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The bill would allow a general variance from the state buffer requirements for "warm" state waters (i.e., not trout streams) with average flows of less than 25 gallons per minute --- the same general variance that is already provided for in the law for trout streams, which have a wider buf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Atlanta journal-constitution (2001)
Main Author RICHARD ARNOLD, CHARLES TAYLOR, MICHAEL WEBB, PATRICIA REBER, JAYE SPENCER, SHAUGN MCREYNOLDS, KIM LEARNARD, CAROL A. COUCH, MICHAEL E. PARIS
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Atlanta, Ga Atlanta Journal Constitution, LLC 15.03.2004
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Summary:The bill would allow a general variance from the state buffer requirements for "warm" state waters (i.e., not trout streams) with average flows of less than 25 gallons per minute --- the same general variance that is already provided for in the law for trout streams, which have a wider buffer and are presumably more sensitive. Approximately 72 of the 101 stream buffer variances issued by EPD during 2002 were for water- and sewer-line crossings and utility crossings. These types of projects typically have a minimal impact on stream buffers and are now exempt by law as of July 1, 2003. Other stream buffer variances issued during 2002 were for projects that included recreational ponds, dam repair and stream restoration. It implies that lots of buffer variances are issued for developers, since 101 of 186 variance requests were issued by the Environmental Protection Division in 2002. In fact, more than 85 percent of those 101 variances were for simple water- or sewer-line crossings of streams, which are allowed anyway under state law and rules.
ISSN:1539-7459