20070812 Ver 2_Low-level fish advisory_20090216

The Yadkin Report - February 2009
Subject: The Yadkin Report - February 2009
From: "Ellis, H. Gene" <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:48:57 -0500
BCC:
(-' The Yadkin Report
A<_CDA Lake Information & Relicensing News
Deep up with the latest ne?,vs through our flag:
' radkin1) roject.blo; spot. coin
A?
ea ?
op
e
A1,0111-1d the Lakes
I,om-level fish advisory doesn't ebange recommended fish consumption
at Badin Lake
The N.C. Division of Public Health has issued a low-level fish advisory for Badin
Lake that reiterates its recommendation that residents should limit their
consumption of largemouth bass and catfish to no more than once a week.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 15 should not eat these fish
at all.
"This advisory does not change the current recommendations for eating fish in
Badin Lake," said Sandy Mort, Coordinator Health Assessment, Consultation &
Education Program, for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
"There is already an existing advisory to limit consumption of bass and catfish due
to mercury that affects bass statewide and catfish in waters south and east of I-85."
It remains safe to continue fishing, swimming and boating in Badin Lake
This study - the most sophisticated study of fish tissue ever conducted in North
Carolina - found slightly elevated levels of PCBs in one largemouth bass and three
catfish out of 30 fish that were sampled. Given the prevalence of PCBs in every
waterway in America, Gene Ellis, relicensing and property manager for Alcoa
Power Generating Inc. (APGI), said it is not surprising that a highly sensitive study
would find a few fish with slightly elevated levels. If the State used the same
procedures to test fish in other lakes and rivers in North Carolina, it would likely
find similar levels of PCBs in fish from those waters.
Upstream sources of contamination deserve attention
The study did not identify any potential sources of contamination, but three of the
four fish with elevated levels were located in the northwest portion of the lake,
upstream of the Badin Works plant. In addition, previous testing by the North
Carolina Division of Water Quality has shown the presence of PCBs in the Yadkin
River upstream of Badin Lake.
Relicensing Upcld
Yadkin Project awaits
permit
After more than six yeas
relicensing of the Yadkir
nearly complete. There i
major milestone left - r
water quality certificate
of North Carolina - befc
Energy Regulatory Comi
can issue a new, long-tE
the Yadkin Project.
The water quality certifii
that discharges from the
dams will meet North Cz
quality standards.
"Water quality has been
focus of the relicensing I
beginning. Independent
have conducted numero
the Yadkin River water c
based on this informatio
confident that discharge
Yadkin Project dams will
quality standards in Nor
said Gene Ellis, relicensi
manager for Alcoa Powe
Inc. (APGI).
APGI has already begun
new equipment as part
plan to upgrade the Yad
power generators, incre;
oxygen levels and imprc
along the Yadkin River.
Recent testing demonsti
investment in new techr
making an impact - dis
1 of 4 2/16/2009 12:54 PM
The Yadkin Report - February 2009
levels are increasing an(
Department of Health officials stated in the public meeting held Wednesday that, is improving. Additional
although this study wasn't designed to determine sources, since the majority of fish that discharges from the
with contamination were caught in the northwest part of the lake, that it would powerhouse at Badin La
make sense to check upstream for sources of the contamination. water quality standards.
Fish advisory should not impact water quality application The State of North Caro
comments on this issue
APGI does not expect the fish advisory to impact its application for a Section 401 16, 2009. It can issue a
water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. "There's no certificate as early as Mi
relationship between the fish advisory and the quality of water being discharged and must take action by
from our dams," Ellis said. "The 401 water quality certificate focuses exclusively on
the quality of water being discharged from our dams and we are confident that the
Yadkin Project will meet all relevant water quality standards."
Inside Alcoa
A recent water test conducted as part of the 401 process has confirmed that no
PCBs were detected in the Badin Lake water - nor were any other contaminants Alcoa earns praise for
Alcoa may be best know
found - confirming prior results that have regularly shown that the water quality largest aluminum produ.
in Badin Lake is good and in compliance with applicable North Carolina water company is well known
quality standards. too. The company was r
the world's ten most etF
in the 2008 Covalence E
a methodology that gau
reputation of internatior
Alcoa has been ranked i
since the rankings begat
Alcoa pushes for clim;
initiatives
As a founding member c
Climate Action Partnersh
launch the Blueprint for
Action, a climate protect
that includes policy reco
for developing legislatioi
Badin Lake water levels won't be affected by relicensing agreement climate change. This prc
There has been a lot of speculation recently about how the relicensing agreement framework for the Obarr
may impact water levels at Badin Lake in the future. What many people do not Administration and the l
realize is that Alcoa-Yadkin has absolutely no plans to change the way it operates enact legislation that wil
Badin Lake during normal weather conditions. environment and the ec,
proposal would reduce l
"We've always tried to maintain Badin Lake water levels within three feet of full on gas emissions by 80% o
average, and that remains our plan moving forward," Ellis said. 2050 through a mandat
cap-and-trade program.
The relicensing agreement includes some slight changes in how Alcoa-Yadkin is
required to operate Badin Lake, but those changes actually represent an
improvement for homeowners and recreational users. The agreement requires water
levels at Badin Lake to remain within 5 feet of full during normal weather conditions. Did You Know?
