Another unnecessary delay: Judge stays water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project

Another unnecessary delay. 

That’s the result of a ruling today by an administrative law judge in Raleigh who agreed to stay the 401 water quality certificate that was issued for the Yadkin Project just two weeks ago.

The decision was reached after Gov. Perdue took the unprecedented step of publicly disagreeing with the professionals in the N.C. Division of Water Quality who have the technical expertise to best evaluate water quality issues.  The experts at DWQ carefully studied these issues for two years and acted properly by issuing a water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project. 

We are confident that the 401 certificate will be upheld when all is said and done.  But for now, we wait to see what the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will do. 

Despite the stay, FERC still has the authority issue a new long-term license.  And it should.