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Many flaws in shore protection bill
Regarding propose amendments to Georgia’s Shore Protection Act that were recently tabled by the General Assembly Senate, further details merit consideration.
Writing on behalf of the Center for a Sustainable Coast, over a month ago I began recommending that the bill in question, HB 271, be set aside for more study. At that time, few thought the measure could be stopped, despite its woefully inadequate provisions. My letters to editors and to state legislators advising about the bill’s deficiencies were sent as early as mid-February.
Fortunately, others who were concerned for their own reasons as well those following my advice raised enough questions about HB 271 that the Senate Natural Resources Committee tabled it.
Most conspicuous was the bill’s total neglect of well-documented scientific evidence of shoreline erosion and sea-level rise - research paid for by state and federal funding, yet ignored in this ill-fated proposal that ironically was endorsed by the same agency (DNR) that authorized funding for the relevant scientific studies.
Research evidence - and clearly voiced scientific opinion - makes it clear that, under HB 271’s proposed amendments, shorefront development would be in greater danger from storm-surge and flooding, and that the "sand-sharing" system (beaches, dunes, and sand-bars) would be less protected.
