07 LC
25 4787
Senate
Resolution 283
By:
Senator Tolleson of the 20th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Joint Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia´s thriving and growing economy will result in a
doubling of the state´s population to over 18 million people by 2030
resulting in land use changes; and
WHEREAS,
land use changes associated with this growth will occur near the state´s
water resources and vital natural areas such as wetlands and coastal marshes;
and
WHEREAS,
nonpoint source pollution may have contributed to the impairment of
Georgia´s water and coastal resources; and
WHEREAS,
impairment caused by nonpoint source pollution will affect point source permits
and may affect waste-water treatment serving growing areas; and
WHEREAS,
nonpoint source pollution may impact the quality of life for Georgians directly
or indirectly using the water resources of the state; and
WHEREAS,
riparian buffers, control of sediment runoff, and storm-water management, among
other techniques, may be effective in preventing nonpoint source pollution;
and
WHEREAS,
as evidenced by the increasing impairment of Georgia´s water resources,
current state statutes and rules, and local ordinances and practices intended to
prevent nonpoint source pollution may not be effective in many areas of the
state; and
WHEREAS,
the General Assembly of Georgia deems it to be of great importance to receive
and consider information from the Department of Natural Resources as to the
issues relating to nonpoint source pollution and control thereof in this state
and any recommendations of the Board of Natural Resources for legislation
relating to the improvement of nonpoint source pollution control.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Joint Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Study Committee to be
composed of ten members. The committee shall consist of the chairperson of the
Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, who shall serve as
cochairperson of the study committee; the chairperson of the House Committee on
Natural Resources and Environment, who shall serve as cochairperson of the study
committee; the chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
Committee; the chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer
Affairs; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the
Senate; and three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. The cochairpersons shall call all
meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall
receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution
shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than ten days
unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a
report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed
legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2007.
The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2007.