February 15, 2002

Georgia Power Loses Chattahoochee Water Bid

An administrative law judge ruled this week against Georgia Power's state permit to draw additional water from the Chattahoochee River.

The ruling was applauded by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and other environmentalists. As reports the Miami Herald (02-12-02), Georgia Power already draws 58 million gallons a day from the river to cool new gas-fired power generators. The utility wanted to double that amount. "Our concern is that if you allow an industry to take more than they need, you are setting a bad precedent," Michelle Fried, an attorney for the Riverkeeper, told the Herald.

Wesley Woolf, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, told the Herald that the ruling paves the way for any citizen to sue over water use permits. "It's unfortunate citizens are going to have to step up to the plate and protect themselves," he said. Sally Bethea, Executive Director of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, said the ruling was necessary because "In many places, they are sucking our rivers dry."

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