Bill Text: GA SR1281 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Environmental Protection Division; urge to provide expeditious review and ultimate approval of water and wastewater facility plans and permits
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-27 - Senate Read and Referred [SR1281 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SR1281-Introduced.html
12 LC 93
1594
Senate
Resolution 1281
By:
Senators Jeffares of the 17th, Tolleson of the 20th, Gooch of the 51st, Stone of
the 23rd, Staton of the 18th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Environmental Protection Division to provide expeditious review and ultimate
approval of water and wastewater facility plans and permits; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources is responsible for providing reviews and approvals of engineering
reports and plans and specifications for water and wastewater treatment
facilities; and
WHEREAS,
the timely and expedient review of engineering reports and plans and
specifications for water and wastewater treatment facilities is of utmost
importance in order to allow cities and counties to be economically competitive
for the benefit of their local citizenry and all Georgians alike;
and
WHEREAS,
an adequate supply of cost-effective, safe, and reliable drinking water and
wastewater treatment services are obligatory features of a healthy economic
environment both locally and statewide; and
WHEREAS,
an available allotment of both drinking water services and wastewater treatment
services is essential to attracting new industry and encouraging augmented
existing business activity for all of Georgia's cities and counties;
and
WHEREAS,
the Environmental Protection Division has incurred a significant budgetary
decrease for the past several years and has adopted practices that afford an
expedited engineering report and plan review process for water and wastewater
treatment facilities; and
WHEREAS,
the Environmental Protection Division is currently evaluating additional means
that will afford expedited and efficient review and ultimate permitting of water
and wastewater treatment facilities while maintaining exceptional protection and
stewardship of Georgia's water resources; and
WHEREAS,
registered professional engineers in Georgia have the capability to design and
certify water and wastewater treatment facilities, and registered engineers in
Georgia are willing to certify, at the risk of losing their licenses, the
integrity of their design of water and wastewater treatment facilities;
and
WHEREAS,
the Environmental Protection Division staff has high priority functions to
provide in terms of water planning, wasteload allocation development, water
modeling, water quality standards setting, water monitoring, and enforcement;
and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, the Environmental Protection
Division, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Municipal
Association, the Georgia Engineering Alliance, and the American Council of
Engineering Companies of Georgia all agree to collaborate on identifying
additional means to expedite the appropriate state functions for water and
wastewater systems.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the
aforementioned organizations to cooperate in developing a formal process for the
Environmental Protection Division approval of certified engineering reports,
design documents, and plans and specifications for water and wastewater
treatment facilities in lieu of a detailed review by the Environmental
Protection Division.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the aforementioned
organizations and the public and the press.
