06 LC 28
2862
Senate
Resolution 838
By:
Senator Schaefer of the 50th
A
RESOLUTION
To
urge and support the full funding of state and local efforts to clean up
hazardous waste sites and properly address waste-related activities, and control
erosion and sedimentation; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
in order to protect public health and the environment and enhance the quality of
life for Georgians, state and local governments must properly control threats
posed by hazardous and solid waste sites and activities and sources of erosion
and sedimentation; and
WHEREAS,
effective and efficient cleanup of hazardous and solid waste sites and control
of erosion and sedimentation relies on a cooperative approach between state and
local governments, utilizing established tools and funds designed for these
purposes; and
WHEREAS,
success in protecting public health and our environment, as well as improvements
in the quality of life, are directly tied to adequate funding for cleanup of
hazardous waste and solid waste sites, mitigation of waste-related activities,
and erosion and sedimentation control; and
WHEREAS,
recognizing the importance of these duties, state law establishes dedicated
funding sources through fees and fines to assist in addressing hazardous and
solid waste sites, waste-related activities, and erosion and sedimentation
control; and
WHEREAS,
in recent years, these funds have been substantially redirected to other uses,
rendering state and local efforts to clean up hazardous and solid waste sites,
address waste-related activities, and provide erosion and sedimentation control
significantly understaffed and unsatisfactorily funded; and
WHEREAS,
the redirection of these funds collected specifically for the management of
these critical environmental programs negatively impacts
Georgiás
communities, public health, and environment;
and
WHEREAS, many local governments are expending significant sums of money in investigating and remediating hazardous waste sites for which such local governments have been preapproved, are eligible, and have applied for reimbursement, but have been reimbursed only a fraction of the funds expended due to the redirection of these funds.
WHEREAS, many local governments are expending significant sums of money in investigating and remediating hazardous waste sites for which such local governments have been preapproved, are eligible, and have applied for reimbursement, but have been reimbursed only a fraction of the funds expended due to the redirection of these funds.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
steadfastly support the full utilization of all dedicated environmental revenues
for state and local efforts to clean up hazardous waste sites, properly address
waste-related activities, and control erosion and sedimentation and support the
use of such funds for only the uses for which the funds were set aside.