Title 12

(a) Except as may otherwise be provided in this article, whenever the director has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article has occurred, he or she shall attempt to obtain compliance therewith b…

(a) A repayment penalty in the amount of three times the dollar amount of payments received from the drought protection funds shall be paid by any person who irrigates in violation of an agreement entered into in accordance with Code Section 12-5-546 or in violation of an order i…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act.’’ History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-570, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes the value of the metropolitan North Georgia area watersheds for water supply, recreation, habitat for fish and wildlife, economic prosperity, and quality of life. The General Assembly finds that adequate supplies of clean water for drinking and o…

(a) There is created the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. (b) The general purposes of the district shall be to establish policy, create plans, and promote intergovernmental coordination for all water issues in the district; to facilitate multijurisdictional wat…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Board’’ means the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board created under Code Section 12-5-575. (2) ‘‘Director’’ means the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources. …

(a) The district shall promote regional coordination and cooperation through the exercise of the following powers: (1) Development of regional and watershed-specific plans for storm-water management taking into account recommendations developed by the basin advisory councils; (2) …

(a) There is established for the management of the business and affairs of the district a Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board to consist of: (1) The chairperson of the county commission or the chief executive officer of each county in the district a…

(a) The board shall meet at least three times per year at a time and place set forth in the minutes of the district and at such other times as the chairperson may direct. All such meetings shall be open to the public. (b) A majority of the members to which the board is entitled s…

(a) Prior to July 1 each year, the officers of the board shall submit to the district for adoption a preliminary budget required for the operation of the district during the ensuing calendar year, which shall also be the fiscal year. (b) Funding for the district operations shall b…

Any county or municipality adjoining a member county or municipality shall be added to the district area upon the application of such entity to be included in the district by resolution of its governing authority and upon approval of the director. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-578…

(a) The board shall create one or more technical coordinating committees comprised primarily of water and waste-water officials from counties, cities, and authorities in the district. Such committees shall provide additional support to the board and staff for specific areas and is…

(a) The board shall create separate advisory councils for the Chattahoochee, Etowah, Flint, Oconee, and Ocmulgee river basins and the Lake Lanier Basin. The Etowah River Basin Advisory Council shall include the Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority as a member. The Lake Lanier Ba…

(a) Within one year after May 1, 2001, unless such time period is extended by majority vote of the board, the district shall prepare for public comment one or more model ordinances for local governments designed to provide for effective storm-water management. Such model ordinanc…

(a) Within one year after May 1, 2001, unless such time period is extended by majority vote of the board, the district shall develop a short-term plan to ease immediate waste-water capacity constraints and to reduce the need for sewer tap moratoria. (b) Within two years after May…

(a) Within two years after May 1, 2001, unless such time period is extended by majority vote of the board, the district shall prepare a water supply and water conservation management plan. The plan shall build upon and be coordinated with existing watershed planning efforts under…

Any district plan required to include an element of education and public awareness shall describe those measures to be taken by the district and recommendations for measures to be taken by other state agencies or local governments, by public education institutions, or by any othe…

The district shall submit a written report not later than December 31 of each year to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, and the chairperson of the Senate…

Short title. Declaration of policy. Definitions. Power of director to employ personnel. Adoption of rules and regulations by Board of Natural Resources. Proposed regulations regarding ground-water use; hearings; adoption and modification of regulations; contesting validity of regul…

Georgia safe drinking water act of 1977, §12-5-170. SAFETY. Asbestos safety, §§12-12-1 to 12-12-21. Dam safety. Generally, §§12-5-370 to 12-5-385. Georgia asbestos safety act, §§12-12-1 to 12-12-21. Georgia safe dams act of 1978, §§12-5-370 to 12-5-385. SAILBOATS. Criminal law an…

Receipt of financial and other assistance; plans and proposals for development and utilization of coastal and offshore resources; coordination between state agencies; reporting. Annual report. Liberal construction of part. PART 2 12-5-232. 12-5-233. 12-5-234. 12-5-235. 12-5-236. 1…

Board of natural resources. Powers and duties to control water pollution, §12-5-23. Sewage and waste disposal. Certificate requirement, §12-5-29. MARSHLANDS. Coastal marshlands protection act of 1970, §§12-5-280 to 12-5-297. MEDICAL WASTE. Permit for thermal treatment technology f…

Soil and water conservation. Comprehensive state-wide water management planning, §§12-5-520 to 12-5-525. INDEX CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES —Cont’d Soil and water conservation —Cont’d Erosion and sedimentation act of 1975, §§12-7-1 to 12-7-22. Solid waste. General provision…

Generally, §§12-5-370 to 12-5-385. Deep drilling for oil, gas, etc., §§12-4-40 to 12-4-54. Definitions. Procedure for amending environmental regulations, §12-16-20. Drinking water. Georgia safe drinking water act of 1977, §§12-5-170 to 12-5-193. Energy. Southern states energy comp…

