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95-587: At 480 feet (150 m) high, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States ; at the time of its construction, it was the fourth-tallest dam in the world. The dam and associated infrastructure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. The dam impounds the 10,230-acre (4,140 ha) Fontana Lake , which spreads across a scenic stretch of the Little Tennessee along

190-455: A conservation easement . A 40-year license was granted January 25, 2005, but smelter production ended in 2009, and in 2012 the company sold its dams. Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners of Canada paid $ 600 million for the four dams, 86 miles of transmission lines, and 14,500 acres in 2012. Tapoco-APGI became Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower on November 15 of that year. The Cheoah Dam

285-459: A 165,000-square-foot (15,300 m ) building. APGI will also spend $ 5 million. 535,000 square feet (49,700 m ) of available space remains on the site. Clean Tech Silicon and Bar LLC also wanted to invest $ 300 million and create 450 direct and indirect jobs. However, negotiations between Clean Tech, APGI, and Stanly County Commissioners did not result in an agreement, and Clean Tech withdrew its offer. In 2016, after APGI sold its power plants,

380-577: A 200-foot (61 m) high dam and powerhouse at the Narrows to power an aluminum plant which it would also build. West of the proposed smelter, the worker's village of Badin was planned and platted. The town was named in honor of the Southern Aluminum Company's president, Adrien Badin. The project faltered a second time as most of the French engineers returned to France during World War I . In 1915,

475-458: A 2012 United States Supreme Court decision in favor of a Montana power company. Another suit claimed North Carolina had owned the land since it was one of the thirteen original colonies. APGI lawyers claimed that the state could not use this argument because it had waited too long to do so. On April 22, 2015, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle ruled that the Yadkin River was not navigable at

570-749: A 38-mile section of the Yadkin River , plus tributaries, in Piedmont North Carolina and included four dams , powerhouses and reservoirs , sold in February 2017 to Cube Hydro Carolinas. The counties of Davie , Davidson , Rowan , Stanly , and Montgomery border the Yadkin Project river and lakes. The dams owned and operated by APGI were the Narrows dam (completed in 1917), the Falls dam (completed in 1919),

665-616: A Relicensing Settlement Agreement which promised many benefits to the project area, signed by 23 stakeholders, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In January 2007, the Stanly County Commissioners announced they would oppose APGI's relicensing because they were worried the company would not be forced to clean up environmental problems remaining at the site and in the Yadkin, and because granting

760-546: A credit stating it was broadcast "without the usual editorial scrutiny"). After the documentary – focusing on Alcoa's environmental records – was broadcast, both the House and Senate passed Senator Hartsell's legislation to establish the Uwharrie Regional Commission. Later, when additional public records released by UNC-TV revealed that an independent researcher working on the story for Vajda had accepted $ 3,000 from

855-486: A deep gorge for three and a half miles within the Uwharrie Mountains . Its potential for industrial development had long been recognized. In 1887, E.B.C. Hambley , a mining expert from England , came to Salisbury, North Carolina . He gained the backing of Pittsburgh industrialist George I. Whitney. Between 1899 and 1901, Whitney organized eight subsidiary companies and employed Hambley as his chief engineer. About

950-503: A deflection system. The dam's design is largely the work of TVA chief architect Roland Wank . Fontana Dam was completed at a cost of $ 70,420,688.48 (equivalent to $ 969 million in 2024), and the gates closed on November 11, 1944. Two generating units were placed in operation on January 20, 1945, in time to provide crucial energy for aluminum production in the closing months of World War II. Over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) along Fontana Lake's north shore were eventually transferred to

1045-412: A legal appeal of the certificate and a court granted a stay of its execution. In October 2010, as hearings on the appeal took place, the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources reduced the amount of a surety bond required by the 401 water quality certificate from $ 240 million to $ 80 million, the amount APGI states will be required to make improvements required in the certificate. Then, in

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1140-556: A local newspaper editorial board. According to a poll paid for by APGI and done by McLaughlin & Associates, North Carolina's citizens are predominantly against the state taking over the project. Stanly County was supported by Governor Beverly Perdue and her Commerce Secretary (a former president of the Stanly-County-initiated N. C. Water Rights Coalition), the Yadkin Riverkeeper, a number of elected officials and

