Georgia's environment, 2001

GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protection Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources April 2001

GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT

PROTECTING GEORGIA'S AIR 5 ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 5 RESULTS 6 RESPONSE 8 PROTECTING GEORGIA'S WATER 12 ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 12 GROUNDWATER 13 SURFACE WATER 16 DRINKING WATER 21 MANAGING GEORGIA'S WATER RESOURCES 22 PROTECTING GEORGIA'S LAND 24 HAZARDOUS WASTE 24 SOLID WASTE 26 UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS 27 OUTREACH, EDUCATION, & PARTNERSHIPS 28 PROTECTING GEORGIA'S FUTURE 32

Cover photo: FDR State Park, Harris County

E N V I R O N M E N TA L PROTECTION DIVISION

EPD'S MISSION
We help provide Georgia's citizens clean air, clean water, healthy lives, and productive land by assuring compliance with environmental laws and by assisting others to do their part for a better environment.
EPD'S VISION
Water and air throughout Georgia are clean, all land is productive, all citizens and native species are safe from environmental harm.
Government, businesses, and individuals faithfully exceed the requirements of environmental laws.
All citizens understand the environment and do their part to improve it.
As Georgia grows, its land, air, and water resources are managed carefully for sustained prosperity.
EPD staff are motivated and empowered to use skill, common sense, and fairness to protect, sustain, and be stewards of Georgia's environment.
EPD's workforce is strategically located to maximize effectiveness and to involve communities in sustaining a high quality environment.
EPD helps assure that growth is managed in ways that sustain air, water, and land resources.

2 Georgia's Environment

DIRECTOR'S S TAT E M E N T

EPD's mission addresses two distinct but related objectives...assuring compliance with environmental laws, and assisting others to do their part for a better environment. This report summarizes EPD's efforts to achieve these goals by presenting a snapshot of the health of Georgia's environment and the programs designed to protect it; while also providing references for additional information and summaries of some of the environmental outreach, education, and partnership programs in which EPD is involved.
The environmental indicators included in this report provide only a brief overview of the vast amount of data EPD monitors, collects, and analyzes. In addition, EPD works closely with the regulated community to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental laws and regulations. When violations occur, EPD takes action to enforce compliance. In 1999 and 2000, EPD issued over 2000 enforcement orders and collected almost $10 million in penalties.
The overall health of Georgia's environment is good, but there are challenges to overcome. The greatest challenge is protecting Georgia's environmental resources during this period of rapid population growth. The most recent U.S. Census indicates that Georgia was the sixth fastest growing state in the U.S. during the last decade, with a total population of nearly 8.2 million residents. This growth and related development has highlighted our awareness that air, water, and land are limited resources.
These limitations have become evident recently with the severe drought that began in the spring of 1998 and continues into 2001. The most important lesson from this drought is that water resource management, including conservation, is necessary to meet water needs...even when rain is plentiful. This notion applies to Georgia's other natural resources as well.
Managing our natural resources effectively, and changing behaviors where necessary, will help all Georgians to benefit equally from our shared natural resources. EPD will continue to assure compliance with the laws designed to protect our environment, and we encourage you to continue your involvement in protecting Georgia's environment.
Harold Reheis Director

3

clean air clean water healthy lives productive land

PROTECTING GEORGIA'S AIR
Mistletoe State Park, Columbia County

AIR
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
Ambient Air Quality Standards
Georgia has adopted national "ambient air quality standards" for six main pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. EPD has established a statewide network of sampling monitors to measure concentrations of these pollutants. Samples are compared with established standards to indicate the quality of Georgia's air and to determine if standards are met. For results, see Figs. 16, page 6.
Ozone Exceedance Days
The 13-county Atlanta metropolitan area (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties) has been declared a "serious" nonattainment area for ground-level ozone. To achieve attainment status, the average number of days above the standard must be equal to or less than one for three consecutive years. The number of exceedance days in the ozone non-attainment area is an indicator of our progress toward achieving attainment. For results, see Fig. 7, page 7.

CYNTHIA DREIER

5

Statewide Average Concentration
Parts per million

Statewide Average Concentration
Parts per million

Ambient Air Quality Standards
Figure 1. Carbon Monoxide (standard = 9.0 ppm)
9.0
7.5
6.0
4.5
3.0 '85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
Figure 2. Nitrogen Dioxide (standard = .05 ppm)
.05 .04 .03 .02 .01 .00
'85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Statewide Average Concentration
Micrograms per cubic meter

Statewide Average Concentration
Micrograms per cubic meter

Figure 4. Lead (standard = 1.5 mpcm)
1.5 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.0
'85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
Figure 5. Particulate Matter-10 (standard = 50 mpcm)
50.
40.
30.
20. '87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Figure 3. Sulfur Dioxide (standard = 0.14 ppm)
.14 .12 .10 .08 .06 .04 .02 .00
'87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Figure 6. Ozone (1-hour standard = 0.12 ppm)
.20 .18 .16 .14 .12 .10 .08 .04 .02 .00
'80 81 82 83 84 8586 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 9899 00

Maximum Hourly Concentration in Metro Atlanta Parts per million

Statewide Average Concentration
Parts per million

6 Georgia's Environment

AIR

The data presented here are only a summary. For more detailed information on
ambient air quality data, please call EPD's Ambient Monitoring Program
at 404-363-7006.

R E S U LT S
The overall quality of Georgia's air remains good. In 1999 and 2000, Georgia's air met current national standards for concentrations of all pollutants except ozone in metropolitan Atlanta. Air quality for the five other pollutants is either stable or improving. The six graphs on the opposite page chart annual average concentrations for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, particulate matter and ozone since the 1980's.
Figure 7 indicates the number of days that ozone has exceeded the one-hour standard in metro Atlanta since 1980. In 1999, the metro area experienced 23 days with ozone levels above the current standard for air pollution, and in 2000, this number dropped to 10.
Although this shows a decrease in high-ozone days from 1999 to 2000, EPD cautions against viewing the one-year change as a longrange trend. In reviewing the number of days of exceedances of federal standards per year over the past 20 years (using the one-hour measurement standard), 2000's 10 exceedances represent a slight improvement over the 20-year average of 12 days each year.

Number of Days Above One-Hour Standard

Figure 7. Ozone Exceedance Days in Metro Atlanta
30 25 20 15 10
5 0
'80 81 82 83 84 8586 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 Note: 2000 values represent data through the end of September.

