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Historical Georgia environmental information, 1971-2016

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State environmental policy
U.S. environmental policy
Endangered species policy
State endangered species
Federal land policy
Environmental terms
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The historical environmental information below applies to prior years. For more current information regarding environmental policy in Georgia, see this article.

Land ownership

See also: Federal land policy and Federal land ownership by state

The federal government owned between 635 million and 640 million acres of land in 2012 (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Around 52 percent of federally owned acres were in 12 Western states—including Alaska, 61 percent of which was federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owned 4 percent of land in the other 38 states. Federal land policy is designed to manage minerals, oil and gas resources, timber, wildlife and fish, and other natural resources found on federal land. Land management policies are highly debated for their economic, environmental and social impacts. Additionally, the size of the federal estate and the acquisition of more federal land are major issues.[1][2]

Georgia is located in the Southern United States. Southern states typically have more federal land than in New England states, but not as much as Western states. According to the Congressional Research Service, the state of Georgia has a total acreage of 37.29 million acres. Of that total, 5.25 percent, or 1.95 million acres, belongs to the federal government. From 1990 to 2010, the federal government increased its ownership of land in Georgia by 35,046 acres. The federal government owns between 635 million to 640 million acres nationwide, or 28 percent of the estimated 2.27 billion acres in the nation. 35.33 million acres in Georgia are not owned by the federal government, which works out to an average of 3.53 acres that are available per capita.[1]

The following table lists federal land ownership in Georgia, and its neighbor, South Carolina. The chart also lists federal land ownership data for Minnesota, as a comparison. A plurality of federal land (44.32 percent, or 867,199 acres) is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, compared to more than 2.8 million acres owned by the service in Minnesota, which is more than the total amount of federal land found in Georgia.

Federal land ownership in Georgia and other states by agency
State
Agency Georgia South Carolina Minnesota
Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned Acres owned Percentage owned
U.S. Forest Service 867,199 44.32% 630,741 70.19% 2,841,630 81.91%
U.S. National Park Service 39,754 2.03% 31,538 3.51% 139,570 4.02%
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 482,694 24.67% 126,653 14.09% 483,787 13.95%
U.S. Bureau of Land Management 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 1,447 0.04%
U.S. Department of Defense 567,072 28.98% 109,705 12.21% 2,777 0.08%
Total federal land 1,956,719 100% 898,637 100% 3,469,211 100.00%
Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

Land usage

Federal lands and Indian reservations in Georgia by government agency (click on the image to enlarge)

Recreation

National parks in Georgia

Georgia has 11 National Park Service units, three national monuments, one national forest, 14 wilderness areas, one national recreation area, three national historic areas and one national historic trail. A study by the U.S. National Park Service found that 7.04 million visitors attended Georgia's national parks and monuments and generated $348.2 million in visitor spending in 2013.[3]

State recreation areas

The table below contains a list of all state parks and state recreation areas in Georgia.[4]

Economic activity on federal lands

Oil and gas activity

See also: BLM oil and gas leases by state

Private mining companies, including oil and natural gas companies, can apply for leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to explore and produce energy on federal land. The company seeking a lease must nominate the land for oil and gas exploration to the BLM, which evaluates and approves the lease. The BLM state offices make leasing decisions based on their land use plans, which contain information on the land's resources and the potential environmental impact of oil or gas exploration. If federal lands are approved for leasing, the BLM requires an application from the company containing information on how the exploration, drilling and production will be conducted. Afterward, the BLM will produce an environmental analysis and a list of requirements before work on the land can begin. The agency also inspects the companies' drilling and producing on the leased lands.[5]

In 2013, there were 47,427 active leases covering 36.09 million acres of federal land nationwide. Of that total, no leases were in Georgia. In 2013, out of 3,770 new drilling leases approved nationwide by the BLM for oil and gas exploration, no leases were in Georgia.[6][7][8][9][10]

The table below shows how Georgia compared to neighboring states in oil and gas permits on BLM-managed lands in 2013.