1235-591: A mile upriver from the Narrows, the Whitney Development Company nearly completed the granite Whitney Dam and a five-mile long diversion canal , and began construction of a powerhouse at Palmer Mountain before the company declared bankruptcy in 1907 and all work ceased. The massive canal remains today, while the Whitney Dam lies beneath the waters of Badin Lake. They have been determined eligible to be listed on

1330-543: A new permit, while Yadkin Riverkeeper Will Scott wanted higher standards. On September 25, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins said the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources wrongly denied a certificate and gave the department a month to grant it. On October 23, the state said it approved the certification on the condition Alcoa provide $ 48 million for improvements. but on October 28, Special Deputy Attorney General I. Faison Hicks asked

1425-466: A new smelter building was designed west of the Badin townsite. A devastating flood in 1916 caused damage and delays. When completed in 1917, the 185-foot (56 m) Narrows Dam was the world's highest overflow type dam . The Narrows Reservoir, commonly called Badin Lake , reaches a depth of 190 feet (58 m) and occupies 5,350 acres (2,170 ha). To generate additional hydroelectric power, in 1919,

1520-481: A powerful corporation like Alcoa would be controversial, executives at UNC-TV might refuse to air her documentary. Subsequently, a Senate committee subpoenaed Vajda's documentary, sparking a debate over whether UNC-TV (which is owned by state government), was subject to 'public records' laws or whether it had a 'special exemption.'. The documentary was aired in the Senate Committee and then broadcast on UNC-TV (with

1615-491: A report to the state Department of Environmental Quality. In January 2011, Alcoa announced its commitment to spend $ 10 million to prepare the Badin Works site for redevelopment by demolishing buildings which would not be needed and making improvements to the facility. On May 23, 2011, Electronic Recyclers International, a recycler of electronic items such as computers and cell phones , announced plans to spend $ 5 million on

1710-404: A required public notice. APGI reapplied for a water quality certificate, which DWQ issued on May 9, 2009. In part, the certificate required APGI to make upgrades which would improve dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the dam releases. Some upgrades have been made at the Narrows dam, although the complete upgrade program will not be completed until after the issuance of a license. Stanly County filed

1805-409: A summer resort; some of the original 1940s buildings still are used. The design of the dam was unusual for TVA at the time. It was feared that the 2,818,000 yd³ (2,155,000 m³) of concrete required for the dam would create a structure so massive, that heat released during its setting would be trapped for years, and would eventually cause cracks to form. To aid the release of this heat, engineers divided

1900-683: A supporter of establishing the public trust, and after learning Ms. Vajda had told legislators about her concerns UNC-TV might balk at airing her film, UNC-TV terminated Vajda's employment. It also removed online footage of her documentary. Celebrity activist Erin Brockovich spoke for supporters of the Yadkin River Trust at a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Later in the day, the Yadkin Riverkeeper sponsored her appearance at Wake Forest University . The debate over Alcoa's relicensing and

1995-456: A swimming beach for High Rock Lake. The terms of the license will apply to Cube Hydro Carolinas, which bought the hydroelectric power operations. As part of the relicensing process, 4700 acres, including 76 miles of shoreline on the Yadkin River, was being sold to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the LandTrust for Central North Carolina, on the condition that within five years they raise

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2090-400: A temporary license. In April 2009, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue issued a statement opposing APGI's relicensing and supporting legislation to establish a public trust to hold the license to use the Yadkin to generate hydro-electricity. With bipartisan support the N.C. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation to establish the "public trust", but Alcoa supporters defeated the bill in

2185-418: A trial. On August 27, while asking attorneys questions that would help him determine whether to dismiss the 2013 lawsuit, Boyle accused North Carolina of acting like "a banana republic " and said the state was merely trying to punish Alcoa for taking away hundreds of jobs. Boyle dismissed the state lawsuit on September 28, saying the state had seven years to take action and did not do so until Alcoa's use of

2280-560: Is 2,365 feet (721 m) long and 480 feet (146 m) high, making it the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. The dam has a flood storage capacity of 513,965 acre-feet (633,966,000 m), and the combined capacity of its three generators is 293.6 megawatts. Fontana Lake has 238 miles (383 km) of shoreline and 10,230 acres (4,140 ha) of water surface, and its surface elevation varies by 57 feet (17 m) annually. The Aluminum Company of America ( Alcoa ) began investigating