Notice to owner and local unit of government, §12-5-375. Department of natural resources. Powers and duties generally, §§12-5-373, 12-5-375. Erosion and sedimentation act. Inapplicability to public water system reservoirs, §12-7-17. Georgia safe dams act of 1978, §§12-5-370 to 12…

Inventorying, classifying and investigating dams, §12-5-375. Safety orders. Superior court filing, §12-5-380.1. Scenic rivers. Construction, operation, etc., of dams on scenic rivers, §12-5-354. Water supply. Georgia water supply act of 2008, §§12-5-470 to 12-5-484. INDEX DEEP DRI…

State forestry commission. Entry upon land for fire prevention purposes, etc., §12-6-84. Ground water. Investigations, §12-5-98. INDEX RIVERS —Cont’d Chattahoochee river basin act —Cont’d Short title, §12-5-400. Corridor protection, §12-2-8. Dams safety. Generally, §§12-5-370 to 1…

Biomedical waste defined, §12-8-22. CHILDREN. Georgia youth conservation corps act, §§12-11-1 to 12-11-11. Youth conservation corps, §§12-11-1 to 12-11-11. CHILD SUPPORT. Forestry licenses, revocation for failure to pay, §12-6-49.1. Licenses for driving motor vehicle, engaging in …

Water Resources Center — Receipt of funds and grants. Water Resources Center — Power to enter into contracts, agreements, and participation arrangements. Programs for voluntary water conservation and enhancing water supply. Adoption of minimum standards and best practices for imp…

As used in this part, the term: (1) ‘‘Commission’’ means the State Forestry Commission. (2) ‘‘Director’’ means the director of the State Forestry Commission.

It shall be the duty of the commission, in cooperation with the director provided for in Code Section 12-6-11, to: (1) Annually submit reports to each regular session of the General Assembly together with such information as is necessary to show the condition of the forest resour…

The State Forestry Commission shall have the following duties and powers: (1) To investigate subjects or methods, means, and ways of carrying out such forestry research as it may determine most desirable or necessary in any phase of forestry, or any research which would benefit th…

The State Forestry Commission shall have the power to employ such assistants, technical, clerical, or otherwise, and such other employees as the commission in the exercise of its discretion shall deem necessary or proper to the effectual discharge of the duties and the exercise o…

(a) For carrying out any of the objectives stated in Code Section 12-6-110, the State Forestry Commission may accept appropriations, grants, or gifts from the federal government; the state government; any county, municipal, or local government; any board, bureau, commission, agen…

The director shall devote his full time to the duties of his office; and when the commission is not in session, the director shall have power, and it shall be his duty, to act in all matters as fully as the commission is authorized, except in such matters where the approval of th…

The director shall take oath of office and give bond in the sum of $10,000.00 in the usual form required of state officials. The director shall have offices at the site of the state capitol or at such other place as may be recommended by the commission and approved by the Governo…

No member of the commission during his tenure of office or within two years thereafter shall be eligible for appointment as director or for any employment under the commission or the director. History. — Ga. L. 1949, p. 1079, § 8; Ga. L. 1955, p. 309, § 23.

(a) It is declared by the General Assembly that prescribed burning is a resource protection and land management tool which benefits the safety of the public, Georgia’s forest resources, the environment, and the economy of the state. The General Assembly finds that: (1) Prescribed b…

As used in this part, the term: (1) ‘‘Commission’’ means the State Forestry Commission. (2) ‘‘Prescribed burning’’ means the controlled application of fire to existing vegetative fuels under specified environmental conditions and following appropriate precautionary measures, which …

(a) Prescribed burning conducted under the requirements of this part shall: (1) Be accomplished only when an individual with previous prescribed burning experience or training is in charge of the burn and is present on site until the fire is adequately confined to reasonably preven…

(a) The commission may promulgate a certified prescribed fire manager program whereby practitioners may become qualified and registered under this part. (b) The commission shall utilize the same or similar record-keeping requirements of Part 3 of this article, the ‘‘Georgia Forest F…

The director, with the approval of the commission, shall have the power to adopt all rules, regulations, and methods of administration necessary for the efficient operation of the activities of the commission as created and established by this part. History. — Ga. L. 1949, p. 107…

(a) Whenever the director or his agents determine that there exists an infestation of forest insect pests or an infection of forest tree diseases, injurious or potentially injurious to the timber or forest trees within the state, and that the infestation or infection is of such a…

(a) Whenever in the judgment of the director, because of drought or other conditions, controlled burning of woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible materials in any county or counties or in any area within a county constitutes an unusual hazard to property, the direct…

When lands are acquired or leased under this part, the director, with the approval of the commission, is authorized to make expenditures of funds, not otherwise obligated, for the management, development, and utilization of such areas and to sell and otherwise dispose of the prod…

The director, with the approval of the commission, is authorized to establish and from time to time alter rules and regulations governing the use, occupancy, and protection of the land and property under the commission’s control and to preserve the peace therein. The director, wi…