Polluter Donation Policy and Guidance
POLICY: The financial accounts of the Satilla RiverWatch Alliance, Inc. will include no donations from any company for which evidence of unresolved unlawful acts is known to the person holding the title of Satilla Riverkeeper. The Executive Director (ED) shall have the authority to receive corporate donations as directed in the guidance below. The ED shall advise the Board of Directors of such decisions. No donations that exceed 20% of the Alliance’s annual expense budget will be accepted from any for-profit corporation without a majority vote of approval by the Board of Directors.
POLICY NOTES:
a) Existence of a lawsuit by an environmental organization against a potential polluter is not sufficient evidence of an unlawful act, nor is the agreement of a judge to hear such a case. Only the outcome of the case should be acceptable evidence of whether or not an act is unlawful.
b) A potential polluter that has been found to commit an unlawful act will usually be given a remedy. Once a remedy is acceptable to the court and has been implemented, it is considered resolved for the purposes of this policy.
GUIDANCE:
The Satilla RiverWatch Alliance, Inc. (the Alliance) actively seeks improvement of the Satilla River environment by reducing waterborne pollutants within the river basin (i.e., watershed). The Alliance recognizes three actions to reduce pollution: 1) enforce existing regulations; 2) stimulate voluntary actions above and beyond minimum regulatory requirements; and 3) improve pollution regulations and the laws that produce them. These actions require fostering good relationships with industry personnel who oversee operations that may pollute, whether they are operating without proper permits or are producing potentially polluting wastes while in compliance with regulations. Sometimes the regulations themselves are inadequate. To improve regulations, we must also cultivate good relationships with regulatory agencies of government, other environmental organizations, and legislators.
Donations from those who oversee industrial operations: Individuals and companies may offer donations toward the mission of the Alliance. We highly value a good working relationship with industry. We treat such offers as an indication of willingness to work with us. Therefore, the Alliance has established the following guidance principles for accepting donations from those who operate industrial scale processes that discharge wastes to surface or ground water within the river basin. Example processes include those associated with enterprises of manufacturing, waste processing, mining, refining, or industrial agriculture1 including concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs).
POLICY NOTES:
a) Existence of a lawsuit by an environmental organization against a potential polluter is not sufficient evidence of an unlawful act, nor is the agreement of a judge to hear such a case. Only the outcome of the case should be acceptable evidence of whether or not an act is unlawful.
b) A potential polluter that has been found to commit an unlawful act will usually be given a remedy. Once a remedy is acceptable to the court and has been implemented, it is considered resolved for the purposes of this policy.
GUIDANCE:
The Satilla RiverWatch Alliance, Inc. (the Alliance) actively seeks improvement of the Satilla River environment by reducing waterborne pollutants within the river basin (i.e., watershed). The Alliance recognizes three actions to reduce pollution: 1) enforce existing regulations; 2) stimulate voluntary actions above and beyond minimum regulatory requirements; and 3) improve pollution regulations and the laws that produce them. These actions require fostering good relationships with industry personnel who oversee operations that may pollute, whether they are operating without proper permits or are producing potentially polluting wastes while in compliance with regulations. Sometimes the regulations themselves are inadequate. To improve regulations, we must also cultivate good relationships with regulatory agencies of government, other environmental organizations, and legislators.
Donations from those who oversee industrial operations: Individuals and companies may offer donations toward the mission of the Alliance. We highly value a good working relationship with industry. We treat such offers as an indication of willingness to work with us. Therefore, the Alliance has established the following guidance principles for accepting donations from those who operate industrial scale processes that discharge wastes to surface or ground water within the river basin. Example processes include those associated with enterprises of manufacturing, waste processing, mining, refining, or industrial agriculture1 including concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs).
- Actively polluting industrial operations working without required pollution control permits: We will not accept donations until their leadership has: a) met with us and with regulatory personnel; and b) taken the necessary steps to comply with relevant pollution control laws.
- Properly regulated industrial operations in the Satilla River watershed that are out of compliance with pollution control permit requirements: Donations accepted as long as: a) their compliance issues are known to the proper regulatory agencies; and b) their leadership or environmental compliance personnel agree to meet with us as soon as possible about their issues with compliance.
- Properly regulated industrial operations in the Satilla River watershed that are in compliance with pollution control permit requirements: Donations accepted as long as their leadership or environmental compliance personnel agree to meet with us as soon as possible to discuss ways that they may improve the environment by going above and beyond minimum requirements. We believe such operations will become good stewards of the Satilla River and will serve as premier examples for others to follow.
- Industrial operations not in the Satilla River watershed: Donations accepted as long as: a) they have all required pollution control permits and a history of reporting permit violations in a timely manner.
- We will not turn down donations on the basis of unsubstantiated belief by the public that a company is out of compliance with environmental laws. Whether or not a donation is offered, if such a company is operating in the Satilla River watershed, we will ask them to show us their operations and permits.
- We will not turn down donations from a responsible party if a given pollution problem is because of a failure of environmental regulations. In that case, we must work with agency personnel and legislators to strengthen regulations and the laws that produce them. Regardless of any donation offer, we will seek a working relationship with the responsible party to explore how they may go above and beyond minimum legal requirements.
- In other cases, the Executive Director may consult with the Executive Committee, who may help resolve any question of appropriateness, or may refer the matter to the entire Board of Directors for discussion and vote.
- To promote transparency, the Executive Director will post this policy and guidance on the Alliance’s website along with all corporate donations accepted within the last 12 months that exceed 1% of the Alliance’s annual expense budget.
Corporate Donors - March 27, 2021
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Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation
Southern Ionics Minerals - Chemours, Inc. Republic Services, Inc. Douglas Rotary Club |
Varn Turpentine & Cattle Company
The Sapelo Foundation West Fraser Yamaha Rightwaters |