2375-529: Is a subsidiary of Alcoa Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . Its three divisions were independent subsidiaries before being consolidated into Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. (APGI). These three projects have produced hydroelectric power and manage impoundments which also provide flood control ; recreation , residential and business opportunities; and wildlife habitat . The APGI Yadkin Project managed

2470-735: Is also a recognized geographical division used by the United States Geological Survey . All entities within the region apart from the District of Columbia and West Virginia border the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2010, the South Atlantic states had a combined population of 61,774,970. The South Atlantic region covers 292,589 square miles (757,800 km ). With the exception of West Virginia, the region has seen rapid population growth and economic development in recent decades. As of 2023,

2565-546: Is also the dam used in the movie The Fugitive where Harrison Ford's character jumps to escape. Pittsburgh Reduction company, which became Alcoa, started the Massena operation in 1902 because of significant capacity for hydroelectric power ; it holds the record for longest continuous operation of an aluminum facility. Power comes from the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Alcoa's Long Sault Division owns and operates

2660-564: Is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean , Canada , and the state of New York . It includes six states: Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Massachusetts , Rhode Island , and Connecticut . In one of the earliest British colonial settlements in the New World , Pilgrims from England first settled in New England in 1620 at Plymouth Colony in and around present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts . In

2755-656: Is ranked the sixth-best in the nation. The Southeastern United States is a large region of the country that includes a core of states that reaches north to Maryland and West Virginia , bordering the Ohio River and Mason–Dixon line , and stretches west to Arkansas and Louisiana . Unlike the Northeast, there is no official U.S. government definition for the Southeast, and it is defined variably among agencies and organizations. Its unique cultural and historic heritage includes

2850-717: Is significantly smaller than the Northeastern Woodlands cultural area. The pre-Columbian Northeast had three major areas: the Coastal area, Saint Lawrence Lowlands, and Great Lakes-Riverine zones. The Coastal area includes the Atlantic Provinces of Canada and the Atlantic seaboard of the United States south to North Carolina . The Saint Lawrence Lowlands area includes parts of Southern Ontario , upstate New York , much of

2945-553: The EPA declared a hazardous waste in 1980. Alcoa took "corrective measures", but a Duke University Environmental Law and Policy Clinic analysis found "wastes from former smelting and disposal activities at Alcoa Badin Works continue to pollute the groundwater, surface water, and soil in the Badin community and Yadkin River basin". Surveys by Duke since 2018 show that polluted groundwater has reached

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3040-622: The High Rock dam (completed in 1927), and the Tuckertown dam (completed in 1962). The Narrows dam and powerhouse development is the only hydroelectric project listed on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina. The other three dam and powerhouse developments have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register. At the Narrows, the Yadkin River flowed through

3135-524: The Saint Lawrence River area, and the Susquehanna Valley . The Great Lakes-Riverine area includes the remaining inland areas of the Northeast, which were home to Central Algonquian and Siouan speakers. The Great Lakes region is sometimes considered a distinct cultural area due to its large concentration of Native American tribes. New England is a subregion of the northeastern U.S. that

3230-586: The United States Census Bureau , the Middle Atlantic is a subregion of the northeastern U.S. that includes three states: New Jersey , New York , and Pennsylvania . The Middle Atlantic region includes New York City , the largest city in the U.S. and a global center of finance and culture, and Philadelphia , the nation's sixth-largest city and first capital, where the Declaration of Independence

3325-720: The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The East North Central area, which includes Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Ohio , and Wisconsin , can also be classified as a subregion of the Northeastern United States, as these states are in the Great Lakes-Riverine area. As one of two subregional divisions used to categorize the modern Midwest , the East North Central region closely matches

3420-636: The $ 10 to $ 12 million to buy the land. LandTrust executive director Travis Morehead said 4300 additional acres would be purchased from Alcoa. All 9000 acres were part of the game lands program, and the sale would guarantee that this continued. In September 2019, phase one of what was called the Alcoa Lands Project was completed with the purchase of 2,463 acres and 45 miles of High Rock Lake shoreline for $ 7.7 million. A year later nearly 1000 acres were added at Morrow Mountain State Park . On September 13, 2021,