7

Figure 8. Particulate Matter-2.5 (standard = 15 mpcm)
25
20
15
10

RESPONSE
New Air Quality Standards
Particulate Matter Particulate Matter (PM) is solid matter or liquid droplets from smoke, dust, fly ash, or condensing vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. It represents a broad class of chemically diverse particles that range in size from molecular clusters of 0.005 micrometers to coarse particles of 50-100 micrometers in diameter. One hundred micrometers is about the thickness of a human hair. PM results from all types of combustion--including incomplete burning of diesel fuel, burning of wood in stoves and fireplaces, and fossil fuel-burning power plants and vehicles.
In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the current standard for particulate matter--PM-10--that includes only those particles smaller than 10 micrometers. In 1997, EPA revised the health-based PM standards by adding a new annual and a new 24-hour 2.5 micrometer standard because research has shown that smaller particles are inhaled deeper into the lungs, causing adverse health effects.
This new standard has been adopted by EPA, but is not yet in effect because specific rules for implementation are still pending. Georgia is meeting the current PM-10 standard, and has begun monitoring for the proposed PM-2.5 standard. Figure 8 provides PM-2.5 data for locations across the state.
Three years of sampling are required to provide a reliable comparison to the new standard, and these sample results are only for the first nine months of 2000. However, preliminary data indicate that many urban areas of the state will not meet the stricter standard. Once three years of sampling are complete, EPD will need to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for any area not meeting the new standard. The objective of a SIP is to improve air quality so that the standard is met.

2000 Annual Average Concentration Micrograms per cubic meter Forest Park Kennsaw South DeKalb Doraville Atlanta -Buckhead Atlanta-NW East Point Gwinnett Yorkville Macon-SW Macon-SE Savannah-NW Garden City Athens Albany Rome Brunswick-Central Gainesville Warner Robins Valdosta Columbus-SW Columbus-SE Augusta-Medical College Augusta-South Rossville Sandersville Gordon

Note: 2000 values represent data through the end of September.
8 Georgia's Environment

AIR

Figure 9. Comparison of 1- and 8-hour Ozone Standards in Metro Atlanta

70

67

60

60

50

40

44

45

30

36 30

20

22 23

10 14 7

11

10

0

'95 96 97 98 99 00

1-hour standard 8-hour standard

Ozone Ozone is a gas consisting of three atoms of oxygen that forms in the
air when certain atmospheric chemicals (nitrogen oxides, or NOx) react with volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone in the upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere is beneficial by reducing the sun's harmful rays. However, a high ozone concentration at ground level--the major component of what is commonly called `smog'--is hazardous for human health and the environment.
The EPA established a stricter standard for ozone in 1998. The new standard calls for 0.08 parts per million (ppm) of ozone over an 8-hour period. This is considerably tougher than the previous standard of 0.12 ppm over a 1-hour period. The new standard is based on evidence that breathing function is adversely affected by longer (six to seven hours) periods of exposure to lower levels of ozone, rather than shorter periods (two to three hours) at higher levels. The 8-hour standard was challenged in federal court by a lawsuit brought against EPA by some national industry groups. EPA's proposal indicates that the 8-hour standard will become effective for metro Atlanta after attainment of the 1-hour standard. Attainment of the 1-hour standard is projected for 2004.
The ozone season in Georgia runs from May 1 though September 30. In 2000, the metro area experienced 45 days with ozone levels that exceeded the 8-hour federal air quality standard. Using the 8-hour measurement, 32 of those days were "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (Code Orange); 11 measured in the "Unhealthy" (Code Red) range; and 2 days were reported as "Very Unhealthy" (Code Purple).
Figure 9 compares the number of days metro Atlanta air exceeded the 1- and 8-hour ozone standards for the last five years. The chart illustrates that the 8-hour standard is much stricter than the current 1-hour standard, resulting in increased number of days above the standard each year for the 13-county metro Atlanta area.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 27, 2001 that EPA's 8-hour ozone standard is valid. This will result in the designation of several counties outside of the 13-county metro area as non-attainment areas, as early as 2001 or 2002. These additional non-attainment counties could include Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Carroll, Dawson, Hall, Muscogee, Newton, Richmond, Spalding, and Walton counties.
The State of Georgia is preparing for these standards by increasing monitoring, preparing emission inventories, working with local governments on transportation planning issues, and advising the general public regarding air quality in their areas. New State Implementation Plans will need to be prepared for any area not meeting the 8-hour ozone standard.

Number of Days Above Standard

9

For a copy of the SIP, please call the Air Protection Branch at 404-363-7000;
or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

State Implementation Plan for Ozone
In 1999, EPD implemented several new controls for air quality inside and outside of the 13-county metro Atlanta ozone non-attainment area. These new controls are presented in the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Atlanta Ozone Non-attainment Area and are expected to result in attainment of the one-hour standard for ground-level ozone by 2004.
EPD has identified three main contributors to high levels of ozone: (1) emissions from cars and trucks on Georgia's roads, (2) emissions from Georgia Power electricity-generating plants, and (3) emissions from large industrial sources located both inside and outside the non-attainment area. Emissions from cars and trucks are mobile sources, and emissions from power plants and industries are stationary sources. Since all of these contribute to the ozone problem, they must all be controlled to solve the problem. New rules adopted in 1999 and 2000 provide tighter controls for both mobile and stationary sources.
Mobile Source Controls Though there are many sources of air pollution, the primary producer of nitrogen oxides--a precursor to ozone--is vehicle emissions. Atlanta's residents drive more than 115 million miles per day, and the result is the smoky haze that sometimes occurs in Atlanta in the summertime and presents a variety of problems for the region. On-road mobile sources such as cars, trucks, and buses contribute approximately 50 percent of the total NOx emissions in the 13-county area.
Vehicle Emissions Inspections The vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program is part of the comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the 13-county metro Atlanta area. Technology has significantly reduced vehicle emissions over the past 30 years, but regular maintenance-- as required through the I/M program--ensures a car's emission control equipment will operate at acceptable levels of efficiency. Without maintenance, this equipment deteriorates and is ineffective. Starting January 1, 2001, emissions testing is required every year for vehicles in the 13-county ozone non-attainment area.
Georgia Gasoline Low sulfur gasoline improves the performance of catalytic converters in automobiles, thereby reducing harmful emissions. A 1999 EPD rule requires the 13-county non-attainment area and 12 additional counties to sell only low-sulfur gasoline. The larger area will maximize the benefits of this fuel by ensuring low emissions from vehicles that routinely travel into the non-attainment area from surrounding counties. Georgia Gasoline--with an average sulfur content limited to 150 ppm during ozone season--is expected to reduce gasoline-powered NOx emissions by 6.6 percent per year.
Voluntary Emissions Reduction Program Also included as a component of the SIP, is a program that works with local businesses, governments, and the general public to obtain voluntary emissions reductions in the metro area during ozone season. The program, called the Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia (PSG) since 1999, will merge with the Clean Air Campaign in the spring of 2001.

