| HB 0082 |
Neutral | Oconee River Greenway Authority; certain members to appoint a designee; allow |
Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th |
|---|
|
2/19/2016 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| |
| HB 0116 |
Neutral | Aquifer Storage and Recovery - Prohibit for Floridan Aquifer in Certain Counties |
Atwood, Alex 179th |
|---|
|
1/29/2015 |
House Second Readers |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| Similar to SB 36, this legislation permanently prohibits aquifer storage and recovery in the Floridan Aquifer. It applies to the coastal counties of Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Wayne. |
| HB 0199 |
Neutral | Timber Harvesting - Revision of Notice, Bond and Fee Procedures |
Corbett, John 174th |
|---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| Current law stipulates that timber harvesters provide notice of their operations prior to cutting timber. This legislation requires notice prior to entering the property if possible, but no later than 24 hours after entering the property and cessation notice within 24 hours after the job is completed. Only one $5,000 bond shall be required of a harvester in each county, regardless of the number of tracts being harvested, so long as the bond remains in effect; however, if the bond is called, a harvester with multiple tracts must secure another bond within five business days. Counties remain authorized under O.C.G.A. 32-6-1 to recover all costs from a party damaging a public roadway. Lastly, counties cannot require any kind of fee for receiving a harvest notification. Counties with timber harvesting notification ordinances will have to adjust them accordingly. |
| HB 0693 |
Neutral | Georgia Legacy Trust Fund |
Burns, Jon 159th |
|---|
|
1/11/2016 |
House Second Readers |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation specifies that 75 percent of all of the state sales tax collected from the sale of outdoor recreation equipment be used for the Georgia Legacy Trust Fund. Loans and grants can then be issued by the State Properties Commission to the state, nongovernmental entities and local governments for land conservation purposes which include water quality and protection; protecting wildlife habitat; preserving cultural and historic sites; and park and recreation purposes. The bill is contingent upon ratification of a proposed constitutional amendment which allows the dedication of those funds. |
| HB 0966 |
Evaluating | Stream Buffers - Change from Point of Wrested Vegetation to "Ordinary High Water Mark" |
Caldwell, Jr., Johnnie 131st |
|---|
|
2/11/2016 |
House Second Readers |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation changes the measurement of state-required stream buffers around state waters. Instead of measuring the 25-foot and 50-foot buffer on waters from the point "where vegetation is wrested by normal stream flow or wave action", the buffers will be measured outward from the "ordinary high water mark". |
| HB 1022 |
Evaluating | Inert Landfills - Simplify the Permitting Process |
Kirby, Tom 114th |
|---|
|
2/18/2016 |
House Second Readers |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| In 2012, the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) changed its rules on inert landfills, shifting from a permit by rule system to requiring a solid waste handling permit. Inert landfills could be grandfathered in if they were certified by a professional engineer as having met certain stringent requirements. This legislation removes the grandfather and engineer certification components and allows inert waste landfill operators to obtain a solid waste handling permit if the operator notifies the EPD Director and has met the following requirements: if the landfill only accepts waste that is not likely to produce leachate of environmental concern; if no portion of the waste disposal area is located within 100 feet of any property line or enclosed structure; if the waste is spread, compacted and covered at least monthly; if the landfill site is graded and drained to minimize runoff; if access to the landfill is limited; if suitable means are provided to prevent and control fires; and if a lift is properly covered within 30 days after the last placement of waste in the lift. |
| HB 1028 |
Support | Landfills - Providing Notice of Dangerous Releases |
Werkheiser, Bill 157th |
|---|
|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires the owner of a municipal solid waste landfill to notify (within 14 days of confirmation by the state Environmental Protection Division) the governing authority of the county or city where the landfill is of any confirmed release from the landfill site of a contaminant that is likely to pose a danger to human health. The landfill owner must also post notice in the legal organ of the county in which the landfill is located. |
| HR 1198 |
Neutral | Aquifer Storage and Recovery - EPD to Review its Regulations |
Smith, Lynn 70th |
|---|
|
2/11/2016 |
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| Substituting for SB 36 from the last legislative session, this resolution encourages the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to "review" regulations and issue a report to the Board of Natural Resources on aquifer storage and recovery to make sure that they adequately protect and preserve the state's aquifers. SB 36 had required EPD to adopt additional regulations to protect the Floridan aquifer under aquifer storage and recovery projects. |
| HR 1343 |
Support | EPA - Urge to Witdrawal Proposed "Waters of the U.S." Rule |
McCall, Tom 33rd |
|---|
|
3/16/2016 |
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
NR&E |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation encourages the United States Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the proposed Waters of the United States Clean Water Plan rule. |
| SB 0036 |
Neutral | Aquifer Storage and Recovery - DNR Must Promulgate Rules |
Ligon, Jr., William 3rd |
|---|
|
3/19/2015 |
House Second Readers |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires the Board of the Department of Natural Resources to promulgate rules to ensure that any future aquifer storage and recovery projects do not negatively impact the water quality of the aquifer. |
| SB 0101 |
Support | Coastal Marshland Buffers |
Watson, Ben 1st |
|---|
|
5/6/2015 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| This legislation, a compromise from an array of stakeholders, is aimed at resolving an ongoing dispute on establishing and measuring marshland buffers. It establishes a 25-foot buffer along coastal marshlands, as measured horizontally from the coastal marshland-upland interface. County transportation, utility, drainage and stormwater infrastructure are exempt so long as adequate erosion control measures are in place. The DNR Board is charged with promulgating rules pertaining to buffer variances. |
| SB 0119 |
Support | Water Professionals Appreciation Day |
Jeffares, Rick 17th |
|---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
NR&E |
NR&E |
- |
|
|
| This legislation establishes the first Monday in May as Water Professionals Appreciation Day.
|
