Some EPD laws are not enforced in Georgia due to interference from legislators and how not enforcing EPD laws hurts the environment and the economy.

Photo by Bonnie Gehling

Monroe County has a dynamic vibrant and rapidly growing population and economy. The population grew by 27% in a decade and by 7% from 2000 to 2003. The three-year rate is faster than Georgia’s overall growth. Carol Couch, the director of the Environment Protection Division EPD said Georgia’s population had doubled in the past 25 years and is expected to double again in the next 25 years. She said the population growth has increased the demand for water and unless we make some changes we can expect to outgrow our water supply. The Georgia 2004 Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan Act was formed to protect the State’s waterways as they are the lifeline that supports our economy. The State now requires that all contractors be certified in erosion control.

Unfortunately, Monroe County has barriers to the adequate enforcement of the Clean Water Act and without enforcement the laws pack little punch.

Not enforcing EPD laws hurts the environment and the economy for the following reasons:

Some EPD laws are not enforced due to interference from legislators.

These legislators sit on EPD committees that appropriate money to the EPD. Less money means less enforcement of EPD laws. Georgia EPD policies often favor the developers as they make up 70% of the committees. Georgia’s EPD is one of seven in the country that report the funding available for enforcement is 60% or less of what is needed to do their job.

Patricia Kitchens, head of the Macon EPD said, "You can do development property and protect the environment." A 2005 Georgia EPD erosion and sediment control study confirmed this. They found that all development can be built without significant erosion, without causing mud-choked streams and without enormous financial and environmental costs. They said there is no reason to tolerate the "mud happens" attitude of developers. Their web site is at http://www.ieca.org/resources/article/articlegeorgiaconcludes.asp

When an elected official stops the EPD from fining a developer they set a precedent that allows all developers to ignore EPD laws. These legislators are shaping public policy away from protecting the citizens and Monroe County’s natural resources in favor of the owners of multimillion-dollar corporations.

If the County develops a reputation of not enforcing EPD laws it may attract businesses that are health and environmental hazards.

Monroe County’s close proximity to I-75, Atlanta and Macon ensures increased growth, development and revenue. It is therefore wrong to stop developers from abiding by EPD laws.

The City of Forsyth was recently fined $25,000 for a sewerage spill. Will the elected officials stop this fine too? It’s tax payers money.

When legislators interfere with EPD laws they loose the trust of the people.

It looks bad to take campaign donations from a developer and then stop the EPD from fining the business when they break EPD laws. It looks even worse when the elected official tells one person they stopped the EPD fine because the developer paid $109,000 to clean up the river they polluted and then mentioned to another they did not have the power to stop the EPD fine.

A DNR representative said it would be unwise to issue a permit to build a reservoir on Rocky Creek when Monroe County could get enough water from their reservoir on the Little Tobesofkee and the Ocmulgee River. Will our elected officials require the EPD to give a permit to the City of Forsyth anyway?

Will our elected officials order the EPD to permit a landfill and a rock quarry on the Towaliga River watershed in Lamar County?

Our legislators voted for the Economic Development Secrecy Act (HB 218). This includes businesses that could be health and environmental hazards. The legislators may well be trustworthy, but Monroe County citizens ought to be able to judge that for themselves.

The citizens of Monroe County have a choice—embrace growth and prosperity at the expense of our environment or enjoy prosperity AND leave a safe, clean and plentiful watershed for our children.