Satilla Riverkeeper needs your help! Take Action now to protect our Satilla:
Safe Disposal of Coal Ash Coal ash, the waste leftover from burning coal, is toxic. Coal ash has harmful metals, like mercury and arsenic, and other dangerous chemicals. These chemicals become even more dangerous when they enter our water supplies. Last year, Georgia's legislature created a new loophole that makes our state even more attractive for dumping toxic coal ash. Local governments can now charge private landfill operators $2.50 for every ton of regular household garbage dumped. But the legislature carved out an exception for coal ash: the surcharge for coal ash is only $1 per ton. This cheaper rate for toxic coal ash creates an incentive for private landfill companies to fill landfills with toxic coal ash. Worse, this loophole means that out-of-state coal ash is not only welcome, but encouraged. SB 123 would fix this loophole. Contact your legislators and ask them to VOTE YES on SB 123.
Proposed Landfill - Brantley County Brantley County Development Partners, LLC is attempting to build a landfill in Waynesville (Brantley County). The site they have chosen contains several wetlands, is prone to flooding, and it is nearby 2 elementary schools, private residences, and churches. It is not an appropriate location for a landfill. It violates the site limitations put forth in Brantley County's Solid Waste Management Plan. On Dec 17th, 2019, the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) shared Draft Site Limitations, and the public has the opportunity to comment until January 15th, 2020. Please click below for a sample comment letter, and personalize your own comment to let EPD know this is not a good place for a landfill. More info here.
Proposed Mine Near Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge Twin Pines Minerals has submitted an application (application number SAS-2018-00554) to the Savannah District of US Army Corps of Engineers for a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a proposed mining operation. Twin Pines Minerals plans to impact over 580 acres of wetlands and over 7,000 feet of streams at the headwaters of the St. Marys River and near the Okefenokee Swamp. There is not enough information available at this point to prove that the project will not impact the hydrology of swamp and St. Marys River. The US Army Corps of Engineers should require an Environmental Impact Statement before it makes a decision on this permit application. Stay tuned for a decision from the Corps.
Increase the water quality protections for the Satilla River: People from across our watershed swim, paddle, and play in the Satilla each year. However, the state will only ensure protections for a water body's "Designated Use." Currently, the Satilla River is not designated for Recreation, which means the water quality standards are not as protective as they should be. Help us tell EPD that we use our Satilla for recreation, and it deserves higher protections! Deadline for initial comment: March 8, 2019
Georgia needs a constitutional amendment that gives the General Assembly the authority to dedicate fees for their intended purpose: Georgia’s Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Trust Funds are important funding sources that help the state clean up toxic sites and eliminate illegal tire dumps. They are funded by additional fees that we pay when we purchase tires or dump trash at a landfill. Since they were created in the 1990s, they have generated about $500 million. Unfortunately, about $200 million, or 40 percent of those collections, have been diverted to pay for other portions of the state budget. HR 164 fix this problem.
