Winter 2002 Newsletter
Center Files Water Quality Petition with Georgia Board of Natural Resources
In early October the Center began circulating a petition stating
public concern about water quality in Georgia, from a coastal
perspective. Toward the end of November, the petition was
sent to the Board of Natural Resources with the signatures of
more than 130 Georgians, mostly coastal residents. The
initiative is intended to get officials to implement new
approaches using existing law to improve protection of
the stateís impaired but highly valuable water and other
natural resources.
In preparing the submittal to the state, Center staff wrote a
memo outlining two specific actions for the Natural
Resources Board members to consider adopting. First, we
urged aggressive implementation of improvements in
administering and enforcing the Georgia Soil Erosion
and Sedimentation Act. As stated in the memo, "We [point]
out that both local government staff and EPD enforcement
officials seem to be either ill-informed about the program's
requirements or unwilling to correct identified violations."
The second major action recommended was the use of better
information and more scientific expertise in evaluating
various types of environmental permits. The memo
explained that this is needed because many permitting
situations are too complex for the limited state enforcement
staff to sufficiently analyze. Moreover, new permit
applications often include hidden risks to both natural
resources and existing resource users. To augment state
enforcement personnel, the Center proposes the use of highly
qualified staff at several research institutions around the state,
like the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and the
University of Georgia Marine Extension Service.
This action could offer other benefits beyond improving the
accuracy and objectivity of permitting decisions. A peer
review process would undoubtedly lead to more
practical research that could help answer vital questions
raised by past permitting proposals. Equally important,
specific requirements adopted as permit conditions could be
more effectively monitored and controlled, using research
expertise that is not available on the EPD staff. The financing
of this new permit review activity remains an open question,
but it seems likely that research funds from federal
government agencies and foundations could prove to be a
major source of support. The Center also strongly
recommends imposing appropriate permit processing
fees that would be a justifiable source to help pay for
the cost of application review.
The second page of the memo described three major
objectives that should be used as guidelines for implementing
improved environmental enforcement measures:
- Minimize flow disruptions in river systems created
by diversions to other watersheds, construction of new
reservoirs, etc.
- Restore wetland functions and provide adequate
buffers to protect water quality.
- Consider potential impacts on all downstream users
when making permit decisions by applying the
precautionary principle.
The Center is considering other actions as a follow-up to the
petition. The petition may be used again to urge appropriate
actions by other officials, so we encourage anyone who is
concerned about our water resources to sign on. If you
have any questions, please call the Center at (912) 638-3612.
Copies of the petition and memo are available
from the Center and are also posted on our
website, www.sustainablecoast.org.
TO SUBSTANTIATE PUBLIC CONCERN, THE
OPENING STATEMENT OF THE PETITION READS:
'WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CITIZENS, are
deeply troubled by the condition of our
Georgia waters, as highlighted by the
following indicators.
- Only about 10% of Georgiaís waters are
sampled and tested.
- Almost two-thirds of these samples fail
to meet Federal standards.
- The amount of toxics entering Georgia
waters increased by at least 83% from
1989 to 1998, according to the EPA.
- Blue crab, shrimp, and numerous finfish
species are declining in size, health, and
numbers.
- Air pollution from power plants, in
violation of the Clean Air Act, includes
harmful levels of mercury and sources
of acid rain that pollute water resources
and threaten public health.
- There are nearly 100 fish consumption
advisories in Georgia, and half of these
are in coastal waters.
BASED ON THESE FACTORS, as well as
mounting threats from point and non-
point source pollution, we strongly urge
Georgia officials to improve protection of
our water resources. We ask that you
support and implement improved methods
for monitoring and enforcement of existing
laws under your authority and discretion.
|