Oil and gas leasing on BLM lands by state
State Active permits on BLM lands (FY 2013) Total acres under lease (FY 2013) State percentage of total permits State percentage of total acres
Georgia 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Kentucky 69 37,998 0.15% 0.11%
Mississippi 849 475,639 1.79% 1.32%
North Carolina 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
South Carolina 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Tennessee 2 736 0.00% 0.00%
Total United States 47,427 permits 36,092,482 acres - -
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics"

Payments in lieu of taxes

See also: Payments in lieu of taxes

Since local governments cannot collect taxes on federally owned property, the U.S. Department of the Interior issues payments to local governments to replace lost property tax revenue from federal land. The payments, known as "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILTs), are typically used for funding services such as fire departments, police protection, school construction and roads.[11]

The table below shows PILTs for Georgia compared to neighboring states between 2011 and 2013.

Total PILTs for Georgia and neighboring states
State FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 State's percentage of 2013 total
Georgia $2,072,956 $2,242,635 $2,286,091 0.57%
Kentucky $1,553,048 $1,835,766 $1,949,675 0.49%
Mississippi $1,560,083 $1,611,979 $1,580,410 0.39%
North Carolina $3,919,443 $4,030,522 $3,997,200 1.00%
South Carolina $394,712 $405,963 $470,359 0.12%
Tennessee $1,695,519 $1,826,471 $1,877,039 0.47%
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT"


Legislation and regulation

Federal laws

Clean Air Act

The federal Clean Air Act requires each state to meet federal standards for air pollution. Under the act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees national air quality standards aimed at limiting pollutants from chemical plants, steel mills, utilities, and industrial factories. Individual states can enact stricter air standards if they choose, though each state must adhere to the EPA's minimum pollution standards. States implement federal air standards through a state implementation plan (SIP), which must be approved by the EPA.[12]

Clean Water Act

The federal Clean Water Act is meant to address and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological status of the waters of the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates water pollution sources and provides financial assistance to states and municipalities for water quality programs.[13]

According to research done by The New York Times using annual averages from 2004 to 2007, Georgia had 1008.5 facilities that were regulated annually by the Clean Water Act. An average of 67.8 facilities violated the act annually from 2004 to 2007 in Georgia, and the EPA enforced the act an average of 32.7 times a year in the state. This information, published by the Times in 2009, was the most recent information on the subject as of October 2014.[14]

The table below shows how Georgia compared to neighboring states in The New York Times study, including the number of regulated facilities, facility violations, and the annual average of enforcement actions against regulated facilities between 2004 and 2007.

The New York Times Clean Water Act study (2004-2007)
State Number of facilities regulated Facility violations Annual average enforcement actions
Georgia 1,008.5 67.8 32.7
Kentucky 1,801.5 320 38.2
Mississippi 1,529.8 824.1 15.8
North Carolina 1,329.8 667.6 573
South Carolina 531.8 327.4 48.9
Tennessee 1,274.8 489.8 8.6
Source: The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record"

Endangered Species Act

The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 provides for the identification, listing, and protection of both threatened and endangered species and their habitats. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the law was designed to prevent the extinction of vulnerable plant and animal species through the development of recovery plans and the protection of critical habitats. ESA administration and enforcement are the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.[15][16]

Federally listed species in Georgia

There were 69 endangered and threatened animal and plant species believed to or known to occur in Georgia as of July 2015.

The table below lists the 43 endangered and threatened animal species believed to or known to occur in the state. When an animal species has the word "Entire" after its name, that species will be found all throughout the state.[17]

The table below lists the 26 endangered and threatened plant species believed to or known to occur in the state.[18]

State-listed species in Georgia

The Appalachian cottontail is not a federally listed species but is protected by the state of Georgia as a rare species.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources maintains the state's list of protected species. In addition to protecting species on the federal list, Georgia maintains a state list of endangered, threatened and rare species; endangered and threatened species in Georgia are defined the same way as federal law. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, a rare species in Georgia "may not be endangered or threatened but which should be protected because of its scarcity." A complete directory of federally and state-listed species in Georgia can be found here.[19]