10 Georgia's Environment

AIR
The program's primary goal is to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle commuters in the non-attainment area during ozone season. By focusing on collective and individual actions--such as alternative commuting patterns and changes in operational and maintenance activities--the program has helped reduce emissions from mobile and area sources. In just three years, more than two hundred employer partners have committed to reducing harmful emissions. These positive changes will improve Atlanta's air quality during ozone season and reduce the health and environmental risks associated with smog.
Stationary Source Controls Industrial Sources Industries contribute roughly 20 percent of the NOx and VOC emissions in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The amount of industrial emissions has been reduced over the last two decades through more stringent requirements put in place by EPD.
These requirements were further modified in the 1999 State Implementation Plan and include 1) more emission controls for specific industries in the 13-county non-attainment area, 2) more emission controls for all new industries in a 32-county area, and 3) an off-set requirement for new large industries in the 32-county area. An off-set requirement means that a new large industry cannot be permitted unless an emissions reduction equal to 110 percent of the new industry emissions is accomplished by an existing industry in the same area.
Power Plants The State Implementation Plan also required modification of Georgia Power's Yates and McDonough plants (both located within the 13-county non-attainment area) in order to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 33 percent by May 2000. Georgia Power will be required to install additional control measures by 2003 resulting in overall NOx reductions of more than 60 percent from plants McDonough and Yates and five other power plants located outside the Atlanta non-attainment area.
Conformity between Ozone Attainment and Transportation Plans
The Atlanta Regional Commission, as the designated metropolitan planning organization for the Atlanta region, must prepare a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at least every two years in order for federal agencies to authorize the award of federal transportation grants in the region. The TIP includes a set of priority transportation projects drawn from the long-range Regional Transportation Plan.
Because the Atlanta region fails to meet federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone, the Clean Air Act of 1990 requires the TIP to conform with the State Implementation Plan's steps to meet air quality standards in the Atlanta non-attainment area. In 1996, the TIP did not conform with the vehicle emissions portion of the SIP, which prohibited federal approval of the transportation program and resulted in restrictions on the use of some federal highway funding in metropolitan Atlanta.
In order to accommodate this conformity requirement, the development of the SIP and TIP were closely coordinated in early 2000. For the first time since 1995, the two plans now conform with one another, and federal highway funds are available again in the Atlanta region.
11

PROTECTING GEORGIA'S W AT E R
For a copy of EPD's 19982000 Georgia Drought Report, please call 404-656-4713;
or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
Water Quality
There are many indicators used to assess the environmental health of Georgia's water. Some indicators measure the quality of water in aquifers (groundwater) and others measure the quality of water flowing naturally in rivers, lakes, and streams (surface water).
Water Quantity
The quantity of water available is also an indicator of environmental health, since low streamflows, lake, and groundwater levels can compromise both water quality and the long-term ability to meet the growing needs of Georgia's citizens. The availability of water is impacted by natural events, such as drought, and human events such as increased demand for water due to economic growth and development.
Georgia's Drought
Since May 1998, Georgia has been experiencing a drought that has steadily intensified over time. Although sporadic rainfall during the late summer and fall of 2000 provided limited relief for some parts of the state, Georgia may be entering its fourth consecutive year of severe drought.
By the end of 2000, severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across much of the state. Average statewide precipitation deficits, accumulated over a 28-month period, ranged from 20 to 30 inches below normal, with some individual gages reporting rainfall shortages close to 50 inches.
During the summer of 2000, groundwater levels reached their lowest recorded levels in almost every aquifer of the state, and water levels continue to decline in many areas. Many surface water sources set new record low stream flow rates across the state as well, with records being broken for gages that have been monitored for almost 100 years.
The impacts of the 19982000 drought are already significant, though not yet fully realized. The drought has progressed through four stages-- meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic. Each stage has resulted in separate but related consequences for human and wildlife populations that depend on Georgia's water resources for sustenance and economic prosperity.
EPD has been continuously monitoring the situation and working with other state agencies and local authorities to respond. Non-essential outdoor water use has been restricted on a statewide basis to help manage water supply and raise public awareness about the importance of water conservation.
In addition, EPD has made several recommendations to better respond to, prepare for, and mitigate the effects of drought. The recommendations--which include emergency relief; building regional reservoirs; researching and addressing agricultural irrigation practices; and developing comprehensive plans for water conservation, water resource management, and drought management--are designed to supplement actions taken by all Georgians to better manage our water resources.

12 Georgia's Environment

White County

W AT E R
G R O U N D WAT E R
Indicators
Saltwater Intrusion Citizens in the 24 counties of coastal Georgia obtain most of their water from the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Population growth within this region, and in neighboring states of South Carolina and Florida, has climbed steadily in the past decade. Population growth means more demand for high-quality groundwater.
Over the years, this demand for water has decreased water pressure in the Upper Floridan aquifer, which increases the potential for saltwater entering the fresh water supply of the aquifer. Saltwater contamination threatens groundwater quality in coastal Georgia, portions of northeast Florida and southeast South Carolina.
Georgia uses chloride concentration, or salt, as an indicator of whether or not saltwater intrusion is increasing, decreasing, or stabilizing. For results, see Fig. 10, page 14.
Groundwater Level In Southwest Georgia, the primary sources of water are the Floridan, Clayton, and Claiborne Aquifers. Increased demand for groundwater for agricultural irrigation and to support growing communities has resulted in significant declines in water levels in these aquifers. EPD monitors groundwater levels on a long-term basis as an indicator of an aquifer's viability. For results, see Fig. 11, page 14.

PHOTO: ROY BURKE III

13

Annual Avg. Chloride Concentration
Milligrams per liter

Groundwater Results

Figure 10. Saltwater Intrusion (Upper Floridan Aquifer, Glynn County) Data source: USGS (33H127 Test Well #3)
900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100
0
'66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00
For more information on groundwater data, please call the Geologic Survey Branch at 404-656-3214; or log on to the USGS Water Resources of Georgia homepage at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/
Figure 11. Groundwater Depletion (Clayton Aquifer, Dougherty County) Data source: USGS (13L002 Turner City #2)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
'58 60 62 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00
Note: No data available for 1959 and 1960

Saltwater Intrusion Two Tybee Island wells serve as an early warning system for Chatham County's water supply. Chloride concentrations in these two wells have remained relatively constant since the 1960's and there was no significant change from 1998 to 2000. These data continue to indicate that saltwater has not yet reached Chatham County.
Figure 10 shows annual average chloride concentrations (saltwater intrusion) measured in the Brunswick monitoring well. Since 1996, chloride concentrations have been in the 800 mg/l range with the exception of 1998, when concentrations measured just below 800. This means that the chloride plume at Brunswick is still growing and has not yet stabilized.
Groundwater Level Figure 11 depicts annual average water levels measured in a Clayton Aquifer monitoring well in Dougherty County. The most significant drop occurred after 1977 with the rapid growth of agricultural irrigation in southwest Georgia. The water level has been relatively stable since 1981. To maintain the viability of the Clayton Aquifer, EPD imposed a moratorium on new permits in the early 1990's in that aquifer.
Between 1998 and 2000, average groundwater levels in the Clayton Aquifer dropped from 138.7 to 146.4 feet below ground level. On September 3, 2000, the water level reached an all-time low of 160.9 feet below ground level, breaking a 14-year record that occurred in the 1986 drought. The 19982000 declines in the Clayton Aquifer water level are attributed to increased irrigation and reduced recharge as a result of the drought that began in the Spring of 1998 and continued throughout all of 1999 and 2000.

