Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Committee:

It’s important for you to know that people who live on the lakes along the Yadkin River oppose this bill. I serve as President of The High Rock Lake Association. We’re an association that is made up of approximately 1/3 of the property owners, over a 1,000 households, around High Rock Lake. Some of the people who oppose this bill are here today, and I’d like for them to stand up and be recognized.

I’ve not been allowed enough time to review the financial, environmental and technical flaws of this bill. You already have received a lot of information from me. I really hope you’ve taken time to study and evaluate our concerns.

Our organization has been across the table from Alcoa since 1954 working for better water levels and better water quality. I’m not here today speaking on behalf of Alcoa. I’m here speaking on behalf of our organization and literally the citizens of North Carolina that use these waters. I have a unique perspective on this legislation because I have probably spent more time than any individual – outside of Alcoa – studying these issues since 2002. I spent literally years participating in negotiations to make sure these lakes are protected.

We negotiated with the State of North Carolina, with the State of South Carolina, with environmental groups, with other homeowner associations, US Fish & Wildlife, the US EPA, you name it. Believe me when I tell you, we thrashed it out, and we came out with the best solution for all stakeholders. Nobody got everything they wanted, but that’s the nature of negotiations.

I am here to stand up for the Relicensing Settlement Agreement that we reached and to tell you that we have an agreement that’s good for the State, it’s good for the people, and it’s good for the River. We don’t need the State interfering with that agreement - we don’t need another State Authority running our lakes – and we don’t need the State interfering with the Federal Licensing process.

In addition to a good agreement, tax revenues from private enterprise are exactly what our State needs right now. We certainly don’t need to add more deficit spending or unfunded obligations to the State Budget.

I, along a lot of other people, want you to kill this Bill, lay it aside, and let business be done like it should be.

Thank you. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have on any of the literature or fact sheets I’ve sent out to you. Thank you, again.