Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > December > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWater War II (and counting)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The never-ending battle over water that’s raging between Georgia and two neighboring states is so far from resolution that the Peach State’s congressional delegation is now asking Congress to intervene and help put the 20-year-old dispute to rest.
The move comes less than two months after the Bush administration was barely able to work out a modest, temporary compromise that helped the three states cope with this year’s record drought.
Led by Rep. John Lewis, an Atlanta Democrat and dean of the delegation, Georgia lawmakers are asking a House committee with jurisdiction over water resources to convene a hearing as early as January to work out how water from Lake Lanier and other sources should be shared.
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue insists that more of the lake’s water be used to address water shortages in the Atlanta metro area. But Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist protested loudly that they need the water for power plants, drinking water and to protect two endangered species of mussels.
In a letter sent to top officials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and signed by 13 Georgians in the House, lawmakers said they hoped the hearing would produce “workable solutions” to the tri-state water woes.
The hearing would include all three Republican governors and federal agencies that could be involved in any solution - the same crowd the Bush administration brought together months ago.
Lewis’ office said Tuesday that committee leaders sent a letter saying the panel was interested in scheduling a hearing.
Here’s an update from the Governor’s office: Perdue spokesman Marshall Guest said late Tuesday that the governor has not received notice of any congressional hearings though he remains glad to work with federal lawmakers.
“We hadn’t heard about that,” Guest said.
Comments
By Dirk
December 18, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
Endangered mussels…..Give me a break.
By Dirk
December 18, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
Endangered mussels…..Give me a break.