Paying for Environmental Regulation
Over the past year, the Center for a Sustainable Coast has proposed adoption of state permitting fees
to help meet the growing costs of permit review, analysis, and enforcement. (See article from our Winter 2004 newsletter.)
Adoption of proportional fees could provide critically needed revenues to augment reduced state funds, resulting in more
complete, accountable, and timely permitting decisions and follow-through by the agencies responsible for enforcing environmental laws.
This method of paying for natural resource regulation is both financially responsible and completely fair, because those benefiting
from the use of resources would pay in proportion to their use.
(Another non-profit organization working in Georgia, the Public Interest Research Group, has proposed a detailed proposal
advocating adoption of permitting fees as well.
Note: Since 1992, the proportion of Georgia's state budget allocated for protection of natural resources has been reduced by more
than 30% while the burden on these resources imposed by growing population has increased by more than 26%.)
~ Center for a Sustainable Coast
MAKING POLLUTER'S PAY: The Case for User Fees in Georgia
The Georgia Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)
A key component of the federal Clean Water Act is the National Discharge Elimination System (NPDES),
a program requiring facilities intending to directly discharge pollution into public waterways to apply
for and adhere to a NPDES permit. Most states are delegated the authority to implement these permits from
the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the vast majority of states also charge applicants a permit
fee to generate revenue for the operation of the NPDES program in their state. Georgia remains one of only
two states in the southeast that does not charge potential NPDES permit holders any fee. Consequently, our
state is missing a tremendous opportunity to generate the resources needed to enforce this critical part of
the Clean Water Act and improve our state's water quality.
For more information, go to Georgia PIRG News Room.
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