No Answers On Yadkin Riverbed Ownership

By Julie Rose, WFAE, Charlotte

The North Carolina Secretary of Administration says he will not step into the turbulent debate between Alcoa and its foes over who is the rightful owner of the land beneath the Yadkin River

Aluminum giant Alcoa says it has all the rights needed to operate four dams on the Yadkin River.  But, the company has not produced actual deed documents to satisfy a chief critic - the Yadkin Riverkeeper. 

So last month, the Riverkeeper, which is an environmental watchdog group, asked the the North Carolina Secretary of Administration to clear the matter up, since that's the department that overseas state property. Secretary of Administration Moses Carey sent his response this week and the answer is, "No."

Carey says a search for the riverbed deeds would probably mean going back to Colonial-era documents, which would take a lot of time and taxpayer money.

Furthermore, he says the Yadkin Riverkeeper doesn't have enough at stake in the issue to make the request.

The Riverkeeper says it may take the issue to court or conduct the deed search itself.

This is the latest attempt by the environmental group to derail Alcoa's hydropower license on the Yadkin River.