BOC looking to stop ozone designation

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BOC looking to stop ozone designation

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News

Thursday, January 19. 2012

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The Barrow County Board of Commissioners at its Jan. 24 meeting may vote to pay an Atlanta lobbyist up to $35,000 to keep federal environmental regulators from including the county in metro Atlanta’s ozone non-attainment area.

According to information in the BOC’s meeting packet, that designation would create a “stigma” affecting future economic development.

“It will lead to strict rules for medium and large industrial air emissions and will deter, if not prevent, new industrial growth,” states the scope of work for the contract with Joe Tanner & Associates. “It may also lead to other air quality control requirements.”

Last October, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that only four metro Atlanta counties should be in the non-attainment area for not meeting the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard: Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Henry.

But five weeks ago in a Dec. 8 letter, the feds informed Gov. Nathan Deal that they plan to add Barrow and 13 other counties: Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton.

So county officials plan to pay the Tanner firm $15,000 to document to the state why Barrow County should not be incorporated into the area. The contract says if state officials agree with the county’s position – which they apparently already do – the firm would be paid another $20,000 to work with state officials to make the county’s case to the EPA.

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#1 Jack Legg on 01/19/12 at 02:02 PM [Reply]

This is a ridiculas waste of taxpayers money. We have qualified state representatives under the gold dome in atlanta to do this sort of thing.
Does this "lobbyist" come with a money back guaruntee? if he fails to pursuade the federal authorities do we get our money back? NO.
I think this tanner guy is related to yearwood or someone else on the commision and is out of work.
Thanks to the Barrow Journal for once again pointing out to the citizens the utter failings of our elected government. This is one more nail in the coffin for Danny Yearwood and his entire administration."Stigma" indeed. The entire metro area will be included in this stigma, unless they all pay this guy 35 thousand dollars each ? Malarky !!

#1.1 Longtime in Barrow on 01/20/12 at 08:58 AM [Reply]

Hello, I think many are missing the point, I favor conservative spending, elimination of waste like some of you, BUT

If the Federal Government, the EPA gets its way, they will shut us down, take us out of the running for any new industrial growth.

They will make every citizen in Barrow County PAY every year for an Emission Test and Sticker so every car in Barrow will be affected. Barrow, as you know is hurting, the majority of citizens work outside, they drive elsewhere, outside of Barrow County.

If the EPA gets its way it will kill a significant part of our local economy, not just growth but out of your pocket. Sometimes, money is well spent IF we can prevail in this matter. It would be $35k well spent, this time.

There is a "big picture" so don't miss the real issue by automatically condemning everything right off the bat. I can’t afford all the extra money it will cost out of my pocket, CAN YOU?

I want us to still be an option for business to come here, we have not marketed ourselves well up to this point, but if 80-90% of the metro area get restrictions and we don’t, then that is an advantage for us during a time where we need every advantage we can get.

Unless your only goal for Winder & Barrow County is to get that last chicken joint we don’t already have....

We should spent THIS $35k and fight this (the EPA not the funds).

#1.1.1 Longtime in Barrow on 01/20/12 at 09:22 AM [Reply]

Note: I am all for Clean Air too, I want our natural resources protected, I want clean air, clean water and green space preserved but the EPA sometimes takes a broad stroke and I feel we need to be excluded at this time from the list.

The massive population center counties get to create the air pollution; there are over 1 million people in Gwinnett at any time. Gwinnett (just one example) already has attracted it's businesses, developed it's infrastructure, and now has such a large tax base & quantity of taxpayers that it would not be impacted, yet it (like the other major central counties) is where the majority of the pollution is created and now WE here are going to have to pay the price for it.

We are geographically and population wise one of the smallest counties in Metro Atlanta, We need a little help here.

I am not saying Gwinnett is not the worst offender, but pick any one, for the major player counties this won’t hurt them, this takes us out of the game (where we might have a change to lure business out here due to it), we pay out of our pockets and see our growth restricted further.

#2 keep on 01/19/12 at 02:41 PM [Reply]

the EPA out of Barrow!!!! leave us alone Govt emission program

#3 TickedOff on 01/19/12 at 04:13 PM [Reply]

Watch out for lightning to strike!!!! Im actually about to agree with Jack. Well, partially.. This is a WASTE of OUR hard earned taxpayer DOLLARS. In fact, a stunt to prolong the inevitable may actually cost the county way more than 35K. The EPA does have a right to monitor the air we breathe. And I am glad they do. Not all EPA regulations are bad. Hell, I for one like to know if Im being poisoned. Now it may cost violators money to clean up their act but thats the price they pay for pollution. If our county hires a "lobbyist" to fight this, rest assured another big attorney bill will follow. Danny and Co. need to hear from us on this issue . Call your comissioner and tell him/her if they are in favor of paying a lobbyist, then you'll vote em out. Exercise your right.

