Written 8/21/06

Rocky Branch Request Up For Review

The Oconee County request to be allowed to dump 1.0 Million Gallons Per Day of treated wastewater from an expanded Rocky Branch Waste Treatment Plant into Barber Creek is now up for review before the state Environment Protection Division.

Please write to the EPD and ask for a hearing. Reference Permit No. GA0038806. Here is the address:

Linda MacGregor, Branch Chief
Water Protection Branch
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division
4220 International Parkway, Suite 101Atlanta, GA 30354

Tell the EPD how important the stream is to you. Contrast what you do with the creek with the following advise on use of reuse quality water, which is what will be dumped into the creek if the permit is granted.

Reuse water should not be allowed into dwelling units, should not be used for swimming, should not be used on edible crops, and should not be used to wash a car. Persons should limit body contact with the water.

You also can mention the following:

Experts from the firm of Jordan, Jones & Goulding, in a draft report presented to Oconee County in March of 2004, stated on Page 3-5:

"For Oconee County the surface streams with large enough flows to receive treated discharges are considered to be the Apalachee, Middle Oconee, and Oconee Rivers. The other streams, such as Barber Creek and Calls Creek, are considered to be too small to receive a substantial quantity of treated flow."

Remember, there is an alternative. The JJ&G experts told the county to phase out this plant and to build a new one on the Oconee River. That has never been openly discussed.

Lee

DATE
Linda MacGregor, Branch Chief
Water Protection Branch
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division
4220 International Parkway, Suite 101Atlanta, GA 30354

Dear Ms. MacGregor:

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is seeking NPDES Permit No. GA0038806 for the Rocky Branch Water Reclamation Facility on Rocky Branch Road. The permit is to provide for a discharge flow of 1.0 million gallons per day of treated wastewater to Barber Creek.

TELL HOW BARBER CREEK AFFECTS YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY.

I ask that you hold a public hearing on this request so that I can voice my concerns and so that I can learn what steps the EPD and Oconee County are going to take to protect my interests should such a permit be issued.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS