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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_FW CHARLOTTE OBSERVER AMERICAN RIVERS SELF.pdf.msg_20130904Strickland, Bev From: Butch Smith [manager @ccsdwater.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 1:07 PM To: tom.reeder @ncdenr.gov Subject: FW: CHARLOTTE OBSERVER AMERICAN RIVERS SELF.pdf Attachments: CHARLOTTE OBSERVER AMERICAN RIVERS SELF.pdf FYI From: Butch Smith [ma i Ito: managerCa)ccsdwater.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 11:26 AM To: abridges re. ionc.org; bcameyCa)hotmail.com; dewey776 yahoo.com; dewey .cookCa)clevelandcounty.com; 3TAYLOR81C)CAROLINA.RR.COM; ibrackett74(ftmail.com; iustin(a)timmoorelawoffice.com; cpedersen(a)carolina.rr.com; tlewis1069Cd)yahoo.com; timmoorencCa)aol.com Subject: CHARLOTTE OBSERVER AMERICAN RIVERS SELF.pdf Dear Commissioners, It is of my opinion the American Rivers out of Washington D.C. Hiring Southern Environment Law Firm are viewing us a potential threat to build a Reservoir. These outside groups are only representing small number of people whom their interest is just for their purpose. After all is said and done no matter what happens about the Reservoir and to our customers they will be gone. Chairman Melton brought a very important issue, back in the late 70As and early 80As while the Upper Cleveland County Sanitary District was being form there was opposition. Now the district serving over 57,500 populations where would these people have got their water if the UCCSD did not existence. We all have seen the rivers in this section about dry up. (Reservoir is our next generation future.) Thanks Butch Environmental group appeals reservoir waiver ( CharlotteObserver.com Page 4 of 9 - Trouble S )ots I Key Routes 4 coninnc nts • Print • Order Reprints Environmental group appeals reservoir waiver Recommend 17 people recommend this, Sign Up to see what your -- - - -- friends recommend. By Bruce Henderson bhendersorr'i�%charlotteobserver,com Posted: Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 The advocacy group American Rivers has filed notice it will appeal North Carolina's waiver of an environmental permit for a controversial reservoir in Cleveland County. The Observer reported last week that the former N.C. Division of Water Quality waived a certification that the reservoir would not hurt the First Broad River. Division officials acknowledged that the decision, which was made without public notice or environmental analyses, was unprecedented. American Rivers, in a notice of appeal filed with the state Office of Administrative Hearings, contends it was also illegal. The group will argue the state didn't follow its own procedures in allowing the waiver. "We think it's pretty clear that there never was an adequate application to start the 60 -day clock that led to this waiver," said Derb Carter, North Carolina director of the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents American Rivers. State officials wrote internally this spring that the application for the permit was incomplete. There is no evidence the water - quality division sought more information before waiving the certification. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which includes water - quality staff, is reviewing American Rivers' appeal notice and had no comment, said spokesman Jamie Kritzer. State officials previously said they waived the permit because they knew the project faced federal opposition. The state certificate is required before a federal permit can be issued. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the reservoir would flood 24 miles of streams and 1,500 acres of forest and farmland. The Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency have urged Cleveland County Water, the rural water district that wants to build the John Cline Reservoir, to find other options. Neighboring Forest City told state officials it has ample water and is willing to sell to Cleveland County Water. The Southern Environmental Law Center asked the EPA last week to block the reservoir because of "undue political pressures" on state regulators. The waiver followed a legislative directive that state regulators collaborate with communities that want to build reservoirs, which normally face stiff regulatory hurdles because they're environmentally destructive. Rep. Tim Moore, R- Cleveland, serves as the attorney for Cleveland County Water. Moore and former Rep. Mitch. Gillespie, now the state's assistant environment secretary, were sponsors of the legislation. Clyde "Butch" Smith, the Cleveland County Water manager, serves on the state Environmental Management Commission under an appointment from N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis, R- Mecklenburg. Henderson: 704- 358 -5651 Twitter: (i bhender Subscribe to The Charlotte Observer. http: / /www.charlotteobserver. com/ 2013/08/30 /4276489 /environmental- group - appeals- reser... 