3515-680: The APGI power plants on the Yadkin River. Cube Hydro intends to improve the plants. APGI would still own 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) of land. On December 13, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the license transfer to Cube Yadkin Generation. The sale became official February 2, 2017. In 2019, Ontario Power Generation acquired Cube Hydro and placed it into a subsidiary named Eagle Creek. spent potlining For more than 70 years, Alcoa disposed of spent potlining , which

3610-462: The Aluminum Company of America purchased the property. Plans once again were altered. The dam was redesigned and the new plans called for a brick powerhouse to be built on the east side of the river. The original powerhouse site on the west side of the river was abandoned and the partially completed building was dismantled to its concrete foundations. The original smelter site was also abandoned and

3705-713: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to wait for a U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals lawsuit to be settled before making a decision about the 50-year license. The Tapoco Project (originally Tallassee Power Company) includes four dams in North Carolina and Tennessee , on the Little Tennessee and Cheoah rivers. The Tapoco Project comprises four developments: Calderwood , Cheoah , Chilhowee , and Santeetlah . The dams supplied power to Alcoa's operations in Alcoa, Tennessee , an aluminum smelting and rolling mill. TVA assists Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower in determining

3800-480: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and several thousand acres along the south shore were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service . Despite the innovative design of the dam, cracks were observed in the face of the dam in 1949. In 1972, additional cracks appeared and started to expand in 1973. Following extensive investigations, specialists determined that the cracks were caused by stresses in

3895-566: The Little Mountain Creek floodplain , although Alcoa states its waste products have not reached Little Mountain Creek. Further studies were needed to determine how polluted other areas were. Duke believed trichloroethylene (TCE) was still in the groundwater at the main plant. Duke recommended studying "excavation and removal of the hazardous waste buried in Alcoa's dumps". In December 2019 Duke sent

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3990-583: The Little Tennessee River: Cheoah Dam is 10 miles (16 km) downstream, followed by Calderwood Dam , Chilhowee Dam , and Tellico Dam . Cheoah, Chilhowee, and Tellico were all named for historic Cherokee towns. Along with covering a 29-mile (47 km) stretch of the Little Tennessee, Fontana Lake also extends across the lower 11 miles (18 km) of the Tuckasegee River (which flows southward from Cherokee and Bryson City), and

4085-587: The Little Tennessee Valley around 1910 in hopes of finding a place for a water power source for the massive amounts of electricity needed at its aluminum production operations at nearby Alcoa, Tennessee . In 1913, Alcoa purchased the Tallassee Power Company (now Tapoco ), and by 1930 the two entities had completed Cheoah and Calderwood dams, as well as Santeetlah Dam on the Cheoah River . By

4180-462: The N.C. House. A year later Republican Senator Fletcher Hartsell, again supporting establishing a "public trust", introduced a bill to create the Uwharrie Regional Commission. In the final days of the 2010 legislative session, UNC-TV anchorwoman Eszter Vajda produced a documentary ("The Alcoa Story") about Alcoa's operations in North Carolina. However, before the program aired Ms. Vajda expressed concerns to legislators that, because criticizing

4275-511: The NC Water Rights Commission which has aired internet videos about Alcoa's environmental record and rebutting Alcoa's property rights claims. Also supporting the public power agency is the nonprofit organization Central Park NC. In 2013, Stanly County agreed to support Alcoa's license renewal. On July 29, 2013, the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources recommended approval for relicensing. However, on August 2,

4370-584: The National Register. In 2017, Historic Salisbury Foundation board president Susan Sides said, "It was called one of the most unique dams in all history. It was referred to as the 'Niagara of the South.'" In 1912, a French Company, L'Aluminium Français, acquired the assets of the Whitney Company. L'Aluminium Français decided against completing the Whitney project, and organized the Southern Aluminum Company to construct

4465-679: The North Shore. The final installment of $ 35.2 million was paid on June 29, 2018. Under a 2010 agreement, the money was deposited with the state treasurer's office . Swain County can spend only the interest the money earns. Eastern United States The Eastern United States , often abbreviated as simply the East , is a macroregion of the United States located to the east of the Mississippi River . It includes 17–26 states and Washington, D.C. ,

4560-608: The South Atlantic region is home to three of the top ten universities in the nation, according to 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings: Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina , which is ranked the tenth-best in the nation. The East South Central region constitutes one of the nine U.S. Census Bureau divisions . Four states make up

