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Public Meetings June 29, 30 and July 1, 2004

Public Meetings June 29, 30 and July 1, 2004. Agenda. The Yadkin Project Alcoa-Yadkin’s Relicensing Process Technical Studies and Oasis Model Update Understanding Diverse Interests Settlement Negotiation Drought Contingency Plan Update Public Input. High Rock Dam. Tuckertown Dam.

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Public Meetings June 29, 30 and July 1, 2004

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  1. Public MeetingsJune 29, 30 and July 1, 2004

  2. Agenda • The Yadkin Project • Alcoa-Yadkin’s Relicensing Process • Technical Studies and Oasis Model Update • Understanding Diverse Interests • Settlement Negotiation • Drought Contingency Plan Update • Public Input

  3. High Rock Dam Tuckertown Dam Narrows Dam Falls Dam River Map -2 Yadkin Project

  4. High Rock Dam Tuckertown Dam Narrows Dam Falls Dam

  5. Many Benefits, Many Interests

  6. Supports economic development

  7. Offers diverse recreational opportunities

  8. Preserves wildlife habitat

  9. Provideswater supply reserve and flood control

  10. Preserves cultural and botanical resources

  11. Land Conservation

  12. Land Conservation • Alcoa committed to sound conservation and sustainability principles • Yadkin owns and manages over 15,000 acres around the Project • Nearly 1/3 of land is voluntarily protected by Yadkin, primarily for environmental reasons • Remaining land is under an active forestry program • Many acres designated as NCWRC gamelands and open to public

  13. Alcoa-Yadkin Relicensing Process

  14. What is Relicensing? • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates non-Federal hydropower projects • Ultimate licensing authority • FERC license is required to operate the Yadkin Project • Current license granted in 1958 • New license application due April 30, 2006

  15. FERC’s Role • Ensures that new licensebalances power generation with non-power interests affected by the Project • Water quality • Fish, wildlife and botanical protection • Recreation • Shoreline aesthetics and management • Cultural resource preservation

  16. Yadkin’s Relicensing Process • Involves stakeholders who have an interest in how the Project is operated (state and federal agencies, tribes, counties, municipalities, NGOs) • Conduct studies to learn how Project operation affects various resources • Based on studies, submit license application that balances hydropower generation with other interests

  17. How Interests are Represented • Seven Issue Advisory Groups (IAGs) focused on the key interest areas • Members from regions who represent stakeholders in Project (100+ people) • Role is to identify what issues need studying and review study results • IAGs will help clarify interests in the Project

  18. Operations Modeling Recreation, Aesthetics, Shoreline Management Fish, Aquatics Yadkin Relicensing IAGs Water Quality Cultural Wetlands, Wildlife, Botanical County Economic Impacts

  19. Relicensing Timetable Stage One 2002-2003 Stage Two 2003-2006 Stage Three 2006-2008 8 7 6 5 11 4 9 10 3 1 2 1) Inform stakeholders and public (publish ICD) 2) Receive input from stakeholders and public 3) Form Issue Advisory Groups 4) Conduct studies 5) Review studies w/ IAGs and public 6) Draft Application 7) Receive comments on draft Application 9) File Application 9) FERC Reviews Application and Comments 10) Conducts Environmental Assessment 11) Issues License

  20. Technical Studies and OASIS Model Update

  21. Purpose of Studies • Provide Alcoa-Yadkin with information to develop the license application • Provide accurate, science-based information about existence and effect of Yadkin Project operations on resource issues • Provide understanding of how various issues and interests in the Project interrelate and impact each other

  22. County Economics Study • County Economic Impact Assessment • Determine economic impact of the Project operations on five surrounding counties • Research Triangle Institute (RTI) • Draft study report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  23. Cultural Resources Studies • Historic Structures Study • Determine if any historical sites at Project are eligible for listing on National Register • Work ongoing • Thomason and Associates • Draft report anticipated July, 2004

  24. Cultural Resource Studies • Archaeological Survey at Uwharrie National Forest (UNF) • Determine if any significant cultural sites are being impacted by recreational use of UNF shoreline • Legacy • APGI working with US Forest Service on study scope

  25. Fish and Aquatics Studies • Tailwater Aquatic Surveys • Determine use of tailwaters by fish, mussels and macroinvertebrates • Normandeau Associates • Sampling complete • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  26. Fish and Aquatics Studies • Reservoir Aquatic Habitat Mapping • Map location of aquatic habitats in reservoirs and evaluate effects of reservoir water levels on habitats • Normandeau Associates • High Rock and Narrows surveys complete • Tuckertown and Falls surveys summer 2004 • Draft report (phase 1) expected 3rd quarter, 2004 • Draft report (phase 2) expected 1st quarter, 2005

  27. Fish and Aquatics Studies • Fish Entrainment Study • Determine potential for impact to reservoir fish populations from possible entrainment in Project powerhouses • Normandeau Associates • Literature review and desktop evaluation complete • Draft report expected July, 2004

  28. Fish and Aquatics Studies • Habitat Fragmentation Study • Evaluate how Project dams may have contributed to the fragmentation of fish and mussel populations in the watershed • Normandeau Associates • Study plan under development with IAG • Draft report anticipated 4th quarter, 2004

