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River Run-Ins
Appeal, Fine, Coal Ash Hazards Mark Continuing Threats to Waterways
BY NICK MCCORMACWith summer temperatures on the rise so too will be activity along South Carolina’smany rivers. But three developments in June call into question how safe those waterwaysare for visitors and wildlife.Development No. 1: American Rivers and the Coastal Conservation League contestedwater quality permits that the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controlissued to Duke Energy. Duke needs the permits to re-license 11 hydroelectric dams itoperates along the Catawba and Wateree river systems that flow through the Carolinas.The DHEC board plans to hear the challenge and review the permits in a meetingscheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. at the agency’s headquarters at 2600 Bull St. indowntown Columbia.The two conservation groups charge that the permits appear to be inconsistent with a U.S.Supreme Court lawsuit by S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster against NorthCarolina. McMaster wants the high court to designate required flow levels in theCatawba.The river flows from North Carolina into South Carolina where it becomes the Wateree,which flows through Northeast Richland County.Duke has been issued permits for six dams it operates in North Carolina but needs permits for the other five in South Carolina. Duke is seeking 30- to 50-year extensions of the licenses.“DHEC hasn’t provided the citizens of South Carolina with reasonable assurance thatDuke’s dams will provide necessary water flows for fish and wildlife, and a healthyriver,” American Rivers regional director Gerrit Jöbsis says in a statement.Jöbsis says the group is concerned about the safety of the shortnose sturgeon, a federallyendangered fish that lives in the Wateree River.Decreasing water flows too much could wipe out the species in the area, according toAmerican Rivers. “The Catawba River and its fish and wildlife will be robbed of their future well being if this deal is allowed,” Jöbsis says of the DHEC permits.Development No. 2: In a settlement agreement, DHEC fined Alpine Utilities $25,000after equipment problems at an Alpine sewer plant in St. Andrews caused wastewater containing fecal coliform to contaminate 5 miles of the Saluda River last summer.From July 30 to Aug. 7 a stretch of the river had to be closed because bacterialcontamination was 230 times the level considered safe. The spill was caused by
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