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.

This legislation moves the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission under the Department of Agriculture for administration purposes. While the Governor still appoints members of said commission, members no longer have to be Conservation District Supervisors.

This legislation allows a $100 fine per day to be levied against the owner of property (other than a property owner who has filed for homestead exemption) who fails to correct a code violation within 48 days of a notice to correct being sent. In the case of foreclosed properties, the code violation must be sent to the address contained on the postforeclosure registry maintained by the superior court clerk's office. The fine constitutes a lien that can be created and foreclosed in the same manner as a tax lien.  

This bill also requires the superior court clerk to establish and maintain a postforeclosure registry to maintain information about the purchases of real property at a foreclosure sale.  Within ten business days after a property is purchased at a foreclosure sale, the buyer must provide the superior court clerk with his or her contact information.  The new owner must notify the superior court clerk's office of any change in address within five business days of a change in contact information. Purchasers of foreclosed property that do not comply with this legislation or with ordinances related to the property may be required to pay treble damages plus attorneys' fees if they are sued and lose. 

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.    

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.

This legislation shortens the time period that counties (which are local issuing authorities) have to approve or deny a land disturbance permit from 45 days to 14 days.  Furthermore, in addition to all other existing requirements, the bill mandates that only professional engineers (or a few other licensed professionals) may review land development plans (Level 2 Reviewers).

If your county is a local issuing authority, please e-mail Todd Edwards (tedwards@accg.org) your concerns on complying with this legislative proposal. 

Under this bill, a state or local government road or airport project that does not exceed $100 million does not have to go through the stringent requirements of the Environmental Policy Act.  However, an environmental evaluation will be considered in the decision-making process when it is probable to expect significant adverse impact on historical sites or buildings and cultural resources.