Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Public Hearing on APGI’s 401 Application Rescheduled for January 15, 2009

The N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has rescheduled the public hearing regarding APGI’s application for a Section 401 water quality certificate. As I’ve mentioned before, APGI must receive a water quality certificate from the State of North Carolina before FERC can issue a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project.

The public hearing originally scheduled for December 16, 2008 will now be held on January 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Stanly County Commissioners Meeting Room at 1000 North Street in Albemarle, NC 28001.

We requested the hearing be rescheduled to make sure that all interested parties were properly notified. Interested members of the public have the opportunity to attend and comment at the public hearing.

Update on ERC Activities

As you know, the N.C. General Assembly has asked the Environmental Review Commission (ERC) to study how a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project might affect the State of North Carolina.

Alcoa and Stanly County recently filed briefs with the ERC outlining our respective positions with regard to the issues the ERC has been asked to study. Those briefs were formally submitted during the ERC meeting on November 25, 2008. You can click here to view the filings.

The ERC must submit a written study report regarding the Yadkin Project relicensing to the N.C. General Assembly by February 1, 2009.

Friday, November 7, 2008

NC Division of Water Quality issues public notice re: water quality certificate

The N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has issued a public notice regarding APGI’s application for a Section 401 water quality certificate. As I’ve mentioned before, APGI must receive a water quality certificate from the State of North Carolina before FERC can issue a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project.

At our request, DWQ has scheduled a public hearing regarding our application. The hearing is slated for Tuesday, December 16 in Albemarle, NC. We requested this hearing to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to comment on the water quality application.

As part of the application process, APGI recently tested the water quality below the Narrows (Badin Lake) dam. The sampling showed that the discharges meet state standards for water quality. You can read more about the discharge sampling in an earlier blog entry.

The Relicensing Settlement Agreement for the Yadkin Project includes several measures designed to protect and improve the water quality in the Yadkin River, including the installation of state-of-the-art aeration technology to increase dissolved oxygen levels and improve water quality as part of a $240 million upgrade.

In addition, APGI has agreed to modify the minimum low flow in the river, provide protection through vegetated buffers and conduct flow monitoring in the river.