Annual Avg. Water Level
Feet below land surface

14 Georgia's Environment

W AT E R

For more information on protecting groundwater resources, please call the Water Resources Management Program at 404-656-3094, or log on to EPD's website
at www.dnr.state.ga.us/environ

Groundwater Response
Protecting Groundwater in Southeast Georgia In April of 1997, EPD adopted an interim strategy in 24 counties in southeast Georgia to protect the Upper Floridan Aquifer from saltwater intrusion. Each county in the area has developed a comprehensive water supply plan based on restricted water use.
In addition, parts of Bryan and Effingham Counties, and all of Chatham and Glynn Counties are prohibited (capped) from new water withdrawals unless water use in other areas of the county is reduced by the same amount. In the remaining 20 counties of the southeast region, groundwater withdrawals are not capped, but restricted to 36 million gallons per day (mgd) above 1997 withdrawals. Between April 1997 and January 2001, almost 11 mgd was permitted for industrial and municipal use; and an estimated 10-13 mgd was permitted for agricultural irrigation, leaving 12-15 mgd still available for permitting in the 20-county area.
Additional constraints have been placed on Chatham County, requiring groundwater withdrawal permit reductions of 10 mgd before the end of 2005. More than nine mgd in groundwater withdrawal reductions had been achieved by December 2000.
Sound Science Initiative In 1998, the State of Georgia and large coastal industrial water users implemented a comprehensive program of technical investigations known as the Sound Science Initiative. Significant investigations completed in coastal Georgia in 19982000 include: drilling three offshore saltwater monitoring wells; drilling deep wells at St. Marys, Brunswick, and Richmond Hill; performing both land and marine seismic surveys; implementing a 3-dimensional groundwater model to predict saltwater flow within an aquifer; and researching and assessing the viability of long-term water source alternatives.
Data gathering continues in 2001, with emphasis on computer modeling, better definitions of subsurface geology, precise location of saltwater intrusion, and engineering studies. These efforts are critical for the development of a final strategy--scheduled to be in place by December 31, 2005--that is based on sound science. This strategy will outline methods to meet future water needs without causing saltwater intrusion.
Protecting Groundwater in Southwest Georgia The Upper Floridan Aquifer also underlies southwest Georgia and EPD has expanded research in this area. The research, scheduled to be complete in 2005, will be beneficial in developing a comprehensive ground and surface water management plan for the southwest region. Studies include development of a water budget for the Lake Seminole area, implementation of an automated network of stream and well gages to facilitate availability of water information on a daily basis, comprehensive aquifer testing at about 30 sites, automated measurements of daily irrigation, and development of improved hydrologic models that will assess the interaction between ground and surface water.

15

SURFACE WATER
Indicators
Support of Designated Uses The quality of Georgia's surface water is evaluated by whether or not it meets established standards and supports designated uses. Georgia's waters are classified into designated uses such as fishing, recreation, drinking water, or wild and scenic. For each water use classification, different in-stream water quality standards are used to determine if the waters fully support, partially support, or do not support their designated uses.
In evaluating streams, EPD examines the water quality data and compares this with the water quality standards for rivers and lakes. The standards for most Georgia streams are identical, with the exception of trout streams and recreational waters, which have more stringent standards. The standards have two sets of components, one set for aquatic life protection and one set for human recreation.
For each component, a stream: Fully meets water quality standards (supports designated uses)
if 90 percent or more of the data is within acceptable limits; Partially meets water quality standards (partially supports
designated uses) if 75 to 90 percent of the data is within acceptable limits; Does not meet water quality standards (does not support designated uses) if 74 percent or less of the data is within acceptable limits. For results, see Fig. 12, page 18.
Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved oxygen in streams and lakes is necessary to support fish and other aquatic life, and is significantly related to stream flow rate and temperature. Dissolved oxygen water quality standards have been established ranging from 4.0 to 6.0 milligrams per liter depending on the stream classification and type of measurement. EPD evaluates data from 37 trend-monitoring sites throughout the state. The percentage of samples showing violations of the dissolved oxygen standard is one of the most important indicators of water quality. For results, see Fig. 13, page 19.
Fish Tissue Contamination of lakes, rivers, and streams has occurred as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural practices. Fish accumulate some of these contaminants directly from the water and through their diet. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tests fish tissue for many chemicals to determine whether they can be safely consumed. Guidelines for consuming fish caught in Georgia waters are based on recommended meals per week or month. This information is published annually in "Guidelines for Eating Fish from Georgia's Waters." For results, see page 19.
16 Georgia's Environment

W AT E R

Assessed River Miles Nearly 10,000 miles of Georgia's rivers and streams have been monitored to assess adherence with water quality standards and to determine if designated uses are supported. EPD has assessed over 1,400 additional river miles since 1998. It is important to note, however, that even with a steady increase in miles assessed, this represents only about 14 percent of the total river miles in the state of Georgia. Table 1 shows total river miles for each basin and compares river miles assessed in 1998 and 2000.

Table 1. River Miles Assessed by EPD

River Basin
Altamaha Chattahoochee Coosa Flint Ochlockonee Ocmulgee Oconee Ogeechee Satilla Savannah St. Marys Suwannee Tallapoosa Tennessee Total

Total
River Miles
3,430 8,172 7,126 9,122 1,716 7,268 6,773 6,981 3,629 7,413 485 4,961 774 2,300 70,150

1998

2000

Miles Assessed
197 1,590 1,266 1,181 72 1,342 893 235 564 171 83 430 146 403 8,573

Miles Assessed
190 1,597 1,266 1,179 209 1,341 894 541 441 822 122 870 146 403 9,990

17

For a copy of the Water Quality in Georgia report, please call the Water Protection Branch
at 404-675-6232; or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

Surface Water Results
Support of Designated Uses Figure 12 compares the percent of assessed river miles that fully, partially, or do not meet designated uses for each river basin in Georgia. Eighty percent of all river miles assessed fully or partially meet water quality standards.
EPD evaluates and publishes surface water quality data every other year. The report, titled "Water Quality in Georgia 19981999" contains the most recent data on Georgia's water quality. In addition to information on river basins presented in Figure 12, the 199899 data show the following overall results for lakes and estuaries:
442,420 acres of lakes were assessed. Of those, 85 percent fully or partially meet water quality standards.
854 square miles of estuaries were assessed. Of those, 60 percent fully or partially meet water quality standards.

