HB 274 allows yard trimmings to be disposed of in a lined landfill (MSW) if it has a permitted gas collection system in operation that reuses the gas for electrical power generation, industrial end use or other beneficial use promoting renewable energy goals.

Additionally, this bill reauthorizes the scrap tire fee (Solid Waste Trust Fund) for three more years, allowing the General Assembly to continue redirecting this money to the state's general fund to balance the budget.  

Under this bill, whenever the Department of Natural Resources is considering closing or reducing (by 50 percent or more) the hours of operation of a state park or recreational area, they are required to provide at least 90 days notice to the city or county in which the park or recreational area is located.  The idea being that, with due notice, the local government would have ample time to decide whether it wanted to take over the control, operation and/or management responsibilities. 

SB 122 authorizes local governments and the state (at their discretion) to contract with private firms to procure permits and licenses, plan, finance, build, acquire, operate and maintain a water reservoir, facility or system -- acting in concert with GEFA's Water Supply Division if they wish. The local government may pay the firm with the user fees, purchase payments and other revenue for these services. This bill also establishes a process that counties can partner with other governments to enter into agreements up to 50 years with a private partner. Unlike proposals from previous sessions, SB 122 ensures that local governments participate in all aspects of the process.

SB 157 makes local Solid Waste Management Plans (SWMP) updates optional for counties and cities and removes the requirement of having to complete an annual, duplicative solid waste report. Counties without zoning and land use ordinances may, however, wish to complete these plans and adopt them by local ordinance as the plans will maintain their ability to effectively govern the sitting of solid waste facilities within the community.

Amendments to the bill now require public notice any time a local SWMP is updated and require both public and private landfills to annually report to DCA the amount of waste disposed, the landfill's remaining capacity, recycling and composting activities, and any other information as may be required by DCA.

For ACCG's SB 157 talking points, please click here.     

This bill revises procedures for local governments to come into compliance with EPD water/wastewater pollution rules; making it clear that the EPD Director may notify the violator in writing of the opportunity to perform voluntary remedial action via consent order and authorizing the Director to require a bond or letter of credit to ensure compliance instead of a traditional fine. If a consent order to comply is violated, the local government may have its bond or letter of credit forfeited with that money being deposited into a new fund at the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to help pay for these compliance projects.

This bill would allow hunters to use silencers on their guns.

This bill extends (from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2015) the life of the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council (GGAC). ACCG was a strong advocate of establishing the GGAC, which has audited Georgia's geospatial capabilities at the local, regional and state level. It also recommends how to best utilize these capabilities to meet FEMA notification requirements, achieve governmental data interoperability, and enhance the delivery of services to Georgia citizens.

Current state law prohibits the interbasin transfer (IBT) of water from a basin outside the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to within. SB 374 overrides this, allowing surface water withdrawal from the Tennessee River Basin (in Chickamauga Valley & Lookout Mtn.) to be exempt from that restriction.  It also does away with other IBT regulations in Georgia as far as withdrawal from the Tennessee River Basin is concerned.    

This resolution establishes a joint Senate/House study committee to analyze the current status of Georgia's reservoir system and strategic needs for additional water supply.  The study is to include the identification of creative financing options for reservoirs and water supply enhancement.