Legislative Update
Only three working days remain before the 2011 General Assembly is in the books, but plenty of important work is still on the table.
The Georgia Conservancy has been at the state Capitol every day of the session working to protect Georgia’s natural environment. And we’ll be on hand next week as legislators continue to debate a range of conservation-related bills.
We’re fighting to ensure that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and other state agencies are not given special treatment regarding stream buffer pollution regulations.
We’re advocating for a 5-year moratorium on new permits for landfills in groundwater recharge areas.
And we successfully worked to include language in a bill guaranteeing that proper environmental protections are in place for new reservoirs financed through a public-private partnership.
The final day of the session is scheduled for April 14.
Here’s an update on the status of key legislation as the General Assembly enters its final week:
TRANSPORTATION
Legislation: House Bill 137
Details: This bill includes language that would give the DOT and its contractors two warnings before a fine is issued for stream buffer violations. An earlier version of this measure, House Bill 131, would have exempted the DOT and other state agencies from fines when projects violate stream buffer pollution rules.
Status: Passed the House; passed the Senate Transportation Committee last week. The Georgia Conservancy is opposed to the new language and is working diligently to remove the warning provision from the bill.
Link: Listen to NPR’s report on this issue, which includes an interview with Will Wingate, the Georiga Conservancy’s vice president of advocacy and land conservation.
RESERVOIRS
Legislation: Senate Bill 122
Details: This measure allows the formation of public-private partnerships (P3) to finance the construction of new reservoirs and other water supply projects -- including conservation, retrofits and leak repair. The Georgia Conservancy and other members of the Georgia Water Coalition asked the bill's sponsor, Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry), to include language in the bill that would guarantee that proper environmental protections are in place for new reservoirs financed through a P3. These protections would expand the public comment process and limit new P3 reservoirs to drinking water purposes only. Those changes were made.
Status: Passed the House and Senate and awaits Gov. Nathan Deal's signature.
SOLID WASTE
Legislation: Senate Bill 110
Details: This bill, sponsored by Sen. Jack Murphy (R-Cumming), would repeal an unconstitutional law governing landfills built over sensitive aquifers. The Georgia Conservancy is advocating for a 5-year moratorium on new permits for landfills in groundwater recharge areas.
Status: Remains in the House Resource Management subcommittee of the House Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, which has tabled the bill. Passage appears unlikely.
Legislation: House Bill 274
Details: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Randy Nix (R-LaGrange), would allow yard trimmings to be diverted from composting facilities and disposed in landfills that produce methane gas for energy use. It also renews the $1 tire cleanup fee for another three years but does not require that the money go to clean up tire dumps.
Status: Passed the House; remains in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
PLANNING
Legislation: Senate Bill 86
Details: This measure would reduce the level of planning required for communities. As originally introduced, the measure would have exempted communities from having to draft comprehensive plans. The Georgia Conservancy, which has been a leading advocate of long-range planning, worked with senators and the state Department of Community Affairs on a substitute bill that restored a planning requirement for counties and cities.
Status: Passed the House and Senate.
WATER
Legislation: House Bill 134, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus), and House Bill 368, sponsored by Rep. Tom McCall (R-Elberton).
Details: The Georgia Conservancy is backing these measures, which would set forth tougher regulations on interbasin transfers (IBTs) – moving water from one river basin to another. The Georgia Conservancy is not advocating a ban on IBTs. Rather, we want to make sure that transfers take place only after being carefully reviewed to ensure the long-term environmental health of both the donor basin and receiving basin.
Status: All three bills remain in their respective committees.
LAND CONSERVATION
Legislation: House Bill 222, sponsored by Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla).
Details: This bill would expand the state's land conservation tax credit program to allow landowners to sell easement credits they don't use. The Georgia Conservancy believes that allowing credits to be sold on the open market would greatly expand the amount of land available to be conserved in Georgia. That's critical, given than 92 percent of state land is in private hands.
Status: Remains in the House Ways & Means Committee.
BILLBOARDS
Legislation: House Bill 179, sponsored by Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington).
Details: This bill allows billboard companies to clear cut trees along state roads and highways. It would replace current law, which prohibits sign companies from cutting down hardwood trees 8 inches or larger in diameter and pines 12 inches or larger in diameter.
Status: Approved by the House and Senate
