Advocacy Archives - Coosa River Basin Initiative

PUBLIC COMMENTS: EPA Moves to Weaken PFAS Limits in Drinking Water

July 14, 2026

EPA has proposed two rules to weaken PFAS limits in drinking water. The deadline to submit written comments is Monday, July 20. BACKGROUND: In 2024, EPA finalized drinking water regulations that covered 6 PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA [GenX], and PFBS). Utilities were given a 5-year runway to make appropriate plans to come into compliance with these drinking water limits by 2029 – this is the maximum amount of time permitted for compliance with a Safe Drinking Water…

Clean up of harmful PFAS pollution promised in northwest Georgia Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC, settle federal case against city of Calhoun

August 8, 2024

Advocacy, Press Releases, Water Monitoring

Press release from the Southern Environmental Law CenterFor immediate release: August 8, 2024Contact:Jesse Demonbruen-Chapman, Coosa River Basin Initiative, 706-232-2724,jesse@coosa.orgTerah Boyd, Southern Environmental Law Center, 678-234-7990, tboyd@selcga.org ROME, Ga. — In one of the most comprehensive settlements of its kind in the nation,the city of Calhoun has agreed to take meaningful steps to protect northwest Georgia’swater supply from years of widespread PFAS pollution. Represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, Coosa River Basin Initiativeagreed to resolve a federal lawsuit against the…

Conservation groups petition EPA to revoke Georgia’s CCR Permit Program

August 1, 2024

Advocacy, Blog Posts, Plant Hammond, Press Releases

ATLANTA — Today the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Coosa River Basin Initiative, Altamaha Riverkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, the Sierra Club and others, petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke Georgia’s Partial Coal Ash Permit Program because it allows coal ash pollution of Georgia’s water resources by authorizing disposal of toxic coal ash in the groundwater, in violation of national safety standards. Coal ash, or coal combustion residuals (CCR), is generated from burning coal for…

Coosa River Basin Initiative Launches “Don’t Sink the Can” Anti-Littering Campaign with Support from International Paper

July 19, 2024

Advocacy, Education, Press Releases, Uncategorized

Rome, GA – July 19th, 2024 – The Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) is excited to announce the launch of the “Don’t Sink the Can” anti-littering campaign, with generous support from International Paper. This initiative, created in partnership with Cedar Creek RV Park, Euharlee Creek Outfitters, Castaway Kayaks and Etowah Adventure Company, invites outdoor enthusiasts to help protect our rivers by packing out their trash. As part of the campaign, participating outfitters will provide reusable bags to paddlers and adventurers,…

Groups sue to stop PFAS pollution in northwest Georgia

February 27, 2024

Advocacy, Press Releases, Water Monitoring

Groups plan lawsuit to stop PFAS pollution in northwest Georgia Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC, plan to sue the city of Calhoun in federal court ROME, Ga. — On behalf of Coosa River Basin Initiative, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit against the city of Calhoun in Federal District Court for violating federal law and allowing harmful pollutants in drinking water. Calhoun’s wastewater treatment plant is polluting the region with PFAS in two ways:discharging PFAS directly to the Coosawattee River…

Rome News Tribune: Georgia Environmental Protection Division Chastised for Ash Pond Closure Permit

February 23, 2024

Advocacy, Coverage, Plant Hammond, Uncategorized

The Rome News Tribune released an article describing a recent letter sent by Jeaeanne Gettle, the acting regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Southeast, to EPD Director Jeffrey W. Cown, concerning their issuance of a permit for Georgia Power to leave toxic coal ash containing contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic stored in groundwater along the Coosa River where it could contaminate groundwater, drinking water and the air. 2015 EPA standards prohibit utilities from leaving coal…