Inside this issue: fDirector Speaks to Marsh Officials fMore Opinion on DNR Funding
fProjects of Regional Concern fOne Site, Three Approaches fSatilla Riverkeeper® Hired
Center Director Speaks to State Marshlands Committee
In early September, Center Executive Director David Kyler greater than the comparable figure for all other areas of the
presented comments to the Coastal Marshlands Protection country combined,” Kyler reported. On this basis alone,
Committee about the benefits of Georgia’s tidal marshes and marshes are highly beneficial to humans, but marshes and
current constraints on their protection. The Committee meets estuaries also serve as the foundation for about 80% of marine
throughout the year to consider permit applications for life. In a report released last year, Georgia DNR estimated the
development activities that affect tidal marshes in Georgia. value of business generated by coastal recreational fishing to
The 5-member committee, which also serves as the permitting be more than $500 million annually, just in this state.
body under the state’s Shore Protection Act, was recently Kyler then turned to the issue of funding constraints that limit
expanded by two members. One reason for Kyler’s remarks was DNR’s capacity to review and enforce permits. “It is evident
to provide some perspective for the committee’s new members. from the number and size of projects that have been submitted
In addition to the two newly created committee positions, Noel for review in recent years that the staffing available at Coastal
Holcomb was appointed as the new DNR Commissioner since Resources Division is simply insufficient to keep pace with
the last meeting, and the commissioner serves as the committee’s the workload. Permit review and proper follow-through by
chairman. (See article below.) monitoring and evaluating resources affected by permitted
“Based on updated dollar figures from a 1974 study by renowned activities are vital to ensuring a healthy environment.”
University of Georgia ecologist Dr. Eugene Odum, the annual Kyler added, “Not only is this limitation a problem for those
value of the goods and services provided by tidal marshes are of us whose main concern is environmental quality, but
valued at some $14,000 an acre. Using a conservative estimate of developers are troubled about the length of time it often takes
250,000 acres of tidal marsh in Georgia, the total contribution is to receive a permit.” He explained that one developer claimed
therefore on the order of $3.5 billion dollars a year,” Kyler told that he had lost a substantial sum in interest fees due to the
the committee. length of time needed for his project to be permitted last year.
He went on to explain that among the many benefits of tidal According to a 2003 Georgia State University study, DNR’s
marshes is protection of upland areas against storm surge. With share of the state budget has fallen more than 30% over the
the property value of coastal development rising every year, this past 12 years. During this time, Georgia’s population count
protective function also increases in value. and burden on natural resources has escalated by more than
“A 1999 study of the nation’s coastal areas by the Federal 25%, according to Kyler. He concluded by urging committee
Emergency Management Agency and EPA found that property members to do everything possible to resolve the growing
value at risk of storm damage in the Southeast is dilemma caused by DNR’s staffing shortage.
(See Protecting Georgia’s Coast, page 1 )
New DNR Commissioner Appointed
ATLANTA, Ga. Acting on the recommendation of Governor million acres of wildlife management areas and public fishing areas
Sonny Perdue, in late July the Board of Natural Resources named and state parks, the protection
Noel Z. Holcomb as the new Commissioner of the Georgia and conservation of coastal marshlands, the preservation of historic
Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The appointment became resources, and the implementation of environmentally sound
effective on August 9. Mr. Holcomb replaced Lonice C. Barrett business practices for industry. In addition he will work closely with
who was selected by the Governor to head the implementation of Carol Couch, newly appointed Director of DNR’s Environmental
recommendations generated by the Commission for a New Georgia. Protection Division, on environmental regulations including water
Barrett served as DNR Commissioner since May 1995. Mr. and air quality. Holcomb will serve as the primary contact for the
Holcomb worked for the Department for more than 26 years, and agency with the Board of Natural Resources, the Governor, and state
had served as the Director of DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division legislators.
since September 2003. “I am extremely excited about this new opportunity and look
“The Board is pleased to name an individual to this important forward to working with the Board of Natural Resources and the
position that has a strong history of service to the agency and great people that are part of the Department of Natural Resources to
knowledge of natural resources issues,” said Robert J. Rutland, meet our goals of sustaining natural resources, building a
Chairman of the Board of Natural Resources. “Noel will have some conservation ethic and creating workforce excellence throughout the
big shoes to fill, but we are confident that he has the leadership and agency,” said Holcomb.
the experience to effectively guide the agency in the coming years. Holcomb started his DNR career in September 1978, and holds both
Governor Perdue has recommended an outstanding career public a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from West Georgia College. In
servant.” addition to the position of Director and Assistant Director with the
As Commissioner, Holcomb is responsible for the daily operations Wildlife Resources Division, he also has worked as the manager of
of the Department, which will involve overseeing the management Ossabaw Island, a wildlife technician supervisor in northeast
Georgia, a senior wildlife biologist and manger of Sapelo Island, and
and conservation of Georgia’s wildlife, the operation of over one a game management supervisor in northwest Georgia.
Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Approaches
What is the true, long-term cost of coastal development? between the natural and built environments can be difficult.
How can a development's economic, environmental, and As coastal Georgia’s population continues to grow and new
social impacts be evaluated? While many understand the building sites intrude upon sensitive natural resources, our
benefits of developing with greenspace, scenic views and communities need new design alternatives to help them
other natural amenities, achieving a sustainable balance make environmentally wise decisions about development.