Enforcement

See also: Enforcement at the EPA

Georgia is part of the EPA's Region 4, which includes Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The EPA enforces federal standards on air, water and hazardous chemicals. The EPA can engage in its own administrative action against private industries, or it can bring civil and/or criminal lawsuits against them. The goal of environmental law enforcement is usually the collection of penalties and fines for violations of laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. In 2013, the EPA estimated that 32.5 million pounds of pollution, which includes air pollution, water contaminants, and hazardous chemicals, were "reduced, treated or eliminated" and 16.6 million cubic yards of soil and water were cleaned in Region 4. Additionally, 420 enforcement cases were initiated, and 416 enforcement cases were concluded in fiscal year 2013. In fiscal year 2012, the EPA collected $252 million in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide. In fiscal year 2013, the EPA collected $1.1 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties from the private sector nationwide, primarily due to the $1 billion settlement from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along the Gulf Coast in 2010. The EPA only publishes nationwide data and does not provide state or region-specific information on the amount of fines and penalties it collects during a fiscal year.[20][21][22][23]

Mercury and air toxics standards

See also: Mercury and air toxics standards
The EPA on mercury capture systems

The EPA enforces mercury and air toxics standards (MATS), which are national limits on mercury, chromium, nickel, arsenic and acidic gases from coal- and oil-fired power plants. Power plants are required to have certain technologies to limit these pollutants. In December 2011, the EPA issued greater restrictions on the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants produced by power plants. As of 2014, approximately 580 power plants, including 1,400 oil- and coal-fired electric-generating units, fell under the federal rule. The EPA has claimed that power plants account for 50 percent of mercury emissions, 75 percent of acidic gases and around 20 to 60 percent of toxic metal emissions in the United States. All coal- and oil-fired power plants with a capacity of 25 megawatts or greater are subject to the standards. The EPA has claimed that the standards will "prevent up to 490 premature deaths in Georgia while creating up to $4.1 billion in health benefits in 2016."[24][25][26]

In 2014, the EPA released a study examining the economic, environmental, and health impacts of the MATS standards nationwide. Other organizations have released their own analyses about the effects of the MATS standards. Below is a summary of the studies on MATS and their effects as of November 2014.

EPA study
In 2014, the EPA argued that its MATS rule would prevent roughly 11,000 premature deaths and 130,000 asthma attacks nationwide. The agency also estimated between $37 billion and $90 billion in "improved air quality benefits" annually. For the rule's cost, the EPA estimated that annual compliance costs will reach $9.6 billion from coal and oil-fired power plants.[27]

NERA study
A 2012 study published by NERA Economic Consulting, a global consultancy group, reported that annual compliance costs in the electricity sector would total $10 billion in 2015 and nearly $100 billion cumulatively up through 2034. The same study found that the net impact of the MATS rule in 2015 would be the income equivalent of 180,000 fewer jobs. This net impact took into account the job gains associated with the building and refitting of power plants with new technology.[28]

Superfund sites

The EPA established the Superfund program as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.The program identifies uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites nationwide. The Superfund program assesses these sites and establishes cleanup plans for them. The EPA can compel private parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the EPA and other federal agencies for EPA-led cleanups. Superfund sites can include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines or other industrial areas. As of October 2014, there were 1,322 Superfund sites nationwide. A total of 186 Superfund sites reside in Region 4, with an average of 23.25 sites per state. There were 16 Superfund sites in Georgia as of October 2014.[29][30]

Economic impact
EPA studies
The Environmental Protection Agency publishes studies to evaluate the impact and benefits of its policies. Other studies may dispute the agency's findings or state the costs of its policies.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent federal agency, the Superfund program received an average of almost $1.2 billion annually in appropriated funds between the years 1981 and 2009, adjusted for inflation. The GAO estimated that the trust fund of the Superfund program decreased from $5 billion in 1997 to $137 million in 2009. The Superfund program received an additional $600 million in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus bill.[31]

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the agency's Superfund program produced economic benefits nationwide. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown. Based on a selective study of 373 Superfund sites cleaned up since the program's inception, the EPA estimated these economic benefits include the creation of 2,240 private businesses, $32.6 billion in annual sales from new businesses, 70,144 jobs and $4.9 billion in annual employment income.[32]

Other studies were published detailing the costs associated with the Superfund program. According to the Property and Environment Research Center, a free market-oriented policy group based in Montana, the EPA spent over $35 billion on the Superfund program between 1980 and 2005.[33][34]

