Alcoa appeals denial of 401 water quality certificate

Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) filed an appeal of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) decision to deny the company’s application for a 401 water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The appeal was filed Tuesday in the Office of Administrative Hearings in North Carolina’s administrative court system.

When the State of North Carolina filed a lawsuit on Aug. 2 lawsuit claiming ownership of the riverbed, it spurred DENR’s denial of the 401 water quality certificate. We believe that DENR acted unlawfully when it denied our 401 water quality certificate because the denial was based purely on unproven allegations in the state’s lawsuit.

Equally important, the state’s lawsuit asserts no claims with respect to water quality, which is the sole focus of the 401 certification process. In fact, the hearing officer who recommended issuing the 401 water quality certificate to APGI specifically noted that the questions raised in the state’s lawsuit were outside the scope of the 401 certification process.

Additional Legal Filings

In addition to filing the appeal, APGI made two additional legal filings today related to the riverbed lawsuit brought by the state, which is now in federal court. The filings include our answer to the complaint and our opposition to the Yadkin Riverkeeper’s petition for intervention.

Read the AP article: Alcoa launches fight-back for dam property rights

Read the Charlotte Observer article: Alcoa continues fight over hydro license

Hardaway Exhibit Finds A Permanent Home in Badin

Historic artifacts from one of North America’s oldest archaeological sites are returning home to Badin, NC. The artifacts are part of “Ancient Carolinians,” an exhibit developed by archaeologists at the University of North Carolina that will be permanently located in Badin.

Tomorrow, Alcoa will formally announce that it has pledged $25,000 to the Badin Museum Commission. Those funds will support the design of a dedicated museum building in Badin to showcase the artifacts as part of the Ancient Carolinians exhibit. 

“These artifacts represent an important part of our history, and the exhibit tells an intriguing story about the people who first lived here. Alcoa wants to help preserve that history with a permanent museum and our donation will help make that a reality,” said Mark Gross, an Alcoa technical manager based in Badin.

The artifacts were first discovered on a ridge overlooking Badin Lake in the 1930s by an Alcoa engineer. UNC researchers unearthed more than 1.5 million artifacts at the Hardaway site, a National Historic landmark that has been described as one of the most important archaeological sites in North America.

Alcoa donated the artifacts to UNC in 2005 and funded efforts to educate people across North Carolina about the state’s earliest inhabitants. The effort included development of the Ancient Carolinians exhibit, lesson plans and teaching kits for schoolteachers, and a feature on “Exploring North Carolina,” a public television program.  UNC will loan the exhibit and artifacts to the Museum Commission, who will be responsible for the display.

“The Hardaway site provides a window through which we can see how people in North Carolina lived more than 10,000 years ago,” said Dr. Vin Steponaitis, director of UNC Research Laboratories of Archaeology. “Alcoa has played a key role in preserving the Hardaway site and we are very grateful for all they have done to preserve and promote this important part of North Carolina's heritage.”

Artifacts on Display at Best of Badin Festival
The “Ancient Carolinians” exhibit will be on display in the Alcoa Conference Center in Badin during the 19th annual Best of Badin Festival on September 20-21. Admission is free.

“It’s a great opportunity to step into the past and see how North Carolina’s first people lived,” said Badin Mayor Jim Harrison.  “These historic artifacts were discovered right here in Badin and we are excited to bring them home.”

Visitors to the Best of Badin Festival can view the exhibit and talk with members of the NC Archaeological Society on Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The NC Archaeological Society is hosting is annual Fall Conference in Badin in conjunction with the Best of Badin Festival.

Alcoa Plans to Donate Historic Site to State of North Carolina
The historic Hardaway site is situated on property that Alcoa plans to donate to the State of North Carolina as part of the Relicensing Settlement Agreement for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The benefits in the agreement include a commitment to donate more than 1,000 acres (including he Hardaway site) for the expansion of Morrow Mountain State Park.

The donation will be made once a new license is issued for the Yadkin Project.