Alcoa pulls request for water quality certificate

By Jay Almond, News Editor

Thursday, May 8, 2008 May 09, 2008 11:22 am

— Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) has withdrawn its application for a water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project at the request of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The move will delay relicensing of the Yadkin Project giving the N.C. Division of Water Quality additional time to review the new application and submitted findings.
State water quality officials will use the time to review all documents submitted to them including those by Stanly County leaders and residents.
Among the documents submitted by the county are study and report findings prepared by Dr. John H. Rodgers Jr. and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Clemson University.
The study and related report challenge Alcoa’s contention that the water quality in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin has been at acceptably monitored, maintained and protected.
APGI originally submitted its application for a water quality certificate on May 10, 2007.
The N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ) issued a water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project on Nov. 17, 2008, but revoked that certificate last month after discovering a required legal notice was not published. State officials published the required notice and accepted public comments for a 15-day period ending May 2.
It was during that 15-day window that Stanly County officials submitted additional data detailing concerns for the quality of water in the Yadkin.

Jay Almond can be contacted by email at snaponline21@carolina.rr.com.