DEQ-CFW_00070598

November 9, 2007
Mr, Alan Clark
Department Water Quality
Planning Section
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Dear Mr. Clark:
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority to
express appreciation for our meeting on October 29, 2007 in Raleigh regarding the Authority's
application for Reclassification of the Cape Fear River.
As you now know the Authority has assumed the lead role in complying with the intent of the
Cooperative Agreement between the Environmental Management Commission, the Division of Water
Resources and the Lumber River Council of Governments to provide_a plan of action for a sustainable
water resource for Smithfield Foods, Inc. and others in the region from the current ground water source to
a surface water source.
That plan of action requires a section of the Cape Fear River to be reclassified to WS-IV classification in
which an application was submitted to DWQ in November of 2006. The purpose of our meeting was to
bring to your attention, as Chief of the Planning Section, that in the span of 11 months the Use
Attainability Study has not been conducted by those in your Section.
This is of great disappointment and concern to the Authority, to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and the counties
and municipalities that have provided resolutions of support not only for this application but also for the
submitted Environmental Assessment.
It is difficult for the Authority to understand this delay when three very large municipal systems from
Fayetteville to Wilmington are using the Cape Fear River for water supply every single day.
In an effort to provide coordination in going forward, you indicated that you would provide a schedule of
activities for processing this application. We look forward to receipt of that.
Cordially,
(Ion Betz
Executive Director
Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority
1107 New Pointe Blvd, Suite 17
Leland, North Carolina 28451
phn 910.383.1919 fax [phone]
www.lcfwasa.org
DEQ-CFW 00070598