Cabarrus County Adopts Resolution Opposing Private Ownership Of The Yadkin River

Stanly County Commissioners announce that they have received support from the Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 on Monday, April 7 to adopt a resolution presented by Stanly County Commissioner Lindsey Dunevant. The resolution requests the Governor of North Carolina to 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, Cabarrus County is located within the Yadkin-Pee Dee Watershed; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus 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 $40 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 Cabarrus County and North Carolina are, in part, the lawful 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 Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners thanks the Honorable Michael F. Easley, Governor of the State of North Carolina, for his timely intervention in the ongoing licensing process and further requests that for the foregoing reasons and in the interest of justice and in the best interest of, and for the benefit of, the citizens of Cabarrus County and North Carolina, that he continue to intervene in the ongoing licensing process before FERC in opposition of a 50 year license being granted to Alcoa and that he initiate the recapture of authority and control over the Yadkin River and its lakes and tributaries.

The resolution was signed by Jay White, Chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners and Kay Honeycutt, Clerk to the Board. The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners are: Chairman Jay White Sr., Vice Chairman Joni D. Juba, Robert W. Carruth, Grace Mynatt and Coy C. Privette. Monday’s meeting was held at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center located at 65 Church Street, SE, Concord, N.C.

Quotes:
"We applaud the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners for adopting this resolution," said Commissioner Dunevant. "Counties across the state of North Carolina are recognizing this issue as a critical matter that affects all North Carolinians. We hope that the support shown in Cabarrus County on Monday 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.cabarrus.nc.us
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 Yadkin Project on the Yadkin River in Stanly, Davidson, Montgomery and Rowan Counties in the Central Piedmont. In return, Alcoa promised aluminum manufacturing jobs for Stanly County for years to come. Alcoa has now essentially disappeared as a major employer in the region and shut down its manufacturing plants, but it wants to continue reaping the benefits of the Yadkin River after its license expires in April of this year. In addition, Alcoa discharged hazardous pollutants into North Carolina air and waterways for decades while harvesting immense profits from the Yadkin River, but has yet to finish cleaning up that contamination. 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 Alcoa’s profits, instead of being used to benefit the people of North Carolina, who themselves are in dire need of affordable electricity, local economic development, and clean, adequate drinking water.

Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC

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