20070812 Ver 2_Perdue now vigorously opposes Alcoa license_20090522

Dorney, John
From: Massengale, Susan [[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:53 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Perdue now'vigorously opposes' Alcoa license
Attachments: ATT00001.c
Perdue now `vigorously opposes' .Alcoa license
By Bruce Henderson
bhendersonCcD-charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, May. 22, 2009
Gov. Bev Perdue unexpectedly filed papers Thursday in the Alcoa relicensing saga that support the
opponents of a state-issued permit.
Earlier this month, state water-quality officials issued a permit Alcoa needs to renew its federal
hydroelectric license for the Yadkin River.
The permit from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources was the final approval
needed before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues the license.
Perdue, however, has asked the commission for a four-month delay in which to make her case that the
license should be denied to Alcoa and returned to the state.
Alcoa has called Perdue's involvement a government attempt to seize private property.
The Yadkin Riverkeeper and Stanly County, which are concerned about contamination in Badin Lake,
near Alcoa's former aluminum smelter, appealed the permit in a state administrative-law court.
At a hearing Wednesday, the Riverkeeper and Stanly County asked for a temporary stay of the permit.
The state environment department didn't oppose the request, agreeing that a stay is in the public interest.
Then a lawyer representing Perdue unexpectedly appeared. He asked the judge for permission to file a
friend-of-the-court brief on Stanly County's side.
The brief, filed Thursday, said Perdue "intends to vigorously oppose" Alcoa's license. Stanly, it said, "has
raised questions going directly to the welfare of our environment, the life of the Yadkin River and,
ultimately, the health and safety of the people of this state...."
The environment department's view, the brief said, is that the Badin Lake contamination is stable and
presents no health risks. Stanly disputes that, it said, claiming the contaminants could spread, tainting fish
and downstream waters.
State water-quality officials, in issuing the permit, attached seven conditions including that Alcoa monitor
contamination. Those conditions, they said, would protect the Yadkin's water.
Susan Massengale
Public Information Officer
DENR- Division of Water Quality
1617 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
[phone]; fax [phone]
Please note: my e-mail address has changed to susan.massengalePncdenr.gov
E-mail correspondence to and fi•oin this address may be subject to the
North ('arolinci Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.