North Carolina approves water quality certificate for Yadkin Project, clears the way for FERC to issue Alcoa a long-term license

The N.C. Division of Water Quality today issued Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) a required water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The action clears the way for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project.

“Obtaining this water quality certificate was the last major milestone in the relicensing effort that we began in 2002,” said Gene Ellis, APGI licensing and property manager. “We hope FERC will now move quickly to issue a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project so that we can begin implementing the important benefits in our relicensing settlement agreement.”

Once FERC issues a new long-term license for the Yadkin Project, APGI will begin implementing the relicensing agreement that it negotiated with state and federal agencies, local governments, homeowners and recreational users, business organizations, environmental interest groups and others. The agreement will improve water quality in the Yadkin River, create new recreational opportunities around the lakes, better protect the water supply during drought, provide for increased water withdrawals by local municipalities and set aside land for conservation purposes.

You can find the offiical 401 Certification online at http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/admin/pubinfo/DWQPubInfoNewsReleases.htm