Monday, October 29, 2012 —
1. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission since the 1980s has aggressively supported private industry as the central force for electricity production in the U.S.
2. FERC highly regulates most every hydro project in the U.S.
3. The waters of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River are federal, interstate and public waters highly regulated by FERC for the citizens of the U.S. FERC regulates the water levels in the Yadkin Project, FERC approves and grants water withdrawals from the Yadkin Project and it is FERC that requires the Yadkin Project to be both safe and environmentally sound.
4. FERC has historically had a good relationship with Alcoa and in their Final Environmental Impact Statement FERC’s staff clearly states that there is no interest, whatsoever, in a federal takeover (recapture) of the Yadkin Project. No such takeover has ever occurred.
5. FERC clearly states that the loss of jobs, due to the closure of the aluminum plant, is not a factor in their decision about relicensing the Yadkin Project. FERC considers the loss of jobs unrelated to the operation and relicensing of the Yadkin Project.
6. FERC has historically defined the public good/benefit for the relicensing of a hydro project to simply be the production of green electricity for the U.S.
7. The waters that enter High Rock Lake are impaired and have very low levels of dissolved oxygen. The tremendous amounts of sediments, livestock waste, heavy metals, etc. that enters High Rock needs immediate NCDENR involvement. Clean water is a river basin wide issue.
Alcoa, with their recent dissolved oxygen improvements (additional improvements will be implemented with the new license), should receive their 401 Water Certification from NCDENR and FERC will approve their new license.
We desperately need to elect new county commissioners who actually understand the reality of the federal relicensing process.
John Young
Albemarle
Letters to the Editor
New commissioners are needed
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We are not the bad guy
This letter is for staff writer Ian Faulkner. You do not seem to think the threat from North Korea is serious. Read your history of war. I’m glad that our country takes it serious.
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Citizens need to participate in health assessment
The Stanly County Health Department is partnering with Stanly Regional Medical Center to conduct a community health assessment.
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New bill would help business
I am writing in reference to a new “open competition” auto insurance bill that was introduced in the N.C. House and Senate.
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Respect the graves
As far back as I can remember, as far back as my grandparents could remember there has always been a clump of trees located across from Centerview Church, up on the hill, on the Northeast Connector.
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Encouragement
How refreshing each week to read the article written by Doug Creamer.
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Permit me
On Sept. 4, 2012, I received a letter from Stanly Co. Office of Planning and Zoning. Thus began a string of four office visits to obtain information that could have been provided sooner.
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What is unethical?
I am writing in response to your article “Unethical Conduct leads mayor to question board’s actions.”
As a cancer survivor, I am appalled at the actions of Mayor Danny Long. -
Community comes together for child
Jan. 13, I witnessed an extraordinary event at a fundraiser for a baby at Bob’s Family Restaurant in Midland.
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Applauding the commissioners
In response to the recent article by Brian Graves regarding Clean Tech, I think that our county commissioners should be commended for their stand against Clean Tech’s offering jobs in exchange for Alcoa to be relicensed to operate the hydro dams on the Yadkin-Pee Dee.
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Budget tips
The government has a problem with the budget. Why? The Republicans and the Democrats blame one another. Why? Don’t they both spend the money? Foolishly.
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We are not the bad guy
