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Bill 981

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      981
Type of Legislation:              Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20020205
Primary Sponsor:                  Alexander
All Sponsors:                     Alexander, Martin, Ryberg, Hutto, 
                                  Anderson, Bauer, Branton, Courson, Drummond, 
                                  Elliott, Fair, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, 
                                  Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Holland, Jackson, 
                                  Kuhn, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Matthews, 
                                  McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, 
                                  Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Ravenel, 
                                  Reese, Richardson, Ritchie, Saleeby, Setzler, 
                                  Short, J. Verne Smith, Thomas, Verdin and 
                                  Waldrep
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\swb\5077djc02.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Invitations and Memorial Resolutions 
                                  Committee 24 HIMR
Subject:                          Savannah River Basin, U.S. Government 
                                  requested to stop Corps of Engineers from 
                                  granting Georgia request to withdraw and 
                                  transfer water from Lake Tugaloo and Savannah 
                                  River to Chattahoochee River


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20020206  Introduced, referred to Committee      24 HIMR
Senate  20020205  Introduced, adopted, sent to House


              Versions of This Bill

TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF THE ONGOING STUDY IN WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA IS PARTICIPATING WITH THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND THE UNITED STATES CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO ASSESS THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN IN CONNECTION WITH PROPOSED INTER-BASIN TRANSFERS OF WATER AND STOP THE UNITED STATES CORPS OF ENGINEERS FROM GRANTING THE PENDING REQUEST OF HABERSHAM COUNTY IN GEORGIA TO WITHDRAW AND TRANSFER WATER FROM LAKE TUGALOO IN GEORGIA AND THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND ANY OTHER REQUEST FOR AN INTER-BASIN TRANSFER OF WATER FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN PENDING COMPLETION OF THE ONGOING STUDY OF THIS INVALUABLE WATER RESOURCE.

Whereas, Habersham County in the State of Georgia has made application with the United States Corps of Engineers to withdraw 12.5 million gallons of water each day from Lake Tugaloo in Georgia to be diverted from the Savannah River Basin to the Chattahoochee Basin to supply the citizens and businesses of that region with their present and future water needs; and

Whereas, other proposals to transfer water from the Savannah River Basin have been suggested including a proposal to withdraw and transfer water from Lake Hartwell to Lake Lanier in the Chattahoochee River Basin for ultimate use in the Atlanta metropolitan area; and

Whereas, many residents of the Savannah River Basin, especially those residing near Lake Tugaloo and Lake Hartwell, object to the proposed inter-basin transfers and use of this water and believe that due to drought conditions within the Savannah River Basin that this additional drain on Lake Tugaloo or Lake Hartwell would affect the quality of life and property values of residents living near Lake Tugaloo and Lake Hartwell; and

Whereas, South Carolina is currently participating in a study with the State of Georgia and the United States Corps of Engineers to assess the water resources of the Savannah River Basin so as to ensure accurate and factual information is obtained before a request for transfer of water is granted. This process, which is in its second year, will take a minimum of three years to complete; and

Whereas, South Carolina is opposed to any request for transfer of water from the Savannah River Basin being granted, and to any action to transfer water from the Savannah River Basin, before the ongoing study is completed and the results of the study are evaluated to determine the impact of the proposed transfer of water would have upon the basin and on those who live, work, and own property within the basin. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress to take cognizance of the ongoing study in which South Carolina is participating with the State of Georgia and the United States Corps of Engineers to assess the water resources of the Savannah River Basin in connection with proposed inter-basin transfers of water and stop the United States Corps of Engineers from granting the pending request of Habersham County in Georgia to withdraw and transfer water from Lake Tugaloo in Georgia and the Savannah River to the Chattahoochee River and any other request for an inter-basin transfer of water from the Savannah River Basin pending completion of the ongoing study of this invaluable water resource.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, and the United States Corps of Engineers.

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