April 28, 2022| April 28, 2022
The Muscogee Superior Court issued an arulinginsupport of an administrative court judges decision in favor Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
We are delighted that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings have all agreed that a stronger permit was necessary for the largest river system in Georgia, stated April Lipscomb (senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center).
Lipscomb states that the Chattahoochee river is an important ecosystem for wildlife, as well as for surrounding communities, businesses and nature lovers. It is vital to maintain clean water for all who use this natural treasure.
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Jason Ulseth, Riverkeeper, and lead advocate for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, has been fighting for clean water for over a decade. We are pleased to announce that the Muscogee County Superior Court agreed that CWW must follow the same procedures as every other Georgia permittee and adhere to discharge limits for the amount bacteria it sends the river. This permit is being upheld to further our mission to ensure safety and health for everyone who uses this stretch of river.
Background:
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper won the case in January 2021. The dispute involved the treatment of mixed sewage and stormwater discharges from CWW.
A report released in 2016 by American Rivers ranked the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin as the top most endangered river in the U.S.
In September 2021, a state court ruled in favor of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in the Columbus Water Works lawsuit challenging the legality of its new combined sewer system permit. The Chattahoochee is an iconic water source where tens to thousands of people fish, boat, or swim all year.
###
Chattahoochee RiverkeeperThe mission of the Chattahoochee River Stewardship Association is to educate, advocate, and secure the protection and management of the Chattahoochee, including its tributaries and watershed. This is done in order to restore the river’s ecological health and to recognize the important ecosystem functions that are provided throughout the region. The international Waterkeeper Alliance’s 11th licensed program, the non-profit organization was founded in 1994. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper now has more than 10,000 members.
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a powerful defender of the environment rooted in the South. SELC has a proven track record in protecting the environment. It works in court, in government and in communities to address the most difficult environmental issues. The organization is non-profit and nonpartisan and has 170 employees, including 90 lawyers. Its headquarters are in Charlottesville, Va., and there are offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, Washington, D.C. southernenvironment.org
