Current Issues

Celebrating 40 Years of Clean Water and Healthy Communities.

Nearly 40 years ago, Congress signed into law a historic piece of legislation that would turn the tide of our polluted waterways and hold big polluters accountable for their actions and attacks on the health of our communities. Prior to the Clean Water Act’s enactment, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it was literally in flames, the majestic Hudson River’s fishery was gone and Lake Erie was declared all but dead.

The Value of a River

Renowned Economist, Michael Shuman, says state ownership of the four hydroelectric dams on the Yadkin could result in more than $1.2 billion in additional state revenues, and the creation and addition of 14,000-75,000 jobs.

Yadkin Riverkeeper, local county commissioners, citizen interest groups and North Carolina law makers enter the fifth year of legal challenges and fierce opposition to prevent Aluminum giant Alcoa from receiving a 50 year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to control four hydro-power dams located on the Yadkin River. According to proponents of local control of the river, Alcoa is a multinational corporation that presently monopolizes and exploits the Yadkin River’s hydroelectric capacity for its bottom line, with little in return to the people of North Carolina.

Because the cost of generating hydropower is relatively low and the price of electricity is high, Alcoa enjoys an after-tax profit of at least $7 million to $8 million per year. Alcoa has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency responsible for the licensing of public to continue reaping those funds.

“If the public is supposed to be the true beneficiary of this resource, it is important for the public to understand the value of this important natural resource that belongs to the citizens of NC, said Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks.  “But how do you measure the economic value of a river?”

While there is no simple formula, nationally-known economist Dr. Michael Shuman has come up with some intriguing projections for North Carolina’s second largest river system, the Yadkin.

Commissioned by Central Park N.C., a regional sustainable development organization, Shuman has conducted a five-month study to compare the economic outcome if North Carolina can “recapture” the federal license to operate four hydroelectric dams on the river, rather than Alcoa Power Generating Inc., getting the license for another 50 years.

Shuman’s report concludes that if the state received the standard 50-year federal license to operate hydroelectric facilities on the river, and implemented proper oversight of them, the setup can result in more than $1.2 billion in additional state revenues, and the creation and addition of 14,000-75,000 jobs. Click here to read more

US Supreme Court Ruling in PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana

How this ruling may affect Alcoa Re-licensing of Yadkin River Dams

February 27, 2012

Press Advisory

By Dean Naujoks

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court sent a case back to the State of Montana for their courts to decide which sections of river beds in that state were owned by the state. Montana is directed to determine ownership by looking at “navigability,” which sections of these rivers were passable by boats.  Justice Kennedy decided to go beyond what was needed to decide the case and added some passing remarks at the end.  After deciding the issues, the Court said that Montana’s failure to charge rent for use of the river beds should be evidence that the rivers themselves were not passable by boats. 

The Dirty Lie Continues - Be Heard!

Mercury is a heavy metal that accumulates in the fish we eat and can negatively impact brain function- and coal-fired power plants are the main source.
Over 500,000 people spoke up for the Utility mercury rule, a strong standard on hazardous air pollution that would reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 91%. 

The science is in and the American people have spoken, but some members of Congress are only listening to big polluters like the coal industry. It’s no secret why -- in 2010 alone, Big Coal spent $200 million lobbying Congress to ensure their profits were protected instead of the health of our lakes, wildlife and children.

On April 26, 2013 the US Army Corps of Engineers revoked NCDOT's permit for the Monroe Bypass.  The permit is required under section 404 of the Clean Water Act and the Bypass cannot be constructed without it.  The Yadkin Riverkeeper along with Clean Air Carolina and the NC Wildlife Federation have been urging the Corps to revoke the permit since the ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit last May which invalidated the environmental study performed by NCDOT.

On February 5, 2013 the groups issued a Notice of Intent to sue under the Clean Water Act to the Corps.   In response to that letter, the Corp finally agreed to revoke the permit, almost a year after the Fourth Circuit's ruling.  Other agencies including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have also withdrawn their approvals for the project.  NCDOT will need to re-apply for all these approvals, and complete its environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act before taking any further steps

In the meantime the Yadkin Riverkeeper will continue to work with local community groups in Union County to urge NCDOT to consider alternative solutions to the Bypass such as upgrades to US 74, 218 and Old Monroe road.