Environmental impact

In March 2011, the EPA claimed that the Superfund program resulted in healthier environments surrounding former waste sites. An agency study analyzed the program's health and ecological benefits and focused on former landfills, mining areas, and abandoned dumps that were cleaned up and renovated. As of January 2009, out of the approximately 500 former Superfund sites used for the study, roughly 10 percent became recreational or commercial sites. Other former Superfund sites in the study are now used as wetlands, meadows, streams, scenic trails, parks, and habitats for plants and animals.[35]



Carbon emissions

See also: Climate change, Greenhouse gas and Greenhouse gas emissions by state

In 2011, Georgia ranked 11th in CO2 emissions. The state boasts a large electric power sector and is the eighth most populated state, which likely accounts for the state's ranking. Emissions rose steadily between 1990 and 2005 and peaked in 2005 (and 2007) at 183 million metric tons of CO2. The two biggest emission sectors were the electric power and transportation sectors, which accounted for 84.7 percent of the state's emissions. The residential, industrial and commercial sectors accounted for the remainder.[36]

Carbon dioxide emissions in Georgia (in million metric tons). Data was compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Carbon dioxide emissions in Georgia by sector

Pollution from energy use

Pollution from energy use includes three common air pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. These and other pollutants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are federal standards limiting pollutants that can harm human health in significant concentrations. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is also regulated by the EPA, but it is excluded here since it is not one of the pollutants originally regulated under the Clean Air Act for its harm to human health.

Industries and motor vehicles emit carbon monoxide directly when they use energy. Nitrogen dioxide forms from the emissions of automobiles, power plants and other sources. Ground level ozone (also known as tropospheric ozone) is not emitted but is the product of chemical reactions between nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic chemicals. The EPA tracks these and other pollutants from monitoring sites across the United States. The data below shows nationwide and regional trends for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns were grouped together by the EPA to make up each region.[37][38]

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced from combustion processes, e.g., when gasoline reacts rapidly with oxygen and releases exhaust; the majority of national CO emissions come from mobile sources like automobiles. CO can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and at very high levels can cause death. CO concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm). Since 1994, federal law prohibits CO concentrations from exceeding 9 ppm during an eight-hour period more than once per year.[39][40]

The chart below compares the annual average concentration of carbon monoxide in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. States with consistent climates and weather patterns are grouped together by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which collects these data, to make up each region. Each line represents the annual average of all the data collected from pollution monitoring sites in each region. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 22 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 2.7 ppm in the Northeast, compared to 3.91 ppm in the Southeast. In 2014, the average concentration of carbon monoxide was 1.2 ppm in the Northeast, a decrease of 61.1 percent from 2000, compared to 1.52 ppm in the Southeast, a decrease of 56.7 percent from 2000.[41]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of gasses known as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures NO2 as a representative for the larger group of nitrogen oxides. NO2 forms from the emissions of cars, buses, trucks, power plants, and off-road equipment. It helps form ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution, and has been linked to respiratory problems. Since 1971, federal law prohibits NO2 concentrations from exceeding a daily one-hour average of 100 parts per billion (ppb) and an annual average of 53 parts per billion (ppb).[40][42][40]

The chart below compares the annual one-hour average concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the Northeast, there were 32 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 14 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 61.31 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 57 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the one-hour daily average concentration of NO2 was 43.98 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 28.2 percent since 2000, compared to 38.36 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 32.6 percent since 2000.[43]

NE SE regional comparison.png

Ground-level ozone

Ground-level ozone is created by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight. Major sources of NOx and VOCs include industrial facilities, electric utilities, automobiles, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents. Ground-level ozone can produce health problems for children, the elderly, and asthmatics. Since 2008, federal law has prohibited ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 75 parts per billion (ppb). Beginning in 2025, federal law will prohibit ground-level ozone concentrations from exceeding a daily eight-hour average of 70 ppb.[40][44]

The chart below compares the daily eight-hour average concentration of ground-level ozone in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of the United States between 2000 and 2014. In the chart below, ozone concentrations are measured in parts per million (ppm), which can be converted to parts per billion (ppb). In the Northeast, there were 133 monitoring sites throughout 11 states, compared to 153 monitoring sites throughout six states in the Southeast. In 2000, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.083 ppm, or 83 ppb in the Northeast, compared to 0.082 ppm, or 82 ppb in the Southeast. In 2014, the daily eight-hour average concentration of ozone was 0.066 ppm, or 66 ppb in the Northeast, a decrease of 19.5 percent since 2000, compared to 0.063 ppm, or 63 ppb in the Southeast, a decrease of 23.9 percent since 2000.[45]