Figure 12. Assessed River Miles Supporting Designated Uses
100

80

Percent of Assessed River Miles

60

40

20

0 AltCahmaatthaahoochee

Coosa

*OFclhinlotckonOeecmulgeeOconOegeeechee *SatSillaavannaSht. River Basin

MaSryuswannTeaellapooTseannessee

*Note: The Ochlockonee and Satilla River basins are characteristically

Does not support

swampy, causing naturally low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Current water quality standards do not sufficiently address this natural

Partially supports

tendency; and as a result, these basins naturally violate standards.

Fully supports

These river basins still support designated uses, however, and this is reflected in Figure 12.

18 Georgia's Environment

Percentage of Monitoring Sites with Violations

W AT E R

Figure 13. Violations of Dissolved Oxygen Standard at Trend Monitoring Sites
10 8 6 4 2 0
'86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
To obtain a copy of the booklet Guidelines for Eating Fish from Georgia's Waters, please call the Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program
at 404-675-6236; or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

Dissolved Oxygen Figure 13 shows that none of the 37 trend monitoring sites (core stations) located throughout the state measured violations of the dissolved oxygen water quality standard in 1999 or 2000. This positive trend can be attributed to improved operation of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities. This does not mean that there are no violations of the dissolved oxygen standard in the state, however. The core stations are selected as a representative sample of Georgia's major rivers, but they only monitor a small percentage of total river miles.
Fish Tissue In 1994, EPD implemented a risk-based approach for evaluating the potential risk of fish consumption. To date, data from more than 2,500 samples representing more than 10,000 fish have been analyzed for development of consumption recommendations in Georgia. Forty-three contaminants are monitored regularly in Georgia. Current data shows the majority of consumption restrictions are accounted for by mercury (74 percent) and PCBs (24 percent).
Mercury is a naturally occurring element, and has likely always been present in fish in low concentrations. Mercury is also released into the air as a result of fossil fuel combustion nationwide and can eventually end up in rivers and streams when it rains. The amount of mercury in most fish in Georgia has remained fairly constant since 1971. The methodology for determining safe mercury levels in fish has changed over the years, however, resulting in an increase in consumption restrictions attributable to mercury contamination.
In the early 1990's, PCBs and chlordane caused most of the restrictions in Georgia. Manufacturing of these chemicals has been banned and their use is now highly restricted, so concentrations of those chemicals in fish are slowly decreasing. At present, only one lake has a restriction due to chlordane.
Based on the 2001 update to Guidelines for Eating Fish from Georgia's Waters, four contaminants (PCBs, chlordane, dieldrin and mercury) were detected in significant amounts in a few species of fish found in some bodies of water. One lake (Hartwell) and two river segments (in Turtle and Buffalo Rivers) have PCB contamination and certain size and species of fish from those segments should not be consumed at all. On a statewide basis in 2001, 58 percent of all fish tissue testing resulted in no consumption restrictions, while 38 percent limited consumption to one meal per week or month, and 4 percent recommended "do not eat."

19

Figure 14. Water Quality Monitoring Site Network, 19962001

Surface Water Response
Water Quality Improvements Six-hundred-seventy-one miles of rivers and streams that had previously been listed as impaired in Georgia's report to EPA are now meeting water quality standards. This is primarily because of improvements in the quality of discharges from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities and progress made toward control of nonpoint sources of pollution. Improvements include elimination of toxicity, reducing levels of certain metals in a facility's discharge, or eliminating an entire discharge by using another type of wastewater treatment technology, such as land application systems.
Water Quality Monitoring Site Network Since 1995, EPD has launched a comprehensive program to increase the number of water quality monitoring sites across the state, on a basin-bybasin rotation. The goal of the program is to increase the number of river miles assessed, and carefully select river segments that better represent the entire basin. It would be impossible to assess all 70,000 miles of Georgia's rivers and streams in one year, so the improved network provides a much clearer picture of the health of an entire river basin.
Figure 14 shows annual and revolving sites used to monitor water quality from 1996 to 2001. The program's ultimate goal is to monitor all sites every year so that the water quality of each river basin is assessed annually.
Annual monitoring site
Revolving river basin monitoring site
Rivers and streams
River basin boundary

20 Georgia's Environment

W AT E R

Public water systems are required to provide water quality data to their customers annually in
a consumer confidence report. Contact your local water system to get a copy of the report.

DRINKING WATER
In Georgia, 2,561 public water systems supply drinking water to approximately seven million people (approximately 85 percent of the population). Private wells provide water to the remaining 15 percent of Georgia's citizens. Public drinking water systems are regulated by EPD; private wells are not regulated by EPD.
Drinking water supplied by public systems is finished--or treated-- water, and must comply with a set of drinking water standards focused on protecting human health. To ensure that water from public systems meets water quality standards, samples are tested and monitored for various pollutants--including nitrates, volatile organic compounds, lead & copper, asbestos, and fecal coliform bacteria. The levels of these pollutants are indicators of the quality of drinking water supplied by public systems.
The quality of water provided by public drinking water systems in Georgia is excellent. In 2000, one hundred pecent of customers on public water systems received water in compliance with drinking water quality standards for nitrates, volatile organic compounds, and asbestos.
Water in compliance with coliform bacteria standards was delivered to 99.9 percent of customers. Water systems in violation of the coliform standard must notify the public and submit to an EPD sanitary survey and additional sampling over a two-month period. Only when subsequent results are negative for coliform bacteria is the water system considered back in full compliance with the standard.
Water in compliance with the lead and copper standards was delivered to 98 percent of customers on public water systems. Eighty-seven water systems serving 129,384 customers currently exceed the lead and copper action levels. This does not mean that these customers are receiving water that is unsafe to drink. Due to the complexity of the lead and copper regulation, it can take up to three years for a system to come back into compliance.
After a system exceeds the lead and/or copper action levels, the system has to perform water quality monitoring, in some cases a corrosion control study, install corrosion control equipment, and perform two consecutive six-month monitoring periods without an exceedance in order to be brought back into compliance with the standard.

21

Kayakers at Tallulah Gorge, Rabun County
For up-to-date information on the status of tri-state water negotiations, please call the Water Resources
Management Program at 404-656-3094.
For information on EPD's TMDL process, please call the Water Protection Branch at 404-675-1752 or 404-675-1614; or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ.

