservation League write to express our support for
the conditions set forth in the Comprehensive Settlement Agreement (CSA) for the
above-referenced project. We believe that the terms of the settlement are appropriate
and should be reflected in any section 401 water quality certification issued by the
Department.
Please feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions regarding this letter.
Sincerely,

1
Gerrit Jobsis
American Rivers
Director of Southeast Conservation
2231 Devine Street, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29205
803-771-7114
F. James Cumberland, Jr.
Coastal Conservation League
Project Manager
2231 Devine Street, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29205
803-771-7750
APGI WITHDRAWS APPLICATION FOR WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATE
Decision gives state officials additional time to review new application regarding Yadkin Project
BADIN, NC (May 9, 2008) - Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) has voluntarily withdrawn its
application for a water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project in response to a
request from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The move will
temporarily delay the relicensing of the Yadkin Project in order to provide the N.C. Division of
Water Quality additional time to review the new application.
"We decided that withdrawing our application and reapplying was the right thing to do. The
additional time will ensure that all factors have been appropriately considered before a new water
quality certificate is issued," said Gene Ellis, APGI licensing and property manager.
APGI originally submitted its application for a water quality certificate on May 10, 2007 and the N.C.
Division of Water Quality issued a water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project on November 17,
2008. That certificate was revoked last month when it was discovered that a required legal notice
was not published in the newspaper. State officials published the required public notice and
accepted public comments for a 15-day period ending on May 2, 2008.
Federal laws require the State to act on APGI's application within one year - by May 9, 2008. That
deadline provided little time for State officials to adequately address the public comments it
received this month, prompting the request for APGI to withdraw and resubmit its application.
"We expect the state to conduct a timely review of our new application and issue a new water
quality certificate within the next several months," Ellis said. "We do not believe the additional
public comments provided to the State include any new, relevant information regarding the
discharges from the Yadkin Project."
If adopted by FERC, the Relicensing Settlement Agreement, supported by 23 organizations across
North Carolina and South Carolina, will significantly improve water quality in the Yadkin River.
Other benefits include an extended recreation season, increased water withdrawals from the
Yadkin River and greater protection of the water supply during times of drought. In addition, APGI
will donate or sell more than 6,000 acres of land (approximately 40 percent of its land holdings in
central North Carolina) for conservation, recreation and game lands. That includes the donation of
more than 1,000 acres for the expansion of Morrow Mountain State Park.
APGI is currently operating the Yadkin Project under a temporary license; the original 50-year
license expired on April 30, 2008. The temporary license mirrors the conditions of APGI's original
license and will remain in effect until a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project takes effect.