Davidson County Adopts Resolution Opposing Private Ownership Of The Yadkin River

Stanly County Commissioners announced today that they have received support from the Davidson County Board of Commissioners in the opposition of Alcoa’s request to obtain a 50-year license to control, govern and sustain ownership of water flowing from the Yadkin River, one of the longest rivers in North Carolina. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 7-0 Tuesday evening to adopt a resolution presented by Stanly County Commissioner Lindsey Dunevant. The resolution requests the Governor of North Carolina to intervene and oppose the application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by Alcoa for a 50-year license to control the waters of the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries.

The text of the resolution is as follows:

WHEREAS, Davidson County is located within the Yadkin-Pee Dee Watershed; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Davidson County depend on the availability of potable water from the Yadkin River; and

WHEREAS, the entire State of North Carolina is currently in the midst of an ongoing extreme drought and this drought has detrimentally affected the citizens of Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, the multi-national corporation, Aluminum Company of America ("Alcoa") currently holds a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") license which gives it near total control over the waters of the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries for the sole purpose of generating profits for itself in excess of $25 Million Dollars per year; and

WHEREAS, the current license held by Alcoa is set to expire in April of 2008 and Alcoa is currently applying to FERC to grant it another license which would give it control over the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries for the next 50 years; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Davidson County and North Carolina are in part owners of the waters and natural resources of the State of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, given the current and expected future drought conditions in North Carolina the State of North Carolina should act in the interest of its citizens to recapture authority and control over the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries to ensure that the waters of the State of North Carolina are properly protected and remain available to the citizens in times of drought and emergency conditions; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Davidson County and North Carolina are dependent upon their government to act in their best interests and to prevent a multi-national corporation from taking and maintaining control of the water and natural resources on which they depend for basic needs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Davidson County Board of Commissioners respectfully requests Michael F. Easley, Governor of the State of North Carolina, for the foregoing reasons and in the interest of justice and for the benefit of the citizens of Davidson County and North Carolina, intervene in the ongoing licensing hearings before FERC and formally object to Alcoa being granted a new license that gives it near absolute authority and control over the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries for the next 50 years.

The resolution was signed by Larry Potts, chairman of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners and Anne Burkhart, clerk to the board. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners are: Chairman Larry Potts, Vice Chairman Billie Joe Kepley, Larry Allen, Fred McClure, Dan Truell, Dr. Max Walser and Sam Watford. Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Davidson County Governmental Center located at 913 Greensboro Street, Lexington, N.C.

Quotes:
"We applaud the Davidson County Board of Commissioners for adopting this resolution," said Commissioner Dunevant. "This is a critical matter that affects all North Carolinians. We hope that the support shown in Davidson County on Tuesday night will bring additional state and federal action for our cause, which we believe ultimately acts in the best interests of all North Carolina citizens."

Related Links:
www.co.stanly.nc.us.
www.co.davidson.nc.us
www.alcoa.com
www.mmimarketing.com/podcast/North+Carolina+Water+Policy www.mmimarketing.com/podcast/North+Carolina+Water+Policy+part+II

About This Effort:
In 1958, Alcoa, the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, secured a federal hydroelectric license for the Narrows Dam on the Yadkin River in Stanly County. In turn, Alcoa promised jobs for Stanly County and an environmentally-friendly product for years to come. While making profits in excess of $40 million a year on North Carolina water resources, Alcoa has essentially disappeared as a major employer, shut down plants and, for decades, discharged hazardous pollutants into North Carolina air and waterways. Alcoa wants to continue reaping the benefits of the Yadkin River after its license expires in April of this year. It has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to obtain another 50-year license. If Alcoa is successful, one of North Carolina’s most valuable water resources will be used to maximize its profits instead of being used to benefit the people of North Carolina, who themselves are in dire need of drinking water due to the current drought and our state’s continued growth.