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Georgia EPD Releases Draft Guidance for Regulation of Aquifer Storage and Recovery, Seeks Public Review and Comment
In September 2017, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) finalized a review of its current regulations as they relate to aquifer storage and recovery, as directed by HR 1198 adopted during the 2016 session of the Georgia General Assembly. The report summarizing the results of that review committed EPD to four actions:
- Preparation of written instructions from EPD that detail, for any future applicant, requirements and expectations for timing, acquisition, and analysis of the necessary data and information on project-specific technical details.
- Preparation of a pre-application project checklist to be completed by any future applicant.
- Designation of a single individual within EPD’s Watershed Protection Branch to coordinate permitting and communication regarding a project.
- Consultation between EPD and the applicant, early in the permitting process, to develop a comprehensive site-specific and project-specific “roadmap” designed to clarify timing, data, and information expectations as well as regulatory requirements.
EPD has completed a draft guidance document addressing these actions for public review and comment. Note that, at this time, EPD does not have any applications for an ASR project and is not aware of any ASR projects in Georgia in the design or planning stages.
The draft guidance document is available for review at the following link: http://epd.georgia.gov/sites/epd.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/Draft_Guidance_for_Regulation_of_Aquifer_Storage_and_Recovery.pdf. A copy of the draft guidance document may also be requested by contacting the Watershed Protection Branch at (404) 463-1511. A copy of the September 2017 review of current regulations can be seen here.
EPD will hold a public meeting to discuss the draft guidance document, to answer questions, and to receive input from the public before finalizing it. The public meeting will be held at the following time and location:
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 from 1-3 p.m. in the EPD Training Center located at 4244 International Parkway, Suite 116, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.
At the public meeting, anyone may present data, make a statement, comment or offer a viewpoint or suggestion either orally or in writing. Lengthy statements or statements of a considerable technical or economic nature, as well as previously recorded messages, should be submitted in writing.
Written comments are also welcomed. In order to be considered, written comments should be received by close of business on September 21, 2018. Written comments may be emailed to EPDComments@dnr.ga.gov or sent via regular mail addressed to: Gail Cowie, EPD Watershed Protection Branch, 2 MLK Jr. Drive, SW, Suite 1152, East Tower, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334. If you choose to e-mail your comments, please include the words “Review of Draft ASR Guidance” in the subject line to help ensure that your comments will be forwarded to the correct staff.
For further information, please contact Gail Cowie of the Watershed Protection Branch at Gail.Cowie@dnr.ga.gov or (404) 657-5739.
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