4655-474: The U.S. Supreme Court but did not. The last remaining FERC requirement for a new Alcoa Yadkin Project license was Section 401 water quality certificate, and opposition to Alcoa's relicensing centered around it. In November 2007, the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) issued APGI a Section 401 water quality certificate for the Yadkin Project. The certificate was later withdrawn due to the failure of DWQ to publish

4750-651: The United States is one of the nine Census Bureau Divisions of the country. This region corresponds to the Southern states/areas that were geographically part of the Thirteen Colonies , with the addition of Florida . It includes eight states and one federal district: Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Maryland , North Carolina , South Carolina , Virginia , West Virginia and the District of Columbia . The South Atlantic

4845-438: The Yadkin Project, concluding that federal takeover would not be a reasonable alternative for the project, and noting that no federal agency had suggested that federal takeover would be appropriate, or had expressed an interest in operating the project. However, due to questions involving Alcoa's state water quality certificate, FERC has not made a final determination on the issuance of a license, and APGI has been operating under

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4940-449: The aluminum needs for World War II . The company received its federal license to operate these dams in 1955 but was unable to renew until it resolved concerns over flooding in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a result of the Chilhowee Dam. The Tapoco Project and Licensing Act of 2004 corrected the problem by trading land, with 6,000 acres (24 km ) going to the park and about 10,000 acres (40 km ) of Alcoa land receiving

5035-435: The area of the Northwest Territory , excluding a portion of Minnesota . The East North Central states form a large part of the Great Lakes region, although the latter also includes Minnesota, New York , Pennsylvania and the Canadian province of Ontario . Culturally, the East North Central region of the U.S. has been historically influenced by the British and the French; Anglo-American culture permeated states covering

5130-507: The certificate revocation, stating "In its revocation notice, the DWQ quotes selected portions of e-mails that do not provide the complete story and were taken out of context. If you read the entire e-mail chains in context, and review the entire record, you find that no material information was withheld." APGI also released a study of dissolved oxygen levels leaving the Narrows and Falls reservoirs, where planned upgrades have been partially implemented. This report, Alcoa claimed, showed that, for

5225-491: The company constructed Falls Dam downriver of Badin and High Rock Dam upriver in 1927. High Rock Lake, at 15,180 acres (6,140 ha), was the largest lake on the Yadkin at that time. In 1929, the company's name was changed to Alcoa. In 1962, Alcoa built the Tuckertown Dam between High Rock and Narrows Reservoirs. In August 2002, Alcoa temporarily suspended aluminum production at the Badin Works, laying off 377 workers. The electrode plant continued operating until 2007 when

5320-518: The company said it will continue to market Badin Business Park. A 50-year federal license to operate the dams on the Yadkin River was granted in 1958 to the Carolina Aluminum Company, a part of Alcoa, which owned the power plants and the land under the lakes, as well as significant land holdings around the lakes. The license was transferred from Yadkin, Inc. (an Alcoa subsidiary) to APGI in 2000. In 2002, APGI began an extensive relicensing process with four series of local public hearings held throughout

5415-402: The core of Old Dixie , one of the nine moral regions identified by James Patterson and Peter Kim in their acclaimed 1991 geopolitical best-seller, The Day America Told The Truth . Politically and culturally, the East South Central is more conservative than the South Atlantic; Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee's governments have been described during 2012 to 2023 as some of

5510-521: The curved portions of dam from thermal expansion . The cracking was exacerbated by alkali-aggregate reaction , which causes the concrete volume to increase and develop additional stresses. The area around the crack was post-tensioned with steel tendons, and an expansion slot was made in 1976 to alleviate the stresses developed within the cracked area. New slot cuts are made every 4–5 years to stop its growth. The last cuts were performed by Bluegrass Companies in 2016. The construction of Fontana Dam led to

5605-493: The daily operation levels of the Tapoco developments to best match expected flow releases from Fontana Dam , since TVA's Fontana Dam serves as the primary flow control facility for the lower Little Tennessee River area. Combined, the four developments have a licensed capacity of 380.1 megawatts. Around 1910, Aluminum Company of America began looking at locations to produce hydroelectric power for making aluminum. The company purchased Knoxville Power Company, chartered in 1900. At