  29. Water Quality Studies • Water Quality Monitoring Study • Collected monthly water quality data from 1999-2003 • Continuing tailwater dissolved oxygen (DO) /temperature data collection through 2004 • Investigating potential options for improving tailwater DO • Normandeau Associates • Preliminary data review with IAG ongoing • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  30. Water Quality Studies • Sediment Fate and Transport Study • Evaluating sources and amounts of sediment being transported into Yadkin Project from upstream and where it’s being deposited • Joint effort between Normandeau and PB Power • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  31. Wetlands, Wildlife, and Botanical Studies • Wetland and Riparian Habitat Inventory • Inventory and map reservoir wetlands and other important habitat types and evaluate impacts to these areas associated with reservoir water levels • Wetland inventory and mapping complete • Normandeau Associates • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  32. Wetlands, Wildlife, and Botanical Studies • Avian Inventory • Document use of project reservoirs by birds, with an emphasis on migratory bird use • Field work ongoing • Center for Conservation Biology (College of William and Mary) • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  33. Wetlands, Wildlife, and Botanical Studies • Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Inventory • Surveys underway to determine presence of rare, threatened, and endangered species on project lands • Normandeau Associates • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  34. Wetlands, Wildlife, and Botanical Studies • Invasive, Exotic Plant Pest (IEPP) Inventory • Field work ongoing to determine the presence of IEPPs in Project • Normandeau Associates • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004 • Transmission Line/Project Facility Habitat Assessment • Field work ongoing • Normandeau Associates • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  35. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • Recreation Use Assessment • Determine levels and types of recreational use of Project reservoirs by both residents and visitors • ERM • Data collection complete • Draft reports expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  36. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • Recreation Economic Impact • Determine contribution to 5-county economy from recreational use of the Project reservoirs • ERM • Recreation related expenditure data collected • Analysis to be coordinated with RTI County Economic Impact Study • Draft report expected 4th quarter, 2004

  37. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • Recreation Facility Inventory • Inventory of public recreation facilities at Yadkin Project • LVA • Data collection complete • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  38. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • SMP Comparison Study • Compared provisions of Yadkin SMP to 11 other southeast region SMPs • LVA • Draft report distributed to IAG in April, 2004 • IAG meeting to review report in May, 2004 • Final report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  39. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • Project-Wide Aesthetics • Assessment of aesthetics of Project reservoirs and potential impacts to aesthetics associated with reservoir water levels • ERM • Data collection complete • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  40. Recreation, Aesthetics and Shoreline Management Studies • Uwharrie National Forest (UNF) Aesthetics Evaluation • Aesthetic assessment for UNF • ERM • Draft report expected 3rd quarter, 2004

  41. Operations Model • PB Power and Hydrologics developing model • Model will be used to depict how different operating scenarios of the Project impact interests • Alcoa-Yadkin model called “OASIS” • Working to develop common set of stream flow data with Progress Energy

  42. Yadkin Pee Dee River Instream Flow Study • Study to determine the relationships between river flow and fish and habitat needs in lower river • Progress Energy conducting study and sharing results with Alcoa-Yadkin • Alcoa-Yadkin participating on study subgroup • Data collection through end of year • Draft report expected mid-2005

  43. Understanding Diverse Interests

  44. Interests in the Yadkin Project Interest Map State and Federal Agencies, Citizens of States:Concerned for water quality and habitat throughout the basin; NC and SC agencies cooperate but have different interests with regard to water supply for their respective states

  45. Interests in the Yadkin Project • NC Municipalities: Salisbury, Denton, Albemarle need water intakes for municipal water supply • Reservoir Users, Homeowners, Businesses, NGOs: Want higher reservoir levels for recreational use and economic activity for local businesses; want land conservation • Local Governments: Desire help in establishing region as tourist destination to support local economy State and Federal Agencies, citizens of States

  46. Interests in the Yadkin Project • Progress Energy: Also part of Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed and in relicensing process; Operate Tillery and Blewett Falls dams • Economic Development NGOs: Desire economic development of the region • Industrial Users: Major employers need water supply to operate; assurance of consistent flow State and Federal Agencies; citizens of States NC Municipalities Reservoir Users, Homeowners, Businesses, NGOs Local Governments

  47. Interests in the Yadkin Project • SC Municipalities: Florence, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown concerned about water supply for economic development; have no major reservoirs of their own to support drinking water or industrial use needs • Alcoa-Yadkin:Desire tomaintain economically viable hydropower project and meet state and federal (FERC) requirements State and Federal Agencies, citizens of States NC Municipalities Reservoir Users, Homeowners, Businesses, NGOs Local Governments Progress Energy Economic Development NGOs Industrial Users SC Municipalities Alcoa-Yadkin

  48. Understanding Interests • Alcoa-Yadkin wants to • Clearly understand the interests of IAG participants • Clearly communicate its interests to them • Relicensing process purposely designed to • Develop relationships • Share interests • Though not required by FERC, Alcoa-Yadkin seeks opportunities to reach agreement on interests

  49. Settlement Negotiation

  50. Settlement Negotiation • Settlement negotiation • Formal process for attempting to reach binding agreements that become part of the license or otherwise enforceable by contract among the agreeing parties • Allows parties to work together in support of the license application • Settlement negotiations require development of protocols • Procedures for constructively working together developed and adopted by parties in negotiation

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