Georgia Environmental Action Network

Posted as a request by Rob Weber:

Ask the Board of Natural Resources to oppose amendments that would threaten our clean water!


Dear Friend,

Thank you to the hundreds of Georgians who sent letters and came to the public hearings held in Dalton and Dahlonega last week on the latest proposed buffer rules on streams that feed drinking water reservoirs. Our voices were resounding: We oppose the last minute inclusion of a grandfathering provision that could exempt any and all future development on riverbank lands from strong protections.


Problem:

Georgia is experiencing widespread growth and development that is converting rural lands to urban, residential and commercial uses. This development results in land disturbances, which can result in erosion and sedimentation polluting Georgia streams.
Erosion and sedimentation is the number one cause of water pollution in our state and the number one complaint the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) receives from citizens. Not only does this problem degrade aquatic habitat, but it costs tax dollars to clean and filter water for drinking.

In order to protect watersheds that help supply us with our drinking water, the state requires 150-foot buffers on riverbank lands located up to seven miles upstream from a drinking water intake or reservoir.

The conservation community, local government and developers recently agreed to give local governments three more options to protect drinking water by agreeing to language that would allow for smaller buffers if more stringent best management practices are followed, such as limiting impervious surface.

Unfortunately, vague grandfather language was inserted at the last minute that was not agreed upon by all that would essentially gut the rules and threatens months of hard work by the stakeholders.

Solution:
The original agreed-upon stakeholder language must be returned to the rule or the proposed rule should be rejected in order to keep our drinking water clean.

The Board of Natural Resources is scheduled to vote on the buffer rule on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 1:00pm at the Quinlan Arts Center; 514 Green Street in Gainesville.


Action Needed:
Please send a letter today to the members of the Board of Natural Resources and ask them to oppose this proposed buffer language and send it back to EPD to revise the grandfathering language. Click here to "Act Now" to send a letter.