5700-403: The dam into construction joints and outfitted them with grout pipes and cooling coils. The dam's spillway presented another problem, as engineers were worried that the water's 400-foot (120 m) drop would cause erosion issues at the dam's foundation. A special spillway was thus designed that drains water out through two 34-foot (10.3 m) diameter spill pipes into a diversion tunnel equipped with

5795-436: The dam, TVA was unable to get necessary federal funding for the project until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. Emergency wartime initiatives called for a drastic increase in aluminum production. On August 14, 1941, TVA and ALCOA signed the "Fontana Agreement," which gave TVA possession of Fontana and control over the releases and output of Tapoco's Little Tennessee Valley dams, and in return guaranteed that Alcoa would be

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5890-597: The dam. North Carolina Highway 28 (which crosses a bridge downstream from the dam) provides the only major road access to the Fontana Dam area. At Deals Gap , 11 miles (18 km) west of the dam, the road intersects U.S. Route 129 , which continues westward to Maryville. East of the dam, NC-28 follows the lake's south shore for about 25 miles (40 km) before intersecting U.S. Route 74 . The Fontana Dam site previously hosted an 800 mm ( 2 ft  7 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) narrow gauge funicular railway for tourists. This has been closed. Fontana Dam

5985-418: The division: Kentucky , Tennessee , Mississippi and Alabama . Historically, the area has been colonized and influenced by the French , Spanish , British , early US, and Confederate governments. Distinct among these states, Alabama's French culture has been preserved through the Alabama Creoles , and Kentucky's French culture can be observed throughout Louisville. The East South Central states form

6080-410: The east, and Robbinsville, North Carolina , to the south. The small resort of Fontana Village (which was first built as a temporary workers' village for people on the dam) has developed just south of the dam. The Great Smoky Mountains rise to the north, and the Yellow Creek Mountains (mostly protected within the Nantahala National Forest ) rise to the south. Fontana is the uppermost of five dams on

6175-456: The end of 1913, Aluminum Company of America bought Tallassee Power Company (chartered in 1905), Western Carolina Power and Transportation, Union Development Company, and Union Power and Water Company. All of these companies became part of Tallassee Power Company. From the first two letters of each word came the name Tapoco, given first to the community and then to the company. The aluminum smelter first began operation in 1913. World War I increased

6270-435: The environment and raised challenges; in addition, the NPS had difficulty securing sufficient funding for the road. In the 1970s, environmental concerns completely halted the road's progress, and locals nicknamed the unfinished road "The Road to Nowhere". North Carolina's U.S. Senator Jesse Helms finally secured funding for the road in 2000, and the NPS for the first time conducted a required environmental impact study of

6365-423: The establishment of a public trust has been contentious. In addition to the Relicensing Settlement Agreement signatories, APGI has gained the support, principally, of the N.C. Property Rights Coalition (which in June 2010 broadcast radio spots calling 'recapturing' Alcoa's license to control the Yadkin River a government takeover of private property); Rick Miller, President of the National Hydropower Association and

6460-536: The fall of 2010, lawyers for Stanly County and the Yadkin Riverkeeper confronted Alcoa executives with internal Alcoa emails documenting that Alcoa had withheld information and misrepresented facts about its pollution from the Department of Natural and Natural Resources. When the emails were made public DENR promptly revoked Alcoa's water quality certificate and, on December 2, 2010, Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison Jr. suspended hearings. On January 28, 2011, APGI released more internal documents and filed an appeal of

6555-424: The flooding of most of North Carolina Highway 288 , which connected Deals Gap and Bryson City. The National Park Service , after gaining possession of Fontana's north shore tracts, reached an agreement with Swain County in the 1940s to replace the north shore road. By 1972, only 7.2 miles (11.6 km) of the road had been completed. People in the area had more appreciation for the effect of such construction on

6650-745: The following aspects: These aspects, among other things, led to "the South" developing distinctive customs, literature, musical styles, and varied cuisines that have profoundly shaped traditional American culture. The shift from a mainly rural society to more cities and urbanized metropolitan areas picked up speed following World War II in the 1940s. Since the late 20th century, certain Southeastern states and areas have seen great economic growth. This growth has led to many migrants moving to Southeastern states. In 2020, Fortune 500 companies headquartered in southeastern states included: Virginia with 22, Georgia with 18, Florida with 18, North Carolina with 13, and Tennessee with 10. The South Atlantic region of

