What are the pollution concerns involving Alcoa and the Yadkin Project?
Alcoa has discharged hazardous pollutants into North Carolina air and waterways for decades without regulation, but has yet to finish cleaning up that contamination. Although the company has spent more than $8 million to provide appropriate environmental protection at six sites on its Stanly County property, the county believes there are more contaminated sites, although how many there are and to what extent they are contaminated remains unknown. Alcoa has not provided adequate disclosure of information requested by Stanly County, like the true cost of cleaning up the Badin Smelting Works, nor has Alcoa been willing to fund studies consistent with the best scientific approach on cleaning up the contamination. Should Alcoa receive a 50-year license for the Yadkin Project, there is no certainty it will speed up its cleanup. The presence of such contamination may well pose a significant hazard to the community and adversely affect the water supply for Stanly County, as well as inhibit new
