Regional Environmental Issues
Congressman Doug Collins to be Member of Endangered Species Act Working Group
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources has formed a group to examine the inner-workings of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The working group will be led by Representative Doc Hastings (R-Washington), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming). Along with Hastings and Lummis, there will be 11 other members to help accomplish the group’s goals, including Congressman Doug Collins of the 6th district of Georgia. The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, mandated that the federal government has a responsibility to...
read moreCommon Sense Economic Development vs. Byzantine Environmental Regulations
Last week, Council for Quality Growth President & CEO Michael Paris presented in the AJC Op-Ed Section, a balanced perspective on protecting and respecting the environment and the states vital infrastructure and transportation needs. This is in response to a single Indiana Bat disrupting over $450 in infrastructure in Georgia. To read the editorial Click HERE To read contrasting editorials to the Council for Quality Growth by Cindy Dohner, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Glenn Bowman, administrator of Environmental Services...
read moreGeorgia Environmental Protection Division Erosion and Soil Control Stakeholders Group to Review Storm Buffer Variance Rules
The Council for Quality Growth has been asked to serve on the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Erosion & Soil Control Rules (E&SC) Stakeholders group to discuss issues regarding stream buffer variances. This group is currently examining and providing input on two proposed rule changes being considered by the EPD. The first proposed rule change would create a limit on the duration of stream buffer variances to a prescribed time period. Currently, the law has no time limit relative to stream buffer variances. Also being...
read moreImpervious Surface Limits Remain an Issue in the Big Creek Small Water Supply Watershed
The Council for Quality Growth is currently working with Forsyth County on the issue of impervious surface limits in the Big Creek Small Water Supply Watershed. In Provision 391-3-16.01(7)(c)(3) of a draft of updated Rules for Environmental Planning Criteria in the Unified Development Code, planning staff has proposed that “[t]he impervious surface area, including all public and private structures, utilities, or facilities, of the entire water supply watershed shall be limited to twenty-five (25) per cent, or existing use, whichever is...
read moreEtowah Habitat Conservation Plan
For the past four years, the city and county governments of the Etowah basin, including Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Lumpkin, Polk, Paulding and Pickens counties, have been working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a habitat conservation plan (HCP) to protect the habitat of the Etowah Darter, Cherokee Darter and Amber Darter, which are found in the Etowah River Basin. Under the Federal Endangered Species Act, enacted in 1973, it is illegal to “take” (harm) any endangered species. Habitat...
read moreSixty Day Public Comment Period Closed
The official period for commenting on the Draft Etowah HCP and EA closed on August 31st. The Council for Quality Growth submitted comments to be reviewed by the USFWS Regional office. The comments were developed by CQG staff and members and delivered to USFWS on August 31st. Council for Quality Growth Federal Register Comments
read morePublic Meetings to discuss Etowah HCP
USFWS will hold the second public meeting to give the public a chance to learn more about the Etowah HCP on August 11th at RT Jones Memorial Library in Canton from 5:00-7:30. The information sessions will consist of an hour of informal discussion based around several posterboards, followed by a presentation from USFWS staff and a Q&A session.
read moreFive Year Status Updates published in Federal Register
On July 7th, USFWS announced that they are solicting public comment for the mandatory five year status updates of the three lister species included in the Etowah HCP. The five year status updates are required under the Endangered Species Act. Public commengts and relevant information may be submitted to USFWS. USFWS July 7, 2009 Press Release Environmental...
read moreEtowah HCP Published in Federal Register
On June 30, 2009 the Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan was listed in the Federal Register. The listing announces the opening of the sixty-day public comment period, in which anyone may comment on the components of the HCP. Simultaneously, USFWS is asking for public comments on the accompanying Environmental Assessment. Furthermore, applications fromthe thirteen local governments who requested Incidental Take Permits are being reviewed. After the sixty-day public comment period, USFWS will review all comments and determine whether the HCP...
read moreReconvened Technical Committees
USFWS has chosen to reconvene the runoff limits committee and the grading committee to revise the proposed policy within the Etowah HCP. The runoff limits committee held its first meeting on December 15th. The committee will meet several times over the next few weeks and will ideally produce alternative policies that can be included within the HCP.
read moreCongressmen and State Legislators Request Etowah HCP be Deferred for Further Study
U.S. Congressmen Lynn Westmoreland, Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey and Tom Price have asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to defer final review of the HCP to allow more time for scientific study, peer review and public involvement. Subsequent to the Council for Quality Growths appearance in Washington D.C. at the request of Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, those members of Congress most directly affected by the Etowah HCP have joined him in requesting a pause in the HCP process to allow for more study and review. The request was made in a letter...
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