#4 well Pat? on 01/19/12 at 04:55 PM [Reply]

We know already that Yearwood is in favor of giving away as much money as possible to as many undeserving people or entities as he can, We now know what Jack Legg ha s to say about this. As the only other declared candidate for our chairmanship: where do you stand on this?

#5 Observer on 01/19/12 at 06:23 PM [Reply]

If Barrow is in the nonattainment area does that mean we will have mandatory vehicle emissions tests?
If so, I'd rather be left out.

This MAY be money well spent, in contrast to the $150k spent on the Ten Commandments or Winder's $500k or so on the old hotel.

Buffington...get on this and tell us more. Thanks.

#6 BOB H. on 01/19/12 at 07:39 PM [Reply]

The BOC has finally done something I am in 100% agreement with. The last thing this county needs is to be included in Atlanta’s ozone non-attainment area. You people have no idea what we are in store for if we get thrown into that mess. Even if they spend double that amount. It will be well worth it in the long run.

#7 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 07:59 PM [Reply]

we are right next to gwinnett, I dont think there is any way toavoid being included, at least let us keep our money here.

#7.1 Anonymous on 01/20/12 at 12:01 AM [Reply]

Gwinnett has been in it for years. That has nothing to do with Barrow getting thrown into the thorn patch.

#8 Fireman on 01/20/12 at 12:09 AM [Reply]

If they shove this down out throats. You folks won't be able to rake your yards and burn the leaves.

#8.1 on 01/20/12 at 07:14 AM [Reply]

For those of you without double wide residential experience neighbors, We already fall under the No Burn bans administered by the Georgia Forestry
Commission. Know your Preexisting Government Reg...

#8.1.1 Jeb on 01/20/12 at 07:45 AM [Reply]

I will take my chances and risk about $1 per person to fight this. The emission testing alone would cost us about $20-25 per vehicle, assuming it passes and no check engine light. To get a check engine light off can cost 100's of dollars to TRY to get it off. Often times after spending 100's of dollars they can't get it off. I've got 2 vehicles that have had them on for over 100,000 miles and run just fine.
Even though Barrow is under a partial burn band,I believe it would be even more strict.
Emissions testing alone could cost us MILLIONS of dollars, must less what it would cost businesses. Sounds like pretty good investment and odds to me.

#8.1.1.1 Anonymous on 01/20/12 at 09:50 AM [Reply]

Try replacing the catalytic converter, you cheap hick bastid!

#8.1.1.1.1 ir is on 01/20/12 at 10:15 AM [Reply]

a shame I do not know about Georgia but other states if you have truck running on Gasoline you can upgrade your plates pay little more money and not deal with this fake emision testing program, also other states the test is FREE!!!! included in price of tags!!! WAKE UP, and say no to more costly programs

#8.1.1.1.2 Jeb on 01/20/12 at 11:50 AM [Reply]

You must think you have ESP to analyze a check engine light with no other info or codes. You could make millions a years if you could do this. More likely you would be a slimy grease monkey cheating people by just putting parts on they don't need.
Even if that was the cause, why do I want to spend 100's of dollars per vehicle just because of EPA?

#8.1.1.1.2.1 Anonymous on 01/20/12 at 02:15 PM [Reply]

You mean you've never even bothered to check WHY the check engine light is on? You can do it for FREE at Auto Zone. You're not only a cheap hick bastid. You're a stupid, cheap hick bastid. I hope and pray to allah that Barrow soon requires emission checks. I hate to have my fine German automobiles running on the same pavement as your rattletrap smoking clunkers.

#8.1.1.1.3 catalytic brainless on 01/20/12 at 12:59 PM [Reply]

You are an idiot & Your post has not use or value to anyone or this Topic.
A waste of space for valid comments

#9 Anonymous on 01/22/12 at 01:27 PM [Reply]

Isn't Barrow already in the non-attainment zone. This designation happens after the census, and the census tracks indicate Barrow's Growth has and continues to be from the metro Atlanta migration.

This process is a statistical analysis, that ultimately brings funds to our area to mitigate air quality issues.

Has Mr. Yearwood attended the ARC meetings, what does Barrow have as qualifing projects with the ARC and GDOT, and doesn't regionalization help with commutes, economic development and the environment.

It is much more sustainable to be in the non-attainment zone, than not!

#10 Sheesh on 01/23/12 at 05:39 AM [Reply]

Nothing like the good old BOC to throw our money away on a losing cause. First it's the ten commandments in the court house. Thanks for that lawyer bill guys! And now it's another 1 in a million fight against the EPA.

And what ever happened to the plans to bring clean high technology businesses to Barrow vs paper mills and incinerators. Why not put the $35K into attracting non-polluting companies to Barrow?

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