NOTE: This is the bill
about not allowing local governments
to over-ride State water restrictions - TC
|
"HB 1281" will
retain the same name/number as it moves through the Senate, so
please begin your phone, fax, email and in person contacts with your
Senators today!
These personal
communications REALLY matter - please act now!
Personalize or use
the attached letter as a guide to contact your Senators today.
House Bill 1281
has been assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
Committee. Contacts with members of the Senate Agriculture and
Consumer Affairs Committee by their constituents are especially
important. If you live or
your business is located in the District of any of these members,
please contact them
immediately. |
The Senate Agriculture
and Consumer Affairs Committee (District Counties
listed):
·Senator John Bulloch
(Chairman) (404) 656-0040: Counties -- Colquitt,
Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchel (Pt.), Seminole, Thomas (Pt.)
·Senator Ralph Hudgens
(404) 656-4700: Counties -- Barrow,
Clarke (Pt.), Elbert (Pt.), Jackson (Pt.), Madison, Oglethorpe
·Senator Lee Hawkins
(404) 656-6578: Counties -- Hall, Jackson
(Pt.)
·Senator Greg Goggins
(404) 463-5263: Counties -- Atkinson,
Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Cook (Pt.), Echols, Lanier, Pierce,
Ware
·Senator Bill Heath (404)
651-7738: Counties -- Bartow (Pt.),
Haralson, Paulding (Pt.), Polk
·Senator Nan Orrock (404)
463-8054: County -- Fulton
(Pt.)
·Senator J.B. Powell
(404) 463-1314: Counties -- Burke,
Emanuel (Pt.), Jefferson, Jenkins, Richmond (Pt.), Screven,
Washington, Wilkinson
·Senator Ed Tarver (404)
656-0340: County -- Richmond
(Pt.)
For contact information
for these Senators: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/senate/senatelist.php
Below is a Letter to personalize and send to Senate
Ag Committee:
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Georgia's
Urban Agriculture Industry respectfully requests your support of HB
1281, which
would provide a mechanism for permitted water providers to either
relax state imposed restrictions or to become more restrictive than
state provisions upon approval from Georgia EPD, the State's
water permitting authority.
The
ability for local government to further restrict State mandated
outdoor water use rules without EPD approval has been detrimental to
the economy and especially harmful to the urban agriculture
industry, which includes landscapers, retail garden centers and
nurseries. Since the summer of 2007, local government decisions to
further restrict or completely remove the ability for landscape
related businesses and their customers to use water has resulted in
the losses of over 35,000 jobs and $3 billion to the urban
agriculture industry.
Time
and time again, local water providers took action on industries that
utilize outdoor water uses for their businesses, tightening
restrictions without industry input into the economic consequences
of such actions. This legislation is needed to bring fairness and
balance to establishing local water restrictions.
Imagine
being the owner of a landscape company who works in 10 different
counties that includes over 35 municipalities. With 61 separate water
providers in metro-Atlanta alone, it is virtually impossible to keep
up with changes in the rules - particularly since most localities do
not have the information readily available for industry access or
even provide for industry input in the decision making process.
While
growers and farmers may still be able to produce plant materials,
the inability for consumers to utilize outdoor water - even
minimally - has crushed their interest in purchasing plants or
installing landscapes.
The continued unchecked actions by local government to change
watering rules will further erode consumer incentive to purchase
plants or initiate landscape installation contracts.
We
recognize the seriousness of the drought and that local governments
must ensure that their citizens have water for drinking, public
health and safety. We can be a partner in that effort. This
bill maintains local government authority to initiate action while
protecting the interests of businesses that rely on our water
resources. Having the State EPD involved in the decision making
process just makes sense.
The
spring planting season will be upon us in a few short weeks, we
need help and we need it now. This legislation provides the
right mechanism for good decision making. I ask for your support of
HB 1281.
Sincerely, | |