Randolph County Adopts Resolution Opposing Private Ownership Of The Yadkin River

Randolph County Board of Commissioners have publicly announced their support for North Carolina citizens and state officials who oppose 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. On Tuesday, April 8, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to adopt a resolution opposing private ownership of the Yadkin River. The resolution supports the North Carolina Governor’s intervention and request to delay 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, a portion of Randolph County is located within the Yadkin-Pee Dee Watershed; and

WHEREAS, a large number of Randolph County’s citizens are served by water from the Yadkin River via non profit water providers; 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 Randolph 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 Randolph 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 Randolph 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 Randolph County Board of Commissioners respectfully request Michael F. Easley, Governor of the State of North Carolina, for his the foregoing reasons and in the interest of justice and for the benefit of the citizens of Randolph County and North Carolina, intervene in the 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 J. Harold Holmes, Chairman of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners. The Randolph County Board of Commissioners are: Chairman J. Harold Holmes, Vice Chairman Darrell L. Frye, Phil Kemp, Stan Haywood and Arnold Lanier. Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Randolph County Government Office Building located at 725 McDowell Road in Asheboro, NC.

Quotes:
"We applaud the Randolph County Board of Commissioners for adopting this resolution," said Stanly County Commissioner Lindsey 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 Randolph County 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.randolph.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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