NC Sen. Stan Bingham calls for EPA criminal investigation of Alcoa

The Narrows Dam is one of four hydroelectric dams operated by Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. as part of the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. NC Sen. Stan Bingham is calling for a criminal investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency after a whistleblower informed YES! Weekly that Alcoa has knowingly allowed hydraulic oil and mechanical grease to leach from its hydroelectric turbines into the Yadkin River.

CORRECTION: In the Dec. 10 YES! Weekly blog post entitled, “NC Sen. Stan Bingham calls for EPA criminal investigation of Alcoa,” it states that Alcoa spokesman Mike Belwood flatly denied allegations of environmental contamination by the aluminum-maker as a response to a series of questions about the company’s record of environmental stewardship in a Nov. 10 YES! Weekly article. In fact, Belwood declined to answer those questions and issued the following statement:

The information you have is nothing more than the output of a campaign by private interests, lobbyists and politicians to take Alcoa’s private property, which the company purchased and developed with its own funds,” Belwood said. “This kind of government takeover of private property sends a terrible message to any business located in the state or thinking about locating in the state.

The full story is here.

ORIGINAL POST: NC Sen. Stan Bingham (R-Davidson) has requested that the Environmental Protection Agency conduct a criminal investigation of Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act related to the company’s four hydroelectric dams in the vicinity of Badin Lake, according to a press release issued Dec. 9.

On Nov. 24, Bingham sent a letter to EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Division in Atlanta after a whistleblower told YES! Weekly reporter Keith T. Barber that Alcoa has experienced problems with at least one of its four hydroelectric dams in the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project and those problems could pose a significant environmental and public health risk. The source, who requested anonymity due to concerns about job security, said Alcoa has had a longstanding problem with hydraulic oil and mechanical grease leaching into the Yadkin River in the Nov. 10 edition of YES! Weekly.

To read the full story, visit: http://www.yesweekly.com/article-10805-alcoasaga-part-3-alcoas-record-of-environmental-stewardship-inflames-passions-of-its-opponents.html

In the Nov. 10 article, Alcoa spokesman Mike Belwood flatly denied the allegations of environmental contamination.

“The information you have is nothing more than the output of a campaign by private interests, lobbyists and politicians to take Alcoa’s private property, which the company purchased and developed with its own funds,” Belwood said. “This kind of government takeover of private property sends a terrible message to any business located in the state or thinking about locating in the state.”

Bingham’s action comes on the heels of the Dec. 1 announcement by the NC Division of Water Quality that it had revoked Alcoa’s 401 water quality certificate. A key component of the aluminum giant’s bid to retain another 50 years of control over a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River that includes the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, the water quality certificate was revoked by the state agency after regulators learned that the aluminum-maker submitted “incorrect” information to DWQ as part of its application for a new license and “intentionally withheld information material to determining the project’s ability to meet the state’s water quality standards for dissolved oxygen.”

These revelations came to light during the ongoing lawsuit brought by Stanly County and the Yadkin Riverkeeper against the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)for failing to exercise the full scope of its authority under the Clean Water Act when issuing the water quality permit to Alcoa last year.

“When I heard Alcoa lied to the NC DENR during the trial, I could not help but wonder what else Alcoa might have lied about,” Bingham said in a statement. “I am glad I requested the investigation because it has become more apparent than ever that Alcoa has a long track record of being deceitful to the public and to our regulatory agencies. Unfortunately, Alcoa has seldom been held accountable for their actions.”

Belwood said that Alcoa is aware of the allegations made by Sen. Bingham and company officials are attempting to contact his office to learn more. Belwood said that Alcoa is conducting its own investigation into the allegations of environmental contamination of the Yadkin River, and the company believes its Yadkin operations are in compliance with all state and federal environmental regulations.

“Overall, we have a responsible environmental record,” Belwood said. “The commitments in the [Relicensing Settlement Agreement] will improve our environmental record even more and bring other benefits to the community.”