NE SE regional comparison.png


State laws

Georgia's environmental rules and regulations are published by the Georgia secretary of state and can be found in the Official Code of Georgia. A complete directory of the state's environmental rules can be found here. Georgia's environmental rules cover a wide range of environmental issues, such as groundwater use, waste management, drinking water standards, underground natural gas storage, radioactive materials, outdoor water use and regional water planning, among others.[46]

Enforcement

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EDP) is composed of three branches: air protection, land protection and watershed protection. The division is responsible for implementing state and federal environmental laws on air, land and water resources. It enforces these laws against public and private facilities in many environmental areas such as air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, water supply, solid waste, surface mining, underground storage tanks and more.[47]

  • The Air Protection Branch is responsible for the state's air quality, and regulates emissions from industrial and mobile sources. The branch also engages in monitoring of air quality throughout Georgia.[48]
  • The Land Protection Branch is responsible for managing the disposal and treatment of various wastes through the branch's permit programs for municipal and industrial sources of waste. The branch also regulates underground storage tanks and surface mining.[49]
  • The Watershed Protection Division is responsible for managing the state's water resources through permit programs for industries and municipalities that deal with wastewater, surface water or groundwater. The branch also oversees Georgia's public water systems so that they comply with the state's drinking water standards.[50]

State environmental policy act

See also: State environmental policy acts

Several states have passed variations of what is commonly called a state environmental policy act, each of which requires that proposed state government actions (and in some states, local government or private actions) be evaluated for their potential impact on the environment or public health. For most proposed actions, state agencies prepare environmental impact statements that outline all potential environmental consequences of these actions, potential alternatives, the unavoidable environmental effects and the steps to be taken by state agencies to mitigate these effects and consequences.

The Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991 (GEPA) is designed to protect cultural and environmental quality in Georgia from the impacts of a state government agency's actions. State government agencies include all state departments, boards, bureaus and commissions. If a local government project is more than 50 percent funded by a state agency, or if a project involves state funds of $250,000 or more, than the law also applies to local government actions. State agencies must prepare an Environmental Effects Report (EER) for all projects that the head agency official determines could have an environmental impact, including impacts on archaeological or historical resources.[51]

If a state agency official determines that a proposed state action could significantly affect the environment, the agency must prepare an Environmental Effects Report that includes the following:[52]

  • the environmental impact of the proposed government action
  • alternatives to the proposed government action, including no action
  • any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the proposed government action is undertaken
  • mitigation measures proposed to avoid or minimize the adverse impact of the proposed government action
  • the relationship between the value of the short-term uses of the environment involved in the proposed government action and the maintenance and enhancement of its long-term value
  • the effect of the proposed government action on the quality and quantity of water supply
  • the effect of the proposed government action on energy use or energy production
  • any beneficial aspects of the proposed government action, both short-term and long-term, and its economic advantages and disadvantages

Historical budget information

The table below shows the total expenditures on the environment and natural resources in Georgia and in neighboring states.

Total state natural resource expenditures by state
State Departments/Divisions FY 2013 FY 2012 FY 2011
Georgia Natural Resources $253,466,059 $262,272,094 $267,917,859
Kentucky Environmental Protection; Natural Resources $203,195,053 $212,271,475 $197,288,384
Mississippi Conservation $45,790,077 $46,355,760 $46,581,095
North Carolina Environment and Natural Resources $154,037,311 $148,148,105 $165,784,887
South Carolina Health and Environmental Control; Natural Resources $669,854,406 $653,287,073 $642,789,650
Tennessee Environment and Conservation $298,883,200 $295,337,600 $358,265,300
Sources: Georgia Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, Kentucky State Budget Office, Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, General Assembly of North Carolina, South Carolina State House, Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration

Major groups

Below is a list of environmental advocacy organizations in Georgia.[53]

Ballot measures

Voting on the Environment
Environment.jpg
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot


Below is a list of ballot measures relating to environmental issues in Georgia.

Natural resources

Environment

Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to environment in Georgia.