Findings Recommendations
9 By the time public notice is issued, major projects are often 9 Project descriptions should be made available to local and
too far advanced in the design process to allow for significant regional environmental organizations, communities, and news
changes to be made, especially basic revisions such as project media well in advance of official comment notices to enable
siting and overall site layout. the general public to express their concerns and suggest
9 Lack of coordination among multiple permitting agencies alternatives for resolving key issues.
complicates decisions and can often compromise the 9 A procedure for coordinating decisions among multiple
effectiveness of decisions by one agency when premature permit agencies should be adopted to improve exchange and analysis
approval is granted by another. of environmental information, and to achieve consistent and
9 Decision criteria for making permitting decisions are often timely review of proposed projects.
subjective, poorly defined, and inadequately unmonitored. 9 Improve definition and enforcement of permitting criteria.
► Savannah River Site (in S.C., across from Augusta, Richmond County)
• numerous identified groundwater contaminants already on site
• proposed licensing for “mixed oxide fuel” processing, with significant added public health risks
• radioactive materials with extremely long period of high hazard
The under-funding of DNR activities cannot There are highly-trained and experienced A logical, balanced, and thoughtful series of
be overemphasized – it is truly a crisis. As a scientists and other operatives within the performance audits within the Department is
former employee of DNR’s Coastal Department that know what has happened a viable approach. I say “thoughtful”
Resources Division, I know first-hand the over time, and can tell you with great because some past budget exercises and
frustrations of working toward the goal of a certainty and precision exactly what their performance audits have been used to target
healthy, productive environment for all needs are. It would not be a Christmas activities and programs for unjustified cuts.
Georgian’s without the necessary funds to wish-list, simply statements of fact on the The premise of the audits recommended here
accomplish the mission. My tenure there basic needs. There are certain courageous is to determine capacity constraints and
saw the high tide mark of budget health in managers who have spoken the truth workload so that DNR will be provided the
the Department, but woefully underfunded throughout more than 10 years of budget resources needed to do its job effectively.
even in the “good” years. erosion, never wavering in their assertions The proposed audits are not a witch-hunt. In
Since that time “redirection,” across-the- about what we are losing. a work environment where a large majority
board cuts, and the one-two punch of the But the overall sad result, and problem, is of customers are unhappy (whether they feel
simultaneous decrease in funding available that there is no means within the over-regulated or under-protected), the truth
from many federal sources, has led to a Department to either protect existing funds stares you in the face, and some managers
crippling of the Department’s ability to or increase the budget for DNR while every appear to be in denial, it is easy to be
respond to resource crises, much less other department in state government is cut. sensitive to criticism and somewhat
establish and maintain critical research and Roads “must” be built and repaired, children suspicious of “yet another improvement
assessment programs. (One must realize that must be educated, public health needs to be program”. It is easy for “prickly” personal-
federal funding of DNR activity constitutes main-tained, and justice must be served. At ities to be cultivated. What is so surprising is
a significant portion of their budget. My the Atlanta level, no one is screaming loudly that morale is respectably high within DNR
own research on shrimp, blue crabs, and enough to correct the problem. And we There are many reasons for this, but the
sturgeons was funded primarily by federal cannot expect the feds to take up the slack.. primary one is that most of those who
funds to the tune of over 60%). There have While the form of fiscal “discipline” we choose to work for DNR are truly dedicated
been a few bright spots, new initiatives, and have experienced since the early 1990s may to the agency’s overall mission.
even victories in DNR’s conservation make sense to some, even most, folks, the Recognizing that the job is not being done
mission; however, the overall picture is one truth is that when we lose environmental does not mean looking for scapegoats, nor
of more targets than there is ammunition, wealth, we all lose in a big way over time. does it mean ignoring good performance.
and a resulting steady loss of environmental Statewide, our rivers, the veins connecting The accountants among us may be offended
assets under the public trust. the multiple ecosystems that comprise our by such comments, but the truth is that with
Now, for the complications and conundrum. beautiful and productive State, have suffered sufficient funding and proper performance
Many “customers” of DNR (and other from multiple assaults on their health. criteria (some of which already exist) “dead
regulatory agencies) feel very strongly that Subterranean water resources are stressed by wood” will be weeded out, and stellar
they are over-regulated, some vehemently demand, and their connections to natural performers will be rewarded. Very high
so. There is a parallel movement in many functions on the surface are largely quality, devoted professionals liberally
quarters to weaken state and federal laws unknown. National improvements in air populate the Department.
and regulations that protect the environment. quality are not reflected in Georgia, and Yes, we have already “predicted” the
The details are astounding. Aside from the atmospheric deposition of acidifying agents outcome of the audits. There is not enough
general public perception (and the and mercury show up in some very money. Audits and their narratives should
actualities) of waste in government, there is surprising bodies of water, including the be focused on how to best direct new funds.
strong resistance against any movement to center of the Okefenokee. The debate rages These explanations should include explicit
increase funding for environmental over what has really happened on the coast recognition that multiple assaults on the
regulatory activities. with marsh health, fisheries production, and DNR budget have, through redirection of
Inside the Department, it is difficult for safety issues surrounding swimming and funds and outright cuts, in many cases cut
some managers to hear and acknowledge seafood consumption, but on the 50-year through the fat, past the muscle, and are
comments suggesting that their abilities are scale, we have lost. That fact is inarguable. chipping away at the bone: revelations of
“crippled” or that we have lost environ- We will eventually, with enough time and areas of poor performance must be cast in
mentally productive capacity and health money, get at the “why”, and the lawyers the proper budgetary light. The beleaguered
over time. To them, such admissions are will sort out small details. But the problem is employees of DNR deserve a break – not an
tantamount to admissions of personal that there is very little money, and time is exemption from possible recommendations
failure. But the failures are not personal, precious. The documented declines have for improving performance, just a break.
they are corporate, and ultimately the “fault” taken many decades, and the recovery (our ~ continued on bottom of previous page
of the citizenry for not lending greater true goal, not just “conserving” what we
support to DNR activities. have remaining) will take just as long. We
must start now. Page 7
Works in Progress
Autumn 2004 Issue