ATLANTA – Legislation was dropped in the hopper today and will be read for the first time tomorrow in the Georgia House of Representatives to update Georgia’s toxic coal ash disposal procedures. State Representatives Erick Allen (D-Smyrna), Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City), Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn), Mary Frances Williams (D-Marietta) and Minority Leader Bob Trammell (D-Luthersville) are co-sponsors of the legislation, House Bill 756.
“Georgians want to know their groundwater is safe from toxic coal ash,” said Minority Leader Trammell. “That is not a high bar. Smary francesurely we can meet it.”
“The legislation is straight forward,” said Rep. Oliver. “We know the byproduct of coal production, coal ash, is incredibly toxic. We are just trying to make sure it is disposed of the same way household garbage is, and right now we do not do that.”
It was recently reported that current Georgia law states that household waste must be disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills that have bottom liners and leachate collection systems to ensure that garbage and liquid wastes do not pollute our groundwater. However, the code does not require coal ash to be disposed of in lined facilities.
“Under Georgia law, we protect the environment and human health from household trash more than we protect the environment and human health from the dangers of toxic coal ash,” said Rep. Buckner.
“We are encouraged that legislators are taking steps to protect the public and groundwater from these hazardous materials,” said Rep. Clark.
“My constituents are worried, and they are right to be worried. Coal ash is bad stuff.” said Rep. Williams, who co-authored the legislation.
For more information or to receive a copy of the proposed legislation, please contact Fletcher Sams at Fletcher@AltamahaRiverkeeper.org or 404-985-9606.
Representative Erik Allen represents the citizens of District 40, which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Banks & Banking, Code Revision and Human Relations & Aging committees.
Representative Debbie Buckner represents the citizens of District 137, which includes Talbot County and portions of Harris, Meriwether and Muscogee counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Retirement, State Properties and Ways & Means committees.
Representative Jasmine Clark represents the citizens of District 108, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Higher Education and Interstate Cooperation committees.
Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 82, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and the Governmental Affairs, Juvenile Justice, Judiciary and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Bob Trammell Jr. represents the citizens of District 132, which includes portions of Coweta, Meriwether and Troup counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as House Minority Leader. He also serves on the Ethics, Governmental Affairs, Information and Audits, Judiciary Non-Civil, Motor Vehicles, Rules and Ways & Means committees.
Representative Mary Frances Williams represents the citizens of District 37, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Governmental Affairs, Natural Resources & Environment and State Properties committees.
###