CYNTHIA DREIER

MANAGING GEORGIA'S WATER RESOURCES
Tri State Water Negotiations
In 1997, at the request of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, Congress and the President of the United States established interstate water compacts between Georgia and Alabama for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river system; and between Georgia, Alabama and Florida for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system. These river basins make up 38 percent of Georgia's total land area, provide drinking water to over 60 percent of Georgia's population, and supply water for more than 35 percent of Georgia's irrigated agriculture.
Under the compacts, the three states will develop agreements for allocating and managing the two interstate river systems to meet water needs through the year 2030 and beyond. The compacts originally required agreement on water allocations by December 31, 1998, but there have been several extensions of this deadline.
Since February 1998, proposals and counter proposals have been shared through seven official ACT negotiating sessions, six official ACF negotiating sessions, and many technical discussions. Although consensus has not yet been reached, negotiations have revealed areas of general agreement, as well as areas of marked disagreement.
In December 2000, a tentative agreement--effective through the year 2030--was reached between Alabama and Georgia regarding the ACT Basin. As this report went to press, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia were still negotiating the ACF Compact.
Total Maximum Daily Load
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a river, stream, or lake can receive and still be safe and healthy. It is also a means for recommending controls needed to meet water quality standards. If a stream is impaired to the extent that there is a water quality violation, no new additions (loadings) of the pollutant that causes the violation are allowed until a TMDL is developed.
After a TMDL is established, a TMDL implementation plan is developed. This plan may include working with farmers and land owners to implement best management practices to prevent manure, fertilizers, and pesticides from running off into streams, lakes, and rivers. Wastewater treatment plants in the area may also be required to add new treatment technology.
Additional water sampling will be necessary to determine if the sources identified as contributing to the pollution are putting the management practices into place and if the water quality is improving.
EPA and EPD have established many TMDLs. In 199798, 116 TMDLs were approved by EPA. In 1999, 43 were approved; and in 2000, 173 were developed and are pending approval by EPA. By 2004, more than 1,100 TMDLs will be developed throughout the 14 river basins in Georgia.

22 Georgia's Environment

W AT E R

Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors Water Conservation Tour, Calhoun County
For information on the rules of the Flint River Drought Protection Act, please call the Water Resources
Management Program at 404-656-3094; or log on to EPD's web site at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ.

FLINT RIVER WATER PLANNING AND POLICY CENTER

Flint River Drought Protection Act
The Flint River Drought Protection Act, which was voted into law during the 2000 legislative session, is in place to ensure the Flint River maintains adequate flow to support fish and wildlife during times of severe drought. EPD must make a determination by March 1 every year on whether to implement the act. This determination is made through use of a "drought declaration matrix," which compiles data from several sources, including groundwater wells, stream flow gages, precipitation, and climate predictions to determine whether a drought is imminent.
If a severe drought is anticipated and the Act is implemented, farmers who voluntarily remove acreage from irrigation will be compensated by the state through an auction. The auction, at this time, is limited to farmers with current surface water withdrawal permits in the Flint River Basin. Current research, expected to be complete in 2005, will provide more information on the impacts of agricultural groundwater withdrawals on the Flint River flows.
On March 1, 2001, EPD formally declared a "severe drought" within the Flint River Basin. The declaration was based on data from the U.S. Geologic Survey, the State Climatologist, and EPD scientists and engineers that point to a fourth consecutive year of drought in Georgia. The drought declaration initiated the first implementation of the Flint River Drought Protection Act.
EPD, in cooperation with Georgia State University and the Flint River Water Planning and Policy Center in Albany, conducted the state's first voluntary auction on March 17th at several sites throughout southwest Georgia to accept bids on the acreage to be removed from irrigation in 2001. As a result, the state will pay $4.5 million to compensate farmers for not irrigating more than 33,000 acres of farmland during the summer of 2001. The acres removed from irrigation will keep up to 130 million gallons per day in the Flint River and its tributaries that otherwise would have been consumed.

23

PROTECTING GEORGIA'S LAND

HAZARDOUS WASTE
The Hazardous Site Response Act, which was enacted in 1992, authorizes EPD to clean up hazardous sites that threaten human health or the environment. This law enables EPD to use the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund to hire contractors to clean sites if the persons responsible for the contamination are unable or unwilling.
Fees collected from industries and government agencies that produce, handle, and dispose of solid wastes, hazardous wastes, and other dangerous materials finance the Trust Fund. Fines collected from violators of Georgia's various environmental laws also finance the fund.

Chatham County

CYNTHIA DREIER

24 Georgia's Environment

LAND

Number of Sites

Figure 15. Georgia's Hazardous Site Inventory

140

120

126

100

80

60

64

40

48

20 20

24

34 25

0 -11 -10

-8

-10 -10

-8

-20

-20

'94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Sites added

Sites removed

Figure 16. Status of Hazardous Site Investigations and Cleanup

274

Hazardous Sites in Georgia
There are currently 532 hazardous sites on the state's Hazardous Site Inventory (HSI). Although the majority of sites are in and around major metropolitan areas, approximately two-thirds of Georgia's counties have at least one site. New sites are continually being discovered and added to the HSI, and sites are removed when cleanup is finished. Some examples of hazardous sites include old wood preserving operations that used creosote; chemical manufacturing plants; leaking dry cleaning operations; old, unlined solid waste landfills; and defunct industrial waste-handling facilities.
As noted in Figure 15, in 1999, the state added 34 sites and took eight sites off the Hazardous Site Inventory. In 2000, 126 sites were added and 20 sites were removed.
EPD cleans up sites according to risk-based standards, which means the worst problems are cleaned up first so people are not exposed to harmful levels of hazardous substances. This means that EPD tackles the most difficult sites first, most of which are large, complex, and timeconsuming operations.
Significant progress has been made in cleaning up Georgia's hazardous sites. Figure 16 shows the status of investigations and cleanups. Of the 532 sites now on the inventory, cleanups are in progress at 274. Site investigations to determine how much cleanup is necessary are underway at another 148. Investigations have not yet begun at the remaining 110 sites because they are a lower priority for action or have just recently been added to the inventory.

