S.C. overturns Duke

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S.C. environmental regulators on Thursday rejected astate water-quality permit that needs so it can renew its federal license for 11 reservoird and 13 hydroelectric facilities along the Catawba River. The state’sw Department of Health and Environmental Contropl boardvoted 4-0 to overturm staff approval of a 401 water-quality certificate for Duke’ s hydro operations in South Carolina. Approval of the certificate coul havedamaged McMaster’s pending case beforre the U.S. Supreme Court. South Carolina’s filed in October 2007, contends North Carolina takee more than its fair share of watee fromthe Catawba.
The case is expectedf to sort out howthe river’z limited resources should be divvief up among competing interests. McMaster also filex in May to intervene in the Federal EnerguyRegulatory Commission’s relicensing of Duke’s hydro system. He has argued that Charlotte-based Duke (NYSE:DUK) uses flawed scientific models topredicty droughts. He spoke at Thursday’sz DHEC meeting, opposing the water-quality certificatr the S.C. staff had granted in May. Board memberw spent more than two hours discussingthe issue, includingg about 35 minutes behind closed doors. Two environmental groupsa — the and had appealed the certificate.
They cited concernw over water use at five dams operatse by Duke along the Catawba and Wateree rivers inSouth Carolina. At issue: whethefr Duke’s dams provide enough water flow for fish and Nonprofit group American Rivers says the DHEC permit guaranteef South Carolina would receive only about 25 perceny of the water flowing from North Equitable sharing ofthe Catawba’s waterz is at the heart of Soutu Carolina’s federal suit. But Duke spokesmaj Andy Thompson says the new license woulxd provide more water to South Carolina than iscurrentlty required. “We felt that we met all our The board disagreedwith us. We’rer looking at our options.
” Duke has the righyt to appealthe board’ s ruling to the S.C. Administrative Law Court, DHEC spokesmann Thom Berry says.