NC agency puts conditions on Alcoa certification

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's water quality division issued a certification that Alcoa Inc. needs to get a new license for its Yadkin River dams, but imposed eight conditions including a $240 million guarantee. The state Division of Water Quality said Thursday the conditions are necessary to ensure that Alcoa will protect environmental standards if it receives a new license allowing it to keep running its four dams for up to 50 years. The agency said Alcoa must provide a $240 million surety bond to make sure upgrades to the electric-generating turbines will improve dissolved oxygen levels in the discharged water. Another condition would allow the agency to modify its certification if water quality problems develop in the future.