Number of Sites

Tons of Hazardous Waste In millions

148

110

113

No action Cleanup Under

Cleanup in

yet taken completed investigation progress

Figure 17. Hazardous Waste Generation in Georgia

45

40 40
35 37

30

25

20

15

14

10

10 10

5

8

77

0 '85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99

For more information on hazardous waste in Georgia, please call the Hazardous Waste Management Branch
at 404-656-7802; or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

Hazardous Waste Reduction Although state and federal laws require generators of hazardous waste to create and update waste reduction plans, the laws do not mandate that actual reductions must be achieved. Through voluntary pollution prevention efforts by industries, businesses, and governments, the total amount of hazardous waste generated in Georgia has been reduced by 73 percent since 1985. Figure 17 shows the amount of waste generated in Georgia over the last 15 years.
25

Percent of Total Disposed

Figure 18. Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in Lined Landfills

100

93% 95%

80

81%

60

68% 73%

57%

40 45%

20

0 '94 95 96 97 98 99 00

SOLID WASTE
Solid Waste Disposal
Another side effect of the thriving economy and steadily increasing population in Georgia is an ever-increasing amount of garbage--12.8 million tons of it in state fiscal year 2000. This amounts to an average of over 8.7 pounds of garbage being discarded by every Georgian every day-- most of it placed in landfills. Through June 2000, Georgia landfills reported remaining capacity for more than 308 million cubic yards of waste, enough to last for 23 years. New permits for 27 million cubic yards of landfill space were issued in 2000.
Over the past decade, stringent design criteria have been implemented for new and expanding landfills requiring liners and leachate collection systems to capture toxic chemicals that may be present in household wastes. Today, there are 51 operating landfills meeting these criteria, and they receive more than 94 percent of Georgia's municipal solid waste (MSW). Thirteen unlined municipal solid waste landfills continue to operate, but must close when their permitted capacity is reached. Figure 18 shows the increased use of lined landfills since 1994.

Figure 19. Methane Migration at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

Number of MSW Landfills

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

.'95 ...

96 97

98

99 00

Active sites with methane migration Active sites with remediation in progress Closed sites with methane migration Closed sites with remediation in progress

Figure 20. Groundwater Contamination at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

140 120 100 80 60 40 20
0
.'95 ...

96 97 98 99 00
Active sites with contamination Active sites with cleanup in progress Closed sites with contamination Closed sites with cleanup in progress

Number of MSW Landfills

Methane Migration and Groundwater Contamination
As a result of this transition to lined landfills, the number of active municipal solid waste landfills with groundwater contamination or methane migration has been reduced substantially. The closing of a landfill, however, does not signal the end of potential environmental problems. Thirty-four percent of closed municipal solid waste landfills with methane monitoring programs detected explosive gas conditions at or beyond their property boundary in 2000. Corrective measures to control gas migration have been implemented in sixty-seven facilities with methane remediation programs.
In 2000, groundwater contamination was detected in nearly 74 percent of closed municipal solid waste sites with monitoring wells in place. All of these sites are older landfills which were not required to have liners under them when they originally began operating. Corrective action for these landfills involves determining the extent of contamination, providing alternative water supplies to those in the vicinity that rely on groundwater wells, and developing a remediation system that can restore the groundwater to acceptable condition in a cost-effective manner. Complete restoration of groundwater near these landfills is expected to take many years.
Figures 19 and 20 show the number of active and closed municipal solid waste sites with methane migration and groundwater contamination since 1995; they also show the number of sites with cleanup and remediation efforts underway. The total number of MSW sites in 2000 was 228.
26 Georgia's Environment

Number of Leaking UST Sites

LAND

Figure 21. Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites
5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000
500 0 '94 95 96 97 98
Cleanups in progress
Cleanups complete

99 00

For information on solid waste and underground storage tanks in Georgia, please call the Land
Protection Branch at 404-362-2537; or log on to EPD's website at www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
The federally mandated ten-year phase-in period for compliance with spill, overfill, and corrosion protection standards for Underground Storage Tanks (UST) ended in December 1998. Tanks not meeting the requirements had an additional 12 months to upgrade or permanently close, as long as they did not operate past the 1998 deadline. Compliant tank systems are now operating with leak prevention and detection systems, resulting in fewer and less severe releases.
In Georgia, 35,400 underground storage tanks are now operating; 28,000 tanks have closed, 23,000 in 1999 alone. Regulatory efforts now focus on identification of non-compliant systems that are still operating, permanent closure of tanks taken out of service, and remediation for releases discovered during upgrades and tank removals.
Since the beginning of Georgia's program in 1988, 9,085 leaks from underground storage tanks have been reported. Corrective action for these releases involves identifying the extent of contamination, evaluating the risks to human health and the environment, and treating affected soils and groundwater to acceptable standards.
Figure 21 shows the number of leaking UST sites with complete and in-progress cleanups since 1994. In 2000, corrective action has been completed at 4,557 UST sites in Georgia; and cleanup activities are ongoing at 4,520 sites.

27

OUTREACH, EDUCATION, & PA R T N E R S H I P S
Atlantic Steel site cleanup, January 2001

land
EPD is involved in many efforts to communicate and collaborate with public, private and non-profit organizations, as well as all of Georgia's citizens, about responsible stewardship of our shared natural resources. These outreach, education and partnership efforts address the second part of EPD's mission statement: "...assisting others to do their part for a better environment." Following is a summary of some of the many programs aimed at working together to protect Georgia's air, water, and land.
Atlantic Steel Cleanup
Situated in Midtown Atlanta on 138 acres of urban real estate, the former Atlantic Steel property had been used for steel making and steel-product finishing for nearly 100 years. Because of these past industrial activities, soil on the site was contaminated. In 1998, Atlantic Steel, Jacoby Development, Inc., Law Environmental, Inc., and EPD began working together to promote the safe redevelopment of this property into a multiuse residential and business community in the heart of Atlanta.
Using creativity and flexibility, an engineered solution was developed to provide appropriate measures to clean up the site to protect public health and the environment. Cleanup focused on removing approximately 100,000 cubic yards of impacted soil and installing upgraded sanitary sewer and storm-water conveyance systems.
The new complex, which will be called the Atlantic Station, demonstrates that redevelopment projects of this nature can benefit the environment in several ways. At the time, the federal government prohibited new road construction in the metro Atlanta area due to the region's failure to meet air quality standards, but an exception was made to allow construction of a bridge for the Atlantic Station. This exemption was granted because the nature of the multi-use complex--which provides residential, commercial, retail, and entertainment use-- discourages urban sprawl, thereby contributing to air quality improvements in the region.
The redevelopment of this former industrial site into a multiuse complex that not only contributes to the productive re-use of land, but also helps improve regional air quality, has been recognized as a model for brownfield projects and smart growth by both EPA and the National Governors Association.