9/4/2013 Stop Cleveland County reservoir, law center asks EPA I CharlotteObserver.com Add :a cc,rr,rre 3r.,. Robin Brackett 9'i6 y, NaAh E ,a €dria j' Any conflict of interest here? Reply - 5 • Like At €dust 21 at 1 38prn �^ Ltntr t William Hollar - Top Commenter - UNC Chapel €`dill Another question might be, "How much conflict of interest, graft, and payola is here ?" „ That reservoir is already polluted before being built. Reply - 2 - d -Ike - Augw;t 2.1 at 8::33pm Page 6 of 10 Cncnnrent Kathy Williams Marquardt Bowman 0 vnei et Skate 'n Games mili� The real question: who profits? Everyone knows we need more clean water... water is needed before more growth can come to the coup Cleveland County is a very POOR county, g county. ty ry with low income and high unemployment, and the county does need some major improvements. Wouldn't this reservoir benefit the county in the "long" run? With the climate change, water shortages, and economic non - growth... I think the reservoir is needed. I think we should quit berating the idea, and find a way to get behind the project. Fix the issues, relocate or establish more tracts for the threatened endangered plants, and solve any other issues. We need to work together for the community and the residents of Cleveland County. Reply 1 • Like • Auuuq 22 zak 6:11arn Joanna Connolly • Charlotte, Ncrth Carolina This is a crock! If this state is left in the hands of these political charlatans, the citizens need to change their choices of elected officials, and VERY quickly. How do these "public servants " "' of ours get away with their crooked management of our affairs? How can they deem it appropriate to bypass the legal steps mandated by Federal Regulation to implement decisions that effect a group of citizens within their state? Clyde "Butch" Smith and Thom Tillis need more coaching on environmental issues and Tim Moore and Mitch Gillespie need new jobs; perhaps digging ditches for a water pipe line, as recommended by ACE and EPA, from the Morganton Watershed to northwestern Cleveland County. Joanna Connolly Geologist, Geographer Catawba Valley College. Reply - 3 • Like ' Aiiqust i2 at t?:35am r ¢G View all 5 comments Katie Connolly • Sa°+ N4arC05 l °lion School, Santa rkarhara, CI I KNOW who I am voting against this time. Reply Like Augu,,= 23 at 9:20am Sponsored Results online schools Get The Best Education In The shortest Period Of Time. Learn How. rrrauohp.edu CacaGtor�tg_��,yreL t3,rc8n, Top 5 Doctorate degrees Online. Get Your PHO Online! (; ztli €�� -Decd rcc- CoPlec . r egE E 4U I�xtiSln�sS �t�i'�S�,C� (�tY,IIII;� Earn Your Business Degree Online! Find Top Schools For Business Degrees Pc dered.org http : / /www. charlotteobserver.com /20 l 3/0812 l /4253401 /stop- cleveland- county- reservoir.html 9/4/2013 Stop Cleveland County reservoir, law center asks EPA I CharlotteObserver.com Page 4 of 10 • Trouble Spots I Key Routes w eoiriments • Print • Order Reprints • �l Step Cleveland County reservoir, law center asks EPA Rerommend 36 people recommend this. Sign Up to see what your friends recommend. By Bruce Henderson bhenderson @charlotteobserver.com Posted: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 . A public - interest law firm wants the Environmental Protection Agency to stop construction of a reservoir on the First Broad River in Cleveland County. In an unprecedented decision, the Observer reported Wediwsday, state regulators waived a water- quality certificate for the controversial project last month. The move came two years after legislators ordered regulators to collaborate with communities in building reservoirs, which normally face tough environmental standards. The southern Environmental Law Center, citing "undue political pressures" on the reservoir project, urged the EPA to block it. "The Division of Water Quality's unprecedented waiver of its authority and responsibility to ensure that this project complies with water quality standards emerged from excessive and inappropriate legislative involvement," the law center wrote Stan Meiburg, EPA's acting regional administrator, on Wednesday. EPA had no immediate comment. Rep. Tim Moore, R- Cleveland, serves as the water district's attorney and was a sponsor of the 2011 reservoir bill. So was former Rep. Mitch Gillespie, a McDowell County Republican who is now the state's assistant environment secretary. Cleveland County Water manager Clyde `Butch" Smith was appointed to the state Environmental Management Commission by House Speaker Thom Tillis, R- Mecklenburg. State approval is needed before federal authorities can decide whether to allow the reservoir. EPA has authority under the Clean Water Act to designate sites as unsuitable for fill material, such as dam construction on the First Broad River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA have both urged the water district to look at other options. Henderson 7041- 358 -5051 Twitter; (&bhender Subscribe to The C.'h jrlotte QbServer. Recommend 36 people recommend this. Sign Up to see what your friends recommend. http : / /www.charlotteobserver.coml20 l 3/08/21 /42534011stop- cleveland- county- reservoir.html 9/4/2013 Environmental group appeals reservoir waiver I CharlotteObserver.com Recommend 13 people recommend this. Sign Up to see what your friends recommend. 4 HIDE COMM ENTS This affects comments on all stories. Al7VEii -I SEMEN Top 10 Easy -Going Kate Upton like Dog Breeds you've never seen her before! Page 5 of 9 The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name - calling or attacking others for their views. Have a news tip? You can send it to a local news editor; email local Gr?charlottcobecrver.colY1 to send us your tip - or - considerjoining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Charlotte Observer. Read more Add a vomrnc rit ,. William Hollar Trap C(7mwenter , UNC Chapel Hill Oh, what a tangled web.- €'tepiy , Like - farrgust 30 at BA3pm Robin Brackett , Ywlb} North Carolina Something's foul in Denmark! Reply, 1 . Like - August 31 at 6:21pm Dorothy Houlditch ° University of Maryland, College Park Interesting that he Shelby paper didn`t carry this story. Reply � Like Sppterml -.r I at 3:24am Gary N. Lee - 1 "op Commenter - Lawndale, North (ar'olina Its real news. The Shelby Star doesnt tare about that!! Reply Like :Septemba' =r I at 5:53arr VIe41! alb 4 CJE371YlElitS Con3rxaent http:// www. charlotteobserver .cornl2013lO813 0 /4276489 /environmental ®group - appeals- reser... 9/4/2013