That's more stringent than the requirements in the current license, which allows
water levels at Badin Lake to drop more than 61/2 feet below full whenever water The relicensing of the Y?
levels High Rock Lake are less than 1 foot below full. not limit the State of No
ability in any way to wit!.
Since 1986, water levels at Badin Lake have remained within 3 feet of full (on from the Yadkin River. E
average) and have only dropped more than 3 feet below full 8.3% of the time. North Carolina the authc
Alcoa-Yadkin expects similar water levels at Badin Lake in the future. water use within the Yac
2 of 4 2/16/2009 12:54 PM
The Yadkin Report - February 2009
There will be some slight changes at Badin Lake when drought conditions are
present. Water levels at all large storage reservoirs on the Yadkin River (including
Badin Lake) may be temporarily dropped below normal in order to send water
downstream as required by the federal government. However, Alcoa-Yadkin is
required to reduce power generation and send less water downstream to help
maintain higher water levels during droughts.
including the right to iss
withdrawal permits (witl
more than 1 million gall
regulated by the Federa
Regulatory Commission;
that North Carolina will
access water from the Y
What kind of changes will relicensing bring to Badin Lake?
1. Water levels at Badin Lake will remain within 3 feet of full (on average) during
normal weather conditions. This electronic newslett(
keep the community inf(
2. A revised Shoreline Management Plan will give Badin Lake homeowners greater important issues related
flexibility relicensing of the Yadkir
to build piers on the lake.
Sian up f0ftaro;lE'Ci:
3. A new waterfront park in Badin will be developed on land donated by
Share your feedback
Alcoa-Yadkin.
Download
4. Alcoa-Yadkin will be required to reduce its power generation and send less water
downstream during droughts to help maintain higher water levels.
5. The City of Albemarle will be allowed to increase the amount of drinking water it
withdraws from Badin Lake.
In the Community
The Ancient Carolinians: Traveling exhibit debuts at Badin Museum,
showcases local artifacts
Stanly County was chosen as the first stop for a statewide museum exhibit that
examines the lives of North Carolina's earliest known inhabitants. "The Ancient
Carolinians," an exhibit developed by researchers at the.University of North Carolina
with funding from the Alcoa Foundation, is on display at the Badin Firehouse Museum
through April 28, 2009. Admission is free.
The exhibit can be viewed each Tuesday (9:00 am - 3:00 pm) and Sunday
(2:00-5:00 pm) through April 28, 2009. The museum is located at 60 Falls Road in
Badin.
"The Ancient Carolinians" uses artifacts from the historic Hardaway site in Stanly
County to provide an intriguing look into the lives of people who lived here more than
12,000 years ago. The Hardaway site, located in the shadows of Morrow Mountain, is
the oldest excavated settlement in North Carolina and one of the oldest and most
significant archaeological sites in North America. The site was discovered in the
1940's by an Alcoa engineer. More than 1.5 million artifacts were uncovered by
archaeologists and donated by Alcoa to the University of North Carolina.
"This exhibit allows you to step into the past and see how North Carolina's first
people lived," said David Summerlin, chairman of the Badin Historic Museum. "It's
amazing that these historic artifacts were discovered right here in Stanly County and
we are thrilled to have the opportunity to give people in central North Carolina a first
look at this exhibit."
Schools and other organizations can arrange group tours of "The Ancient Carolinians"
by calling [phone] or [phone]. Call now to reserve your place in
North Carolina history.
3 of 4 2/16/2009 12:54 PM
The Yadkin Report - February 2009
t:nvironrnental Spotlight
Relicensing agreement addresses key issues along the Yadkin River
What are the most important issues to the long-term health of the Yadkin River?
That's a question that was tackled in a 26-page report by Clean Water for North
Carolina, a private, non-profit organization that studies environmental issues.
The 2002 report specifically highlights several areas of concern that should be
addressed during the relicensing of dams along the Yadkin River, including:
• Strict shoreline protections and curbs on development. The Yadkin
Project has a comprehensive Shoreline Management Plan that is held up as a
model by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the responsible
manner it helps to protect the reservoirs against the environmental impacts of
development along the shore.
• Shoreline areas should be identified for permanent protection. The
relicensing agreement will provide for long-term land protection through the
donation or sale of more than 6,000 acres adjacent to the Yadkin Project. This
land will be used for conservation, recreation and game lands.
• Flows should approach natural conditions. The relicensing agreement
provides for a consistent daily flow of water to support fish habitat and the
environment.
• Fish passage should be enhanced through the retro-fitting of fish
ladders or through a hauling system to take fish around dams. The
state and federal agencies that manage fish passage issues have reserved the
right to evaluate the need for fish passage at the Yadkin Project dams, when
and if migratory fish are passed upstream of the two Progress Energy dams
that are located downstream of the Yadkin dams.
This demonstrates how the Relicensing Settlement Agreement for the Yadkin Project
effectively addresses the issues raised in this report.
Balancing Energy Generation, Recreation and Environmental Resources
4 of 4 2/16/2009 12:54 PM