ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
CLAY AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES
NOTICE OF APPLICATION REQUESTING 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR THE LICENSE APPLICATION OF THE R.L. HARRIS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
PUBLIC NOTICE - 210
Notice is hereby given that the Alabama Power Company (applicant) has applied to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certification as part of its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing application for the hydroelectric power project at the R.L. Harris Dam. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is soliciting comments and information from interested parties regarding this application.
The Alabama Power Company, with its principal office located at 600 North 18th Street, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL, 35291-8180, has applied for a 401 water quality certification for the operation of turbine generators at the R.L. Harris Hydroelectric Project. It is currently identified as the R.L. Harris Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2628) within the Tallapoosa River Basin near Lineville, Alabama. Hydroelectric power projects are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act. A federal permit from FERC is required for the operation of hydroelectric power generating facilities and their potential impact on surrounding natural and cultural resources. In accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, this federal permit must include a certification from ADEM, as authorized by the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act (AWPCA), that the project will not violate state water quality standards. A copy of the certification application may be viewed on the ADEM web page at the following address: http://www.adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.cnt. In addition, persons wanting to review the application may request an electronic copy by contacting David Moore at (334) 274-4165 or djmoore@adem.alabama.gov.Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.