Today with Patty

Charlotte Observer Endorses Stanly’s Approach; Alcoa Still Does Not Get It

by Patty

In its April 3 editorial Controlling Water: State Should Reappraise Its Stance on the Yadkin River, the Charlotte Observer endorsed the opinion held by the Stanly County Commissioners, and the concerned citizens of across the state, for North Carolina to examine Alcoa’s attempts to receive a 50-year license for use of the Yadkin for hydroelectric power operations.

As the paper concluded, “Nothing would be irrevocably lost from a candid reappraisal of the state’s relationship with the Yadkin River and Alcoa’s stewardship of it. Gov. Easley and his administration should give the arrangement a close look.”

The Charlotte Observer was very balanced and presented both sides in coming to its opinion. It is a shame then that Gene Ellis, a licensing and property manager with Alcoa, continued to make misstatements as the basis for his firm’s views on the issue.

For example, one comment from Ellis that he repeats as if it is a central concern – which it is not – is that “The water supply of the Yadkin is not in jeopardy.” We know that. He knows that. Yet he always brings it up as if that is an objection we in Stanly County have to the relicensing. It is a classic straw man argument with no validity to this discussion.

Ellis also argued that relicensing Alcoa carries significant local benefits, including new lands for state parks and game lands and other recreational amenities. Are we to believe that none of that will happen unless Alcoa gets this license? Does the company really presume that no new recreational attractions will emerge in Stanly without its assistance?

As for Ellis claiming that “Stanly County is raising these questions at the last minute in a lengthy process that has nothing to do with the shut-down smelter operation,” we wonder what Alcoa defines as “last minute” arguments, as well as why it thinks the smelter should not be mentioned in its relicensing process. More than a year ago, on Feb. 5, 2007, the Stanly County Commission asked Alcoa to respond to questions regarding solid waste management at the smelter that the commission thought were germane to the relicensing. This was five months in advance of the smelter closing.

The smelter question matters because Alcoa has provided inconclusive responses to handling contamination at these sites. If Alcoa is not a good steward of our land at present, why should we assume they will be one for our water in the next 50 years?

Finally, while we agree with Ellis that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which will grant the license, has said the sale of the facility is not an option, it does not mean the FERC cannot reconsider that position, particularly if Gov. Easley and other state officials recommend federal recapture for the use and benefit of North Carolina citizens rather than as a financial windfall for Alcoa.

We wish that Alcoa will stay on topic in future discussions about this issue.

Permalink |  Save on del.ico.us

1. I object to the County paying big money for a PR agent. How much are you charging the County?

   
   — Jack Neel    Apr 7, 02:45 PM    #

Commenting is closed for this article.