Water

Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to water in Georgia.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Georgia Environmental Policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Historical Georgia environmental information, 1971-2016 - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," accessed September 15, 2014
  2. ↑ U.S. Congressional Research Service, "Federal Lands and Natural Resources: Overview and Selected Issues for the 113th Congress," December 8, 2014
  3. ↑ U.S. National Park Service, "2013 National Park Visitor Spending Effects Report," accessed October 14, 2014
  4. ↑ Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "State Parks and Historic Sites," accessed December 15, 2014
  5. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales," accessed October 20, 2014
  6. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Acres Leased During the Fiscal Year," accessed October 20, 2014
  7. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Leases in Effect," accessed October 20, 2014
  8. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Summary of Onshore Oil and Gas Statistics," accessed October 20, 2014
  9. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Number of Drilling Permits Approved by Fiscal Year on Federal Lands," accessed October 20, 2014
  10. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Total Number of Acres Under Lease As of the Last Day of the Fiscal Year," accessed October 22, 2014
  11. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "PILT," accessed October 4, 2014
  12. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Understanding the Clean Air Act," accessed September 12, 2014
  13. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Water Act (CWA) Overview," accessed September 19, 2014
  14. ↑ The New York Times, "Clean Water Act Violations: The Enforcement Record," September 13, 2009
  15. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Improving ESA Implementation," accessed May 15, 2015
  16. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "ESA Overview," accessed October 1, 2014
  17. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Georgia," accessed July 6, 2015
  18. ↑ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in Georgia," accessed July 6, 2015
  19. ↑ Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "Georgia Rare Species and Natural Community Data," accessed July 21, 2015
  20. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Annual EPA Enforcement Results Highlight Focus on Major Environmental Violations," February 7, 2014
  21. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Accomplishments by EPA Region," May 12, 2014
  22. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Enforcement Annual Results for Fiscal Year 2012," accessed October 1, 2014
  23. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA Enforcement in 2012 Protects Communities From Harmful Pollution," December 17, 2012
  24. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," accessed January 5, 2015
  25. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Cleaner Power Plants," accessed January 5, 2015
  26. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in Georgia," accessed September 9, 2014
  27. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Benefits and Costs of Cleaning Up Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants," accessed October 9, 2014
  28. ↑ NERA Economic Consulting, "An Economic Impact Analysis of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule," March 1, 2012
  29. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "What is Superfund?" accessed September 9, 2014
  30. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund Sites," accessed October 7, 2014
  31. ↑ U.S. Government Accountability Office, "EPA's Estimated Costs to Remediate Existing Sites Exceed Current Funding Levels, and More Sites Are Expected to Be Added to the National Priorities List," accessed October 7, 2014
  32. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Estimate of National Economic Impacts of Superfund Sites," accessed September 12, 2014
  33. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund Follies, Part II," accessed October 7, 2014
  34. ↑ Property and Environment Research Center, "Superfund: The Shortcut That Failed (1996)," accessed October 7, 2014
  35. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Beneficial Effects of the Superfund Program," accessed September 12, 2014
  36. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "State Profiles and Energy Estimates," accessed October 13, 2014
  37. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Air Trends," accessed October 30, 2015
  38. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information - Ozone," accessed January 1, 2016
  39. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Carbon Monoxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)," accessed October 26, 2015
  41. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in CO Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  42. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Nitrogen dioxide," accessed October 26, 2015
  43. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Nitrogen Dioxide Levels," accessed October 23, 2015
  44. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ground Level Ozone," accessed October 26, 2015
  45. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Regional Trends in Ozone Levels ," accessed October 26, 2015
  46. ↑ Georgia Environmental Protection Division, "Existing Rules and Corresponding Laws," accessed December 15, 2014
  47. ↑ Georgia Environmental Protection Division, "About EPD," accessed December 15, 2014
  48. ↑ Georgia Environmental Protection Division, "Air Protection Branch," accessed December 15, 2014
  49. ↑ Georgia Environmental Protection Division, "Land Protection Branch," accessed December 15, 2014
  50. ↑ Georgia Environmental Protection Division, "Watershed Protection Branch," accessed December 15, 2014
  51. ↑ Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991 (GEPA)," accessed April 7, 2015
  52. ↑ Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "GEPA: 12-16-1," accessed April 13, 2015
  53. ↑ Eco-USA.net, "Georgia Environmental Organizations," accessed December 8, 2014
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