NEW FIELDS COMMUNICATIONS

28 Georgia's Environment

For information about the Clean Air Campaign, its partners, and how you can get involved, please call 877-CLEAN AIR; or log on to www.cleanaircampaign.com

Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia
and the Clean Air Campaign
The Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia (PSG) is a non-regulatory EPD program designed to promote simple and effective voluntary actions that employers and their employees, as well as all area residents, can take to help reduce ozone-causing emissions.
The Clean Air Campaign (CAC) is a coalition of state agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals who have united to educate people about ground-level ozone and smog and encourage changes that we can each make in our daily lives to reduce air pollution.
Since both PSG and CAC have launched successful programs that assist metro Atlantans in achieving similar goals, combining their efforts and pooling their resources became the logical next step. In 2001, the Partnership for a Smog-Free Georgia will become a Clean Air Campaign program.
The "new" Clean Air Campaign focuses on the same shared goal: encouraging people to make changes that improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and ultimately improve the quality of life in metro Atlanta.

For information about how you can become an Adopt-A-Stream volunteer, please call 404-6751636; or log on to www.riversalive.org/aas.htm

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program
The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program is a volunteer water quality monitoring and stream protection program. The goals of the program are to (1) increase public awareness of the state's nonpoint source pollution and water quality issues, (2) provide citizens with the tools and training to evaluate and protect their local waterways, (3) encourage partnerships between citizens and their local government, and (4) collect baseline water quality data.
To accomplish these goals, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream encourages individuals and communities to adopt sections of streams, wetlands, lakes, or rivers. Manuals, training, and technical support are provided by Georgia EPD, four Adopt-AStream Regional Training Centers and thirty established community/watershed Adopt-A-Stream organizers. As of February 2000, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has more than seven thousand volunteers participating in 240 individual and community Adopt-A-Stream Programs.

Adopt-A-Stream biological workshop, Dukes Creek at Smithgall Woods

29

For information about water education programs, please call 404-675-1638 or 404-675-1762;
or log on to www.eealliance.org/gaprojectwet

Georgia Project WET
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a national K-12 interdisciplinary water education program intended to supplement a school's existing curriculum. Coordinated in Georgia through EPD, Project WET nurtures the awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and through the establishment of state-sponsored programs.

For information on the Georgia Water Management Campaign, please call
404/522-5022; or log on to www.accg.org

Georgia Water Management Campaign
The Georgia Water Management Campaign (GWMC) is a venture between EPD, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). The mission of the GWMC is to enhance local government's ability to manage and protect water resources by translating water management policies into decision-making capabilities, and providing guidance and technical assistance.

For information on Rivers Alive, including how to become a volunteer, please call
888-373-5947 or log onto www.riversalive.org

River Cleanup Projects
Rivers Alive Rivers Alive is an annual volunteer river cleanup event held throughout the month of October in locations all over Georgia. In 2000, 332 miles of rivers were cleaned up with the help of almost 15,000 volunteers across the state.
Sponsored by EPD, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, and in cooperation with "Help the Hooch" and "River Awareness," Rivers Alive is a statewide event that targets cleanup of streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands in Georgia. Each year, Rivers Alive sets cleanup goals to increase awareness of non-point source pollution and the need for clean water, and to expand opportunities to clean up the state's waters.

30 Georgia's Environment

Darien River Project 187 tons of waste disposed of in the landfill. 19 tons of roots and limbs recycled. 34 tons of tires and metal recycled.
A total of 240 tons of waste and recyclables were removed from the Darien Waterfront area during the March 2000 cleanup effort. How did it happen? It happened because people took the time to show how much they care about their environment and the waterfront.
With help from EPD offices in Brunswick and Savannah, the City of Darien, McIntosh County, the Altamaha Riverkeepers, the McIntosh County Center for Sustainable Development, and The Nature Conservancy, the week-long clean-up was an ambitious effort to clean up the waterfront and manage it in a way that encourages awareness and promotes economic growth. People of all ages came forward to pick up trash, learn about the environment, and make a difference in their city.

For information on EPD's SBAP, please call 404-362-4842 or toll-free 877/427-6255; or log on to www.gasmallbiz.org

Georgia Small Business Assistance Program
The Georgia Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) is a non-regulatory office within EPD that provides free and confidential assistance to small businesses on environmental issues. The SBAP can answer questions on compliance requirements, assist in obtaining a permit, and provide information on pollution prevention. This free assistance is available to businesses with 100 or fewer employees.

For more information about P2AD, please call 404-651-5120 or toll-free 800-685-2443; or log on to www.dnr.state.ga.us/p2ad

Pollution Prevention Assistance Division
The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) is a non-regulatory division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources that provides free, confidential environmental technical assistance regarding pollution prevention and recycling. P2AD develops programs and activities to facilitate reduction of pollution at the source, and instill a pollution prevention ethic consistent with the protection of human health and the environment. P2AD clients include manufacturing and agricultural industries, commercial businesses and institutions, government, and individual citizens of Georgia.

31

PROTECTING GEORGIA'S FUTURE
Students at Whitesville Road Elementary School in Troup County learn about Project WET and its River of Words Program

Clean Air
Although EPD projects that the metropolitan Atlanta area will attain the air quality ozone standard in the year 2004, several challenges remain to improve air quality in Georgia. Additional emission reductions in metro Atlanta will be needed after 2004 to meet the new 8-hour ozone standard. The air in Columbus, Macon, and Augusta show elevated ozone levels, and additional emission controls will be necessary to improve the air in those cities. Reduction of elevated particulate matter concentrations throughout the state may also involve considerable new controls on the burning of all types of fossil fuels.
Clean Water
As Georgia's population continues to grow, stress on both the quality and quantity of the state's water resources will intensify. EPD will be working with many other organizations to examine how water is managed in Georgia, to identify water management improvements, and to develop a comprehensive water management plan. This effort will be led by a joint Georgia House/Senate Study Committee in 2001 and 2002. Some of the major issues to be examined and analyzed include: Current and future water use in north Georgia Agricultural water use in southwest Georgia Saltwater intrusion control in southeast Georgia's groundwater Transfer of water from one basin to another Reduction of non-point source pollution Management of water monitoring networks Water conservation and wastewater re-use Drought protection Funding for improved water resource management.

Healthy Lives
The choices we all make in helping ensure a clean environment work toward ensuring healthy lives now and for future generations. EPD will continue reducing health risks for Georgians by cleaning up contaminated sites and by ensuring that air and water meet all appropriate health standards. EPD will also continue working with medical professionals, local health departments, and Georgia's citizens to better understand the connection between a clean environment and healthy lives.

Productive Land
There is much work to be done to clean up hazardous waste sites and closed landfills in Georgia. For some sites, cleanup costs will be paid by the responsible business or property owner; but in many cases, the state must fund all or part of the cleanup costs. Forecasts show insufficient state funding to clean up these sites in a reasonable amount of time without a change in funding sources. EPD will be working with a Georgia House/Senate Study Committee in 2001 to examine new funding options.
32 Georgia's Environment

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division 205 Butler Street, SE Suite 1152 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 1.888.373.5947 404.657.5947 (in Atlanta) www.state.ga.us/dnr/environ
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