No vote on water polluters bill

Environmentalists managed Wednesday to at least delay a vote on a bill that would let local governments and businesses avoid water pollution fines if they agree to voluntarily correct problems associated with a spill.

Senate Bill 269 was scheduled for a floor vote but was pulled without explanation. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Rick Jeffares, R-Locust Grove, said later that environmental groups successfully sent out letters asking senators to drop consideration of the bill, although he planned to still push for a vote.

Jeffares, who is an engineer with a firm that works on environmental services, said the bill was aimed primarily at small municipalities that struggle to maintain old infrastructure. The money they would otherwise spend on fines should instead go toward repairs and replacement of failing parts, he said.