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Water levels at Badin Lake are beginning to drop this week as Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) prepares to install a cap of sand and rocks over sediments in Badin Lake that contain low-levels of PCBs.
A drawdown of 15 to 20 feet is necessary for APGI to conduct the remediation work, which has been approved by state and federal officials. Capping the sediments is a precaution that will stabilize the sediments and mitigate the possibility that the sediments could be disturbed in the future.
“The sediments have been closely monitored for decades and do not pose a risk to the environment or the people who use Badin Lake,” said Marshall Olson, APGI Environment and Natural Resources Manager.
Water levels at Badin Lake are expected to be 5 feet below full pool (536 ft) by November 26, 2012 and 15 feet below full pool (526 ft) by December 10, 2012. After 10 days, APGI will begin to refill the lake. The exact draw down and refill schedule may vary due to rainfall and river flow.
Current lake levels and project updates are available online at www.alcoa.com/badin.
“Our goal is to refill the lake as quickly as possible once the remediation work is completed,” Olson said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we complete this work.”
Badin Boat Access Area Will Be Closed
The Badin Boat Access Area will be closed as of November 15, 2012 at 7:00 am. Other recreation areas, such as the Old Whitney Boat Access Area will remain open but launching and retrieval of boats may be more difficult than usual. The Badin Boat Access Area is expected to reopen no later than February 1, 2013.
Be Safe: Low Water Levels May Present Obstacles
Exercise caution while boating during the drawdown. At low water levels, the exposed shoreline may be littered with debris and be extremely muddy. Also, underwater obstructions may be closer to the surface.
Repair and Maintenance of Piers //
Excavation to Maintain or Create Boat Access
The drawdown period provides an excellent opportunity for repair and maintenance of private piers, and other permitted facilities. Any repairs or maintenance to permitted facilities must be done in accordance with the Yadkin Project Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), and necessary County building permits must be acquired.
Shoreline Cleanup
The drawdown provides an opportunity to remove debris from the shoreline. Floating debris, litter and trash (bottles, cans, tires, plastic containers, Styrofoam, etc.) may be removed from the reservoir, reservoir bottom, or shoreline at any time.
The removal of dead trees, stumps or other woody debris in the reservoir, on the reservoir bottom, or along the shoreline must be conducted in accordance with the SMP Stewardship Policy and requires written permission from APGI.
The removal of artifacts and objects (tools, weapons, ornaments) of archaeological or historical interest, from the reservoir, reservoir bottom, or shoreline is strictly prohibited.
Protect Your Pier
Please take any necessary steps to ensure that your private pier or multi-use facility will safely follow the water level as it is lowered and raised, and to prevent pier damage or damage to boats and other personal watercraft.
Residents with questions about the drawdown should contact Alcoa at 1-888-866-1063.
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources to move forward with its plan to install a cap over a three-acre area of Badin Lake.
Alcoa will place a cap of sand and rocks over sediments in Badin Lake that contain low levels of PCBs. The sediments have been closely monitored for decades and do not pose a risk to the environment or people who use Badin Lake. Capping the sediments is a precaution that will stabilize the sediments and mitigate the possibility that the sediments could be disturbed in the future.
The project will require water levels in Badin Lake to be lowered 15-20 feet. This includes two weeks to lower the water level of Badin Lake, 7 to 10 days of low lake levels, and approximately two to three weeks to raise the lake levels back to normal, depending on rainfall during that period. Water levels at High Rock lake will not be impacted by this project.
Work is expected to begin in December, but the timetable has not been finalized. Project updates, including daily reports of water levels, will be posted online at www.alcoa.com/badin.
The remediation plan was reviewed by the North Carolina Division of Waste Management and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
As reported by The Stanly News & Press this week, a new business will be moving into the Badin Business Park in 2013: Mabel Systems NC.
Mabel Systems is a company that converts biomass, including organic waste, into a clean, renewable gas. The company was developed and licensed by Tucker Engineering in Locust.
To learn more about Tucker Engineering and its exciting plans, see The Stanly News & Press article (Tucker Eng. says plant will open in Badin) published Thursday.
Stanly News & Press
Tucker Eng. says plant will open in Badin
By Brian Graves
Richard Tucker says for him and his company, they’ve entered the perfect storm.
The engineering firm is preparing a 1,000-hour test run of their gasification process for the U.S. Forest Service, fabricating an order for a company in Great Britain and preparing the plans for a new production plant in Badin.
That plant will be located at the old ALCOA site and could be up and running as soon as spring of 2013.
Tucker confirmed his plans in an interview with the SNAP Monday morning.
His engineering group has developed a device that more efficiently runs the pyrolysis gasification process which turns forms of waste into methane gas and carbon.
Some estimates say the process could divert 340,000 tons of waste annually from local landfills.
Click to read more.
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