Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Yadkin Riverkeeper Will Contest Alcoa 401 Water Quality Permit
A three part series on the Yadkin River will air on public radio on WFAE 90.7 Charlotte and WFDD 88.5 Winston-Salem on May 11th, 12th and 13th. It includes interviews with Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks to discuss the Alcoa relicensing agreement and other Yadkin River issues.
Join Yadkin Riverkeeper for ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIE NIGHT at Temple Emanuel 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14. Movie feature: Environmental Ethics: "Examining Your Connection to the Environment and Your Community" followed by a presentation by Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks (SEE BELOW).
MUDDY WATER WATCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! MAY 16th and 23rd - Yadkin Riverkeeper will be hosting its first Muddy Water Watch (MWW) Citizen Training on May 16th and 23rd from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at the Southside Library in Winston Salem. You can also visit www.muddywaterwatch.org to learn more about this state wide program, praised by the EPA in their July 2008 NPS magazine. You will find complete volunteer job descriptions, contact information, workshop dates and locations, online training materials, and much more. For directions and registration please visit www.yadkinriverkeeper.org. We encourage volunteers to attend both trainings.
YADKIN RIVERKEEPER WILL CONTEST ALCOA 401 WATER QUALITY PERMIT
Last week in the fight for the Yadkin River between Alcoa and North Carolina, the NC State Senate voted 44-4 in support of the Yadkin River State Trust Legislation which would allow the state to oversee the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project on behalf of North Carolina citizens. The Yadkin River Trust addresses three key issues associated with relicensing the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project which includes; public water rights to control the Yadkin River, job creation and environmental cleanup. Click link below.
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/may/06/senate-seems-to-agree-on-dams/
While Senate support for the legislation was a positive step for the Yadkin River, the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) took a step backwards-defying the Governors office and state lawmakers-by issuing Alcoa the 401 Water Quality Permit. Alcoa is now one step closer to receiving another 50-year federal (FERC) license to operate the project. The 401 certification does not address issues raised in Gov. Beverly Perdue's intervention in the FERC relicensing procedure, nor does it address numerous water quality concerns filed by Yadkin Riverkeeper and the Duke Environmental Litigation Clinic and many others.
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/may/08/50-more-years-alcoa-gets-a-key-water-quality-certi/
It is clear however, intense public and political pressure as well as the hundreds of comments filed by NC citizens to deny Alcoa their 401 permit, forced the DWQ into an uncomfortable position as indicated in the hearing officer's report. For example, NC DWQ took a highly unusual step by requiring a surety bond in the amount of $240 million to guarantee financial resources are available to make improvements to the hydroelectric turbine system in order to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the discharges, but still did not require Alcoa to comply with water quality standards.
Yadkin Riverkeeper represented by the Duke Environmental Litigation Clinic will contest the 401 permit and request a stay to hopefully prevent the relicensing process from proceeding forward. We want to thank everyone who took the time to submit comments on this precedent setting issue. Your participation in this process did make a difference and we assure you, the next 50 year fight for the Yadkin River is far from over!
See lessons learned article about PCB contamination in the Hudson River:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HUDSON_PCBS?SITE=KYB66&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
"I think it's important for us as North Carolinians to be able to control our water, clean up our environment and encourage appropriate economic development in the area," said Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus. "The dams are going to be run, but the first thing they're going to be run for is for the people of this state."
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIE NIGHT
@ Temple Emanuel
201 Oakwood Dr
Winston Salem, NC 27103
7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2009
Environmental Ethics:
Examining Your Connection to the Environment and Your Community
Be inspired by the profiles of individuals who have made it their duty to protect their local environments through innovative ideas and leadership.
MEET THE YADKIN RIVERKEEPER, DEAN NAUJOKS who will discuss his work with his community and others in the watershed to advocate on behalf of the Yadkin River. He is the river's eyes and ears, and provides a strong voice for the river.
OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER! With knowledge, we can make positive environmental changes!
ALL ARE WELCOME! (Refreshments to be provided.)
If you have any questions, please call Tomomi Rubin at 774-6586, Cynthia Silber at 985-6022, Gayle Tuch at 766-2767 or Sally Hirsh at 777-0565
|Home|