Georgia House of Representatives
Public Information Office
Room 505, Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800

Atlanta - State Representative Robert Ray (D-Fort Valley) announces that HB 1083 has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is now awaiting signature by the Governor . The measure, which is also sponsored by Lynmore James (D-Montezuma), prohibits the permitting of a disposal facility or solid waste handling facility if it is within one mile of any outdoor recreational camp for kids under 18 years of age. The camp also must have been in operation for at least 25 years.

This will include the 300 plus acre facility trying to locate near Benjamin Hawkins Boy Scout Camp near Byron on the Crawford and Peach County line. The camp has been serving the scouts for 76 years. Robins Air Force Base officials also worried the land fill's close proximity would hurt their chances of surviving the next round of base closings.

“This has truly has been a collaborative effort to get this bill passed. I would like to thank Senator Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and Rep. Lynmore James for their help,” said Ray. “A special thanks also needs to go to General Browning, who is the Executive Director of the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee and Joe Collins, who is the Commissioner of Peach County. They gave their time to come and testify on the importance of this legislation which helped it move out of committee.”

Rep. Ray, a Middle Georgia lawmaker since 1982, chairs the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and serves on the Appropriations and Rules committees.

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