6745-418: The largest metropolitan statistical area, followed by Detroit , and Minneapolis–Saint Paul . Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is the oldest city in the region, founded by French missionaries and explorers in 1668. As of 2023, the East North Central States are home to one of the top ten universities in the nation, according to 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings: the University of Chicago , which

6840-678: The late 18th century, the New England colonies were among the first North American British colonies to support an escalation in the American Revolution against Britain , launching the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, and later firing the first shots of the American Revolutionary War in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. New England produced the first examples of American literature and philosophy and

6935-400: The license to another entity, which would use the hydro-electricity created by the Yadkin River to create jobs, would better serve the public interest. In 2008, North Carolina governor Mike Easley authorized a study of the effect of APGI's relicensing. APGI supported this study, whose findings have not been issued. In April 2008, FERC issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for

7030-530: The lower 5 miles (8.0 km) or so of the Nantahala River , extending into the scenic Nantahala Gorge. Several rapid-flowing mountain streams— some of which drop several thousand feet from the crest of the Great Smokies in just a few miles— empty into Fontana's north shore. The most notable of these streams — Eagle Creek and Hazel Creek — form substantial embayments just upstream from

7125-523: The mid-1930s, Alcoa had assessed the Fontana site and had purchased the initial 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) for the dam's construction. In 1935, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which was concerned with the Little Tennessee's effect on flood control in the greater Tennessee Valley, began negotiating with Alcoa to assume control of the Fontana project. Although Alcoa preferred that TVA build

7220-542: The most conservative. Religiously, conservative Evangelical Protestantism dominates the East South Central region as a central part of the Bible Belt . As of 2020, the East South Central states had a combined population of 19,430,030. The East South Central region covers 183,401 square miles of land. Within the region, Tennessee is the largest state by population, though Alabama is the largest by land area; Tennessee

7315-481: The mountains of northern Georgia to its mouth along the Tennessee River opposite Lenoir City, Tennessee . Fontana is located 61 miles (98 km) above the mouth of the Little Tennessee, in a remote area where the westward-flowing river bends briefly to the south. Fontana Dam is a 30-mile (48 km) drive from the three nearest cities — Maryville, Tennessee to the west, Bryson City, North Carolina to

7410-586: The national capital. As of 2011, the Eastern United States had an estimated population exceeding 179 million, representing the majority (over 58 percent) of the total U.S. population. The three most populous cities in the Eastern United States are New York City , Chicago , and Philadelphia . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the Northeastern United States coomprises nine states, including (north to south): Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Massachusetts , Rhode Island , Connecticut , New Jersey , New York , and Pennsylvania . The present-day Northeast

7505-471: The need for aluminum, and Southern Railway completed a railroad extension to the planned Cheoah Dam in 1916. The Cheoah Dam began operation in 1919. Construction of Santeetlah Dam began in 1926, with the Rhymer's Ferry powerhouse starting operation in 1928. Calderwood Dam was completed in 1930. Chilhowee Dam was the last completed, in 1957. The North Plant fabricating facility opened in 1942 to help meet

7600-528: The past three years, Falls tailwaters substantially met the state instantaneous dissolved oxygen standard over 99.5% of the time, and that in 2010 Narrows tailwaters met the state instantaneous DO standard 93.4 percent of the time. APGI also announced in January 2011 the establishment of an environmental toll-free hotline managed by EthicsPoint. In a separate legal case, on May 3, 2011, a Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C. ruled against APGI, which had argued

7695-519: The plant shut down permanently. The dams continue to generate 215 megawatts of electricity annually which the company sells. During calendar years 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Yadkin Project generated an average of $ 7.73 million annually in net income, on an average of $ 29.46 million in annual revenues. In the year ending September 2013, APGI sold 964,216 megawatt hours , with revenue estimated at $ 30 million. On July 11, 2016, Cube Hydro Carolinas, part of Cube Hydro Partners LLC, announced its purchase of

7790-494: The primary benefactor of the dams' electrical output for at least twenty years. The U.S. Congress authorized funding on December 17, 1941, and construction of Fontana Dam began on January 1, 1942. The building of Fontana Dam and its reservoir required the purchase of 68,292 acres (27,637 ha) of land, 5,125 acres (2,074 ha) of which were forested and had to be cleared. Some 1,311 families, 1,047 graves, and more than 60 miles (97 km) of roads had to be relocated out of

