Water Bills Move thru Georgia General Assembly

Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue issued the following statement yesterday, as 2 separate bills moved through the Georgia General Assembly. Both bills mandate increased restrictions on Georgians' access to water. Neither asserts the State's right to the water in Lake Lanier.

“Both the House and Senate took major steps today towards our goal of creating a true culture of conservation in Georgia. This legislation promotes water conservation in Georgia and shows our neighbors that we are serious about being good stewards of our natural resources. Both Senator Tolleson and Representative Smith have done outstanding work putting this bill together and balancing the interests of all Georgians. I want to thank members of both parties from the General Assembly for their hard work on the legislation and I look forward to putting my signature on it once it receives final passage.”

HB 1049, Stephens (R) 164, passed by a vote of 166-5, while SB 370, Tolleson (R) 20, was unanimously adopted in the Senate. The bills are aimed at appeasing federal courts and neighboring states, eying the water in Lake Lanier, and were lobbied heavily by Purdue's office.

In fact, HB 1049 was one of just a few bill handpicked by Speaker Ralston (R) 7 on behalf of the Governor which were allowed to be heard over the recent 2-week House recess in response to the State's budget crisis.

One house member said this bill made the state the "toilet police". The bills certainly do nothing to make water more accessible to Georgians, but perhaps Sonny can work out a deal with our benevolent federal lords.

In the mean time, the citizens of Georgia may want to consider how they might protect their own access, either through private wells, or basins and reservoirs. Of course, if the State would allow the feds to lay claim to Lanier, they may not stop them from coming after your well, either...

Giving Away Our Water

Imagine the civil government issuing you an order to pump water out of your well, on your property, to your neighbors' homes.

Imagine that same government agency telling you that you had no right to the water in that well, and that you needed to find another source of water for your home, and compliance to their orders would be at the point of a gun if you could not "work it out."

What would you do? How would you react?

The State of Georgia, where I reside, is in that very situation, and our leaders are not reacting the way you might in the above "imaginary" example.

Yesterday, the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Purdue, met with the Governors of Florida and Alabama, our State's neighbors in Montgomery, AL to discuss how we might comply.

Please don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting that we should ignore the needs of Florida and Alabama. Going back to our "imaginary" scenario, and removing the outside influence of the civil government; who among us would be so uncaring as to not give that needy neighbor a gallon or bucket or whatever we could spare? Who would not help their neighbor build their own water system?

Yet meetings like this, under the misplaced thumb of an out-of-control government not only undermine any good and positive relations we might have been able to build with our neighbors, it also puts them in a tough spot: they asked the feds to rule here, so when the feds come after their States' natural resources, they'll have a much harder time saying no.

Unintended Consequences.

Now, this may be a bit of a strong position for your taste, but States' Rights advocate and 2010 Georgia Gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry's position on water is certainly closer to my sentiments than that of the current administration. Have a listen.

The notion that neither the federal government nor the state own or have rights to natural resources seems primary to our nation's founding.

Maybe we'll get some leadership in Georgia who agrees with that position, for a change.

Sometime back, we told you about the Georgia Regional Water Councils and the impact they will have on water policy for the entire state of Georgia.

view this map @ http://www.georgiawaterplanning.org/Files_PDF/basin_map.pdf

THEY ARE MEETING, AND THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US!

Please attend the meeting in your area if it has not already been held. If it has already been held, contact the contact person and ask them to send you information of the past meeting and notices of future meetings. 

The Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 5, 2009, Southeastern Technical College – Vidalia Economic Development Center, 100 A Brinson Road, Vidalia, GA 30474 

For additional information about the Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us

The Coastal Georgia Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 4, 2009, J.F. Gregory Park, Stevens Wetlands Education Center, Cedar Street Richmond Hill, GA 31324 

For additional information about the Coastal Georgia Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Jeff Larson, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch , 404-675-1664, Jeff.Larson@dnr.state.ga.us

The Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 8, 2009, Appalachian Tech , 100 Campus Drive; Jasper, GA 30143 

For additional information about the Coosa-North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Becky Champion, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 706-888-8351, Becky.Champion@dnr.state.ga.us

The Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 6, 2009, Mitchell County EMC, 475 Cairo Highway, Camilla, GA 31730

For additional information about the Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 13, 2009, Callaway Gardens – Dogwood Room Mountain Creek Inn, 17800 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 

For additional information about the Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 14, 2009, Amerson Water Treatment Plant, 703 Riverbend Road, Macon, GA 31211 

For additional information about the Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us 

The Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 7, 2009, Savannah Rapids Pavilion ,3300 Evans to Locks Road – Martinez, GA 30907 

For additional information about the Savannah-Upper Ogeechee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Jeff Larson, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1664, Jeff.Larson@dnr.state.ga.us

The Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 6, 2009, C. E. Weir Center, 307 Bryan Street East, Douglas, GA 31533 

For additional information about the Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Planning Council please contact:
Rob McDowell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1650, Rob.McDowell@dnr.state.ga.us

The Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 1, 2009, One Griffin Center, Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 100 South Hill Street Griffin, GA 30223 

For additional information about the Upper Flint Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Tim Cash, Assistant Branch Chief - EPD Watershed Protection Branch' 404-675-1766, Tim.Cash@dnr.state.ga.us

The Upper Oconee Regional Water Planning Council is holding its next meeting at the following time, date and location: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., May 8, 2009, Rock Eagle 4H Center – Rich Building ,350 Rock Eagle Road, Eatonton, GA 31024 

For additional information about the Upper Oconee Regional Water Planning Council please contact: 
Kevin Farrell, Assistant Branch Chief – EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 404-675-1621, Kevin.Farrell@dnr.state.ga.us

Georgia Regional Water Planning Council Appointments

In August of last year, a call went out to all water professionals re: The Georgia Regional Water Planning Councils.  It read something like this: 

If your business involves WATER or WASTEWATER in any way, you must be involved in the Regional Water Planning Councils which will be appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House.   These Councils will determine all rules and regulations for water and wastewater for the future.   Don’t be bashful about completing this form and nominating yourself.  YOU are one of the most knowledgeable people on this subject and the councils need YOUR input.   Believe me, government officials and all the environmental groups WILL be well represented on these councils.  Professionals in the industry MUST also be represented and this is YOU!  If industry is not represented, we could be regulated out of business!

...sorta ominous sounding, huh?  

I, for one, jumped on it- I certainly don't want to be regulated out of business!  I submitted my nomination and waited.  And waited.  As it turned out, my region- representing the Greater Metro ATL, was already seated, and had been working toward rules and guidelines which would facilitate this greater, more inclusive group.

So, now, 6-months into the 3-year study, 10 councils of 30 members each have finally been announced.  

Here are the ex-officios for each of the respective councils:

Altamaha Rep. Greg Morriss Sen. Tommie Williams

Coastal Georgia Rep. Cecily Hill Sen. Eric Johnson

Coosa- N. Georgia Rep. Katy Dempsey Sen. Chip Pearson

Lower Flint - Ochlockonee Rep. Gerald Greene Sen. John Bulloch

Middle Chattahoochee Rep. Bob Hanner Sen. Bill Heath

Middle Ocmulgee Rep. David Knight Sen. Ross Tolleson

Savannah - Upper Ogeechee Rep. Tom McCall Sen. Ralph Hudgens

Suwannee - Satilla Rep. Jay Shaw Sen. Greg Goggins

Upper Flint Rep. Lynmore James Sen. George Hooks

Upper Oconee Rep. Terry England Sen. Bill Cowsert

If any of these individuals represent you, please contact them and let them know that you expect them to rule on the side of private property and individual citizen's rights over corporate interests, especially as it regards to well ownership and rain water harvesting.

Correction!

