Yadkin Hydroelectric Project

Public Comments Sent to NC Division of Water Quality Lead to Alcoa’s Withdrawal of Water Quality Certificate

by Patty

Multinational Corporation Forced to Address Significant Environmental Issues Raised by the Public

The announcement by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) on Friday, May 9, to withdraw its application to the N.C. Division of Water Quality for a required 401 water quality certificate to operate the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project indicates the successful impact of environmental experts and other concerned citizens in providing their contamination concerns to the DWQ.

Alcoa’s decision to withdraw the application – and then submit a new one shortly thereafter to the DWQ – occurred just a week after the 15-day public comment period regarding the water certificate ended. Could it be that Alcoa withdrew its application because it knew the environmental issues raised by the public were significant? Was this the corporation’s only option to save face? Only time will tell.

Dr. John H. Rodgers, Jr., a renowned water quality expert from Clemson University, submitted comments on the 401 water quality application for Alcoa’s Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, which is comprised of hydroelectric stations, dams and reservoirs along a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. Dr. Rodgers submitted a report stating that the available data clearly indicates that Badin Lake, a 5,300-acre reservoir that empties into the Yadkin River through the Narrows Dam, and the area downstream have significant human, health and ecological problems that are and will continue to be affected by dam operations.

Dr. Rodgers found that testing and evaluation of the area revealed aspects of environmental hazards too exhaustive for him to list even in his 24-page report. The ones he did mention include releases of toxic elements from the dam, the presence of invasive and toxic algae, and releases of suspended solids. Dr. Rodgers recommended to the DWQ that, in his own words, “Careful, well-designed and comprehensive studies should be executed, initially to determine the nature, extent and magnitude of the problem(s) in Badin Lake and the immediate watershed (as well as the downstream area).”

As Alcoa currently operates the Narrows Dam (and has done so for decades), and water from it is used for drinking water for North Carolina as well as recreation, the multinational firm clearly holds responsibility for handling the concerns mentioned by Dr. Rodgers. So, if APGI felt they had addressed these issues substantively in their original application submission, why would they withdraw it and send another application to the DWQ in response?

After all, in a press release from Alcoa on April 17, APGI licensing and property manager Gene Ellis said that “We fully anticipate the state will promptly reissue the water quality certificate once this additional public comment period has passed.” Well, a week has passed, so something must have happened during the public comment period to convince the DWQ not to “promptly reissue” the water quality for APGI.

Whatever the reasons for the recent activity, the situation has forced Alcoa to take action it did not anticipate. APGI now must answer the substantial environmental questions that emerged from the public comment period with its reapplication.

We will inform you of the progress of the reapplication as soon as we know more. For now, we would like to thank everyone who submitted their letters and statements in opposition to this certificate receiving approval. You have made a definite impact and shown that David can stand up against Goliath

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