7885-474: The project area, and 100 representatives of over 30 stakeholder groups from federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations participating in Issue Advisory Groups and a lengthy settlement negotiation process. APGI commissioned 22 technical studies on the impact of the project in environmental, economic, recreation, and cultural areas. On May 7, 2007, APGI submitted

7980-404: The project area. The towns of Fontana, Bushnell, Forney, and Judson were completely inundated by the formation of Lake Fontana . The temporary village of Welch Cove (later renamed Fontana Village) was constructed just south of the dam to house the project's workers, whose numbers had reached 5,000 by 1943 in spite of nationwide manpower shortages. Fontana Village has been adapted and expanded as

8075-509: The project. Published in 2007, the EIS concluded that the road's construction would cause "major, adverse, long-term impacts to topography, geology, and soils" in the area. Proponents of the road argued that the environmental concerns were exaggerated. In 2007, Swain County accepted a $ 52 million cash settlement from the National Park Service and agreed to drop its demand for a new road along

8170-413: The property changed to something the state did not want. The ruling establishes that Alcoa owns the riverbed. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in 2017. On February 20, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down an appeal. On September 22, 2016, Alcoa received a license to operate until March 31, 2055, a period 12 years shorter than desired. The license requires a minimum water level and

8265-465: The region following the westward expansion of the United States . Religiously, the East North Central states have been and remain predominantly affiliated with Christianity . Altogether, the five states are majority Catholic , non- and inter-denominational , Methodist , Lutheran , and Baptist . The largest non-Christian religion has been Islam . Chicago is the largest city in the region, followed by Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis . Chicago has

8360-537: The southwestern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . The Appalachian Trail crosses the top of the dam. Fontana is named for the now-inundated town of Fontana, a former lumber and copper-mining hub once located at the mouth of Eagle Creek. The town's name was derived from the Italian word for "fountain." The Little Tennessee River flows for 135 miles (217 km) from its source in

8455-420: The state filed a lawsuit claiming Alcoa did not own land under its lakes. The suit also asked that the state be granted rights to the dams. Governor Pat McCrory said, "The Yadkin River is a North Carolina river. We should be able to use it for North Carolina water needs and to create North Carolina jobs. The benefits of the Yadkin River belong to North Carolina's people." APGI believed it would prevail because of

8550-484: The state's actions were improper. The state revoked the water quality certificate again in 2013 due to concerns over ownership. In May 2015, administrative law judge Selina Brooks ruled that the Division of Water Quality did not have the right to deny a certificate and required a decision by the end of June. Most who attended a state Department of Environment and Natural Resources public hearing on July 1, 2015, opposed

8645-404: The time of United States independence from Great Britain, meaning that the state of North Carolina would not have ownership of it from that time. This means the riverbed may have been included in land purchases by Alcoa and other companies that preceded it. Alcoa attorneys said the company did own the land and the state did not have a claim. A determination of who owned the riverbed was to be made in

8740-628: The wildlife commission announced the $ 7.82 million purchase of 2,424 acres, 2,162 owned by Alcoa, in four counties, including 31 miles of Tuckertown Reservoir shoreline in Davidson and Montgomery Counties . The properties are now referred to as the Yadkin River Game Lands. In January 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused an appeal from the state, which had until April 18, 2019, to appeal to

8835-434: Was also the East South Central's fastest growing state between 2010 and 2020, with Alabama second. Kentucky was the third-fastest growing state, and Mississippi experienced population decline; despite population decline, Mississippi did increase in diversity. The following is a list of the 25 largest cities in the Eastern United States, based on 2021 population estimates: Tapoco Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.

8930-768: Was home to the beginnings of free and compulsory public education. In the 19th century, the region played a prominent role in the movement to abolish slavery in the United States . It was the first region of the United States to be transformed by the Industrial Revolution . As of 2023, New England is home to two of the top ten universities in the nation, according to 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (tied for third), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts (tied for third). According to

9025-724: Was signed at Independence Hall in 1776, formally launching the American Revolutionary War , and later where the U.S. Constitution was drafted and ratified at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1789. As of 2023, the Mid-Atlantic region is home to four of the top twenty-five universities in the nation, according to 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings: Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Columbia University in New York, New York, and

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