initial draft recommended regional water plans available for review and comment
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The public comment period (May 9, 2011 to June 23, 2011) for the Regional Water Plans has ended. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Arnettia Murphy.
- Please click here to view public comments received for the Initial Draft Recommended Regional Water Plans
- To connect to the comment collection website, click here
- To review the Regional Water Plans, click here
As provided in the State Water Plan, the characteristics of water resources and water users vary significantly in differing regions across Georgia. Protecting the ability of the State's water resources to meet needs for water supply and assimilation of wastewater requires regional, resource-based plans that identify the management practices appropriate to the resources and users in each region.
The Regional Water Planning Councils have been meeting regularly since February 2009 to prepare their initial draft recommended regional water plans. Meeting summaries and other related materials for all Councils are found here.
As required by the State Water Plan, the initial draft recommended regional water plans are subject to a public notice and comment period prior to EPD adoption. Therefore, EPD is releasing for public notice and comment, each of the ten initial draft recommended regional water plans. This 45-day public notice and comment period will begin on May 9, 2011.
All ten initial draft recommended regional water plans can be found here.
How Do I Submit My Comments?
You may submit your comments through the comment collection website, via mail, e-mail or fax until June 23, 2011.
Please Note: In order to submit comments online, you will need to set up an account for the comment collection website using the link below. Once you have created an account, you will be able to log into the site using your new username and password.
Please click here to enter the comment collection website.
Comments may also be submitted via mail, e-mail or fax to:
Arnettia Murphy
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 1152, East Tower
Atlanta, GA. 30334
404-651-5778 FAX
404-656-4157 PHONE
WHO IS REVIEWING THE INITIAL DRAFT RECOMMENDED REGIONAL WATER PLANS?
Any interested person or party is welcome to review and provide comments on the initial draft recommended regional water plans.
In addition to those interested persons or parties reviewing the initial draft recommended regional water plans, EPD will -- concurrent with the public review and comment period -- review these plans to determine if they are consistent with the rules for regional water planning and guidance adopted pursuant to those rules.
CAN I REVIEW THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS PREPARED BY EACH COUNCIL?
Yes. Some of the Regional Water Planning Councils may have opted to prepare detailed reports or other materials to support the preparation of their initial draft recommended regional water plan. These materials vary among and between Councils and may provide background information on procedures, methods, data, and other analyses. Click here for a list of supplemental materials.
Additional information about these materials can be obtained by contacting the primary contact for the Council you are interested in. The list of Council contacts can be found here.
HOW WILL THESE COMMENTS BE USED?
The Regional Water Planning Councils will, (if needed) review and revise their initial draft recommended regional water plans based on the public review comments and EPD comments and then submit a final recommended regional water plan to EPD by September 30, 2011.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE COUNCILS HAVE REVISED THESE PLANS?
After the Councils revise their plans, they will submit their final recommended regional water plan to EPD by September 30, 2011.
EPD will review the final recommended regional water plan for completeness and consistency with the State Water Plan and rules and guidance for regional planning. Depending on the outcome of this review, EPD will either adopt the recommended regional water plan as submitted or adopt the recommended regional water plan with conditions.
HOW WILL THESE PLANS BE USED ONCE THEY ARE ADOPTED BY EPD?
Pursuant to the State Water Plan, the EPD Director shall use the adopted regional water plans to guide decisions regarding permitting. The plans will also guide state grants and loans from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for water-related projects within that water planning region.
WILL THESE PLANS BE UPDATED?
As described in the Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan, the regional water plans will be subject to review by the Regional Water Planning Councils, following EPD guidance, every five years.