20070812 Ver 2_Managing Yadkin misconceptions_20090519

Dorney, John
From: Massengale, Susan [[e-mail]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:58 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Managing Yadkin 'misconceptions'
Attachments: ATT00001.c
From Charlotte Observer reporter Jack Betts' Blog
Managing Yadkin 'misconceptions'
Battle of the Yadkin: Managing "Misconceptions"
Not long ago the N.C. Senate approved legislation to set up a Yadkin River Trust that might eventually purchase or
manage the hydroelectric generating plants on the Yadkin that Alcoa Power Generating owns and operates. That bill is
now in the N.C. House. Alcoa is seeking a renewal of its federal power license, and recently the state Division of Water
Quality approved a water quality certification for the firm -- despite Gov. Bev Perdue's reservations about Alcoa getting
another permit to operate the projects. The issuance of that permit was curious, given her stated opposition. Gov. Perdue
has formally intervened in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission process.
Now MMI Associates, which speaks for Alcoa opponents, has sent along a press release that it says clears up
"misconceptions" about Alcoa and the project. Among other things, it says the water quality certification doesn't mean the
Yadkin's water quality is good: "Anyone who has seen the conditions placed on Alcoa to receive the certificate will realize it
has done a clearly insufficient job of ensuring water quality on the Yadkin River over the last 50 years. The $240 million
surety bond Alcoa must post to guarantee that financial resources are available to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the
discharges of the hydroelectric turbine system is unprecedented. It occurred because the state wants to ensure that Alcoa
can actually pay what it promises to do in improvements, which ought to tell you something about the state's confidence in
the company's financial stability."
For more, go to the Web site of the N.C. Water Rights Coalition at www.ncwaterrights.org.
Susan Massengale
Public Information Officer
DENR- Division of Water Quality
1617 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
(9i9) 807-6359; fax [phone]
Please note: my e-mail address has changed to susan.massengale a nedenr.gov
E-mail correspondence to and_fr-om this address may be subject to the
North C,'arolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.