It was brought to this writer's attention that he had confused 2 pieces of legislation in a previous posting.  I am happy to report the correction, as I endeavor to keep these postings above reproach.

I am also pleased to make this correction because it once again highlights 2 very important issues:

Mountain Top Removal (MTR) coal mining, and a direct assault on our Private Property rights.

HR 2169, the Clean Water Protection Act, was introduced to stop "valleyfill" of mining waste.  Good bill.

HR 2421, the Clean Water Restoration Act, redefines "waters of the United States" and could result in the loss of all private property rights, as well as personage.  Bad bill.

Please forgive any confusion my confusion may have caused!

MTR and Water Legislation

There are likely few-to-no truly honest folks who can look at the impact of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) and not be upset.  Called "strip mining on steroids", MTR has destroyed over 2,500 peaks in southern Appalachia to generate less than 5% of the country's energy needs.  Besides destroying mountain vistas and leaving undesirable and unusable land in its wake, it has left over 1,200 miles of head water streams buried under toxic rubble.

A 2002 Army Corps of Engineers rule allows waste generated by this practice to be classified as "fill", even though it has been found to contain extremely high levels of arsenic and mercury.  

Environmental activists and conservationists, finding the fighting in court, and at the local and state levels difficult,  have turned their attention to a piece of Federal Legislation. Rather than specifically addressing the issue, these groups have gotten behind broader legislation in the Clean Water Protection Act- HR 2169, formerly HB 2421. see correction  

As much as I can sympathize and stand with those who would see MTR stopped,  I cannot get behind this dangerous piece of legislation.

It is the opinion of several property rights advocacy groups that this act, if ratified, will centralize control of every drop of water and every piece of land in the United States.  It does this by reclassifying all water in and on US Soil as "navigable", thereby giving it the same federal protection that is afforded shipping lanes.  That water would then be FEDERAL PROPERTY.

Sure, it would stop the wanton destruction of mountain streams, but would also facilitate the biggest land grab in history!  Well owners would find their water metered, and even municipal water customers could face rations.see correction  

Sure, Mountain Top Removal is really bad and should be stopped.  But we should always be sure that before we call for "somebody" to do "something", we understand the full implications of our cries. 

Click here to learn more about HR2421 and what you can do to stop it.

Where Will We Draw the Line?

I recently heard State Rep. David Schafer here in Cherokee County talking about the Tennessee River and Georgia.
I remembered hearing something about it last year, but didn’t pay it a lot of attention.
Apparently, the issue may again be raised in this upcoming legislative session.

Here’s the gist- so far as I can see it:

In 1796, the US Congress set the boundary between the two states at the 35th parallel, but the surveyors hired by the two states to set the markers apparently had bad equipment and even worse tables. According to one record, one of the Surveyors hired by Georgia begged the Governor to upgrade his equipment. You might say that it is effectively Georgia’s own fault that the boundary line was set almost a mile south of the 35th parallel, this blocking Georgia’s access to the Tennessee River and its waters. 

For what it’s worth, Georgia never ratified this demarcation. They have tried to correct this boundary in the 1880’s, 1940’s and again in the 1970’s. Tennessee did ratify this border (wouldn’t you?) and has pretty much laughed at any Georgia effort to change- er- correct the boundary issue.

Even under the current boundary marks, the Tennessee River watershed extends deep into Georgia. In fact, Georgia has more land pushing water into the Tennessee River than it does into Lake Lanier, the main source for all of Atlanta’s drinking water.

“The resolution before you does not move our boundary,” said Shafer when he introduced the bill last year, “It does not need to be moved. If you open the Georgia code you will see that Georgia law to this day defines our northern border as the 35th Parallel.” 

If Georgia manages to lay claim to even a portion of this water, pipelines and a water treatment plant could be delivering water to Atlanta. But not without approval by the TVA.

It seems this may not be the immediate answer to Georgia’s water needs, but it sure is an interesting one…