Cleaning Up Georgia's Waterways: Challenges In Clean Water Act Implementation in Georgia

Publication Date: February 2002

Publisher: Georgia PIRG Education Fund

Author(s): Brad Heavner; Jennifer Giegerich; William Coyne

Research Area: Environment

Keywords: Clean Water Act; Environmental Enforcement; Water Pollution

Type:

Coverage: Georgia

Abstract:

In 1994, in an effort to halt growing water quality problems, several Georgia groups brought the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to court alleging that this provision was not being implemented and enforced properly. As a result of this lawsuit and subsequent court action, the EPA is required to force the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to implement the TMDL program in Georgia. Since the TMDL process is ideally one of Georgia's most powerful tools for systematically identifying and improving impaired waterways, it is critical that the state of Georgia take its charge seriously. To do this, the EPD must receive more funding for resources and trained personnel, expand its use of citizen data and statewide monitoring, involve the public, use the most stringent standards when setting TMDLs, and provide greater technical assistance to the Regional Development Centers to develop implementation plans.