Nearly 200 citizens attended a public hearing Aug. 14 concerning a
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for a
purposed RV park along the Little Tennessee River just upstream of Iotla
Bridge along N.C. 28.



The hearing was held by Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) at the Duke Power building in Franklin.



Tennessee River RV Park owner Randy Russotti is asking DENR for a discharge
permit for nearly 26,760 gallons per day to accommodate 175 RV sites
and 24 two-bedroom cabins. Russotti, the only person to speak in favor
of the permit told the crowd that he was simply a business man. He said
he had complied with all state regulations and had worked with engineers
to insure the package plant was safe.



In an interview, Russotti said the volume of effluent from his project
paled in comparison to the present discharges above Lake Emory. He noted
the town of Franklin and some of the area schools discharge their effluent
into the Little Tennessee.



According to Division of Water Quality environmental specialist Kevin
Barnett, there are approximately 14 point-source discharges (including
some in Georgia) on the Little Tennessee above Lake Emory. Barnett also
said that from a purely regulatory standpoint, he could see no basis
for denying Russotti’s permit.



“It is a minimal amount of discharge,” Barnett said.



Many speakers, including fisheries biologist Bill McLarney and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife biologist Mark Cantrell, pointed out the endangered
and threatened species, spotfin chub, Appalachian elktoe mussel and
litllewing pearlymussel that reside in the river.



A letter from U.S. Fish and Wildlife to Dave Goodrich of the NPDES unit
of DWQ states: “This reach of river is designated as critical habitat
for the spotfin chub and has been formally proposed for designation
as critical habitat for the Appalachian elktoe.” The letter goes
on to state, “Without exploring other options, the need for surface
water discharge into the Little Tennessee River cannot be justified
at this time.”



One of the primary fears of those in attendance was that issuance of
a permit would set a precedent and lead to more point-source discharges
being located below Lake Emory. Included in those who addressed the
group were three Macon County commissioners.



Vice-chair Janet Greene lamented the fact that a recently enacted moratorium
on high-impact industries did not include RV parks. Chairman Harold
Corbin said after the meeting that the county welcomed new business
dollars but not at the cost of polluting the Little Tennessee.



Susan Wilson, NPDES permitting engineer, said in a later interview that
she sympathized with opponents to the permit. “If I had the authority
to disallow the permit, I would,” Wilson said. But she noted there
was no legal or regulatory basis for doing so.



An information packet disseminated by the Western North Carolina Alliance
at the meeting stated there would be a formal proposal to reclassify
the reach of the Little Tennessee from Lake Emory to Fontana Lake as
Outstanding Resource Waters. The ORW classification would mandate that
no new discharge sources be allowed in that stretch of river.



Rex Gleason of the Mooresville DWQ office presided over the hearing.
Glover said he would review comments made at the meeting plus additional
comments and then provide recommendations to the director of DWQ, who
would be responsible for the decision regarding the permit. At the meeting,
Gleason extended the public comment period to Sept. 13.



Concerned citizens may comment in writing to Rex Gleason, DWQ, 919 N.
Main St., Mooresville, N.C., 28115.

 

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