I live in Monroe County GA which includes Forsyth and Juliette! This is directly effecting myself, my family and neighbors! Many of our wells are testing very high in these toxins, mine included! Over 1000 residents are effected!

Coal ash is toxic waste leftover from burning coal in a power plant. Coal ash contains many toxic elements, such as hexavalent Chromium,
arsenic, lead, mercury, and other dangerous chemicals. The coal ash that is stored in Georgia Power plants across the state is stored in unlined pits, and according to Georgia Power’s own disclosures are all leaking into groundwater. Georgia Power is in the process of closing all 29 of these pits but at 5 plants, containing half the ash in the state, they are proposing to leave the ash where it is: submerged in our groundwater.
 
Under Georgia law, we protect the environment and human health from banana peels and other household trash more than we protect the environment and human health from the dangers of toxic coal ash. Household waste must be disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills that have bottom liners and leachate collection systems to ensure that garbage and liquid wastes do not pollute our groundwater. But Georgia law does not explicitly require coal ash to be disposed of in lined facilities. Rather, coal ash may be disposed of in unlined pits, leaving groundwater susceptible to pollution from coal ash, which contains toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead. The purpose of these bills is to protect our groundwater from coal ash by ensuring that toxic coal ash is disposed of just as stringently as household waste.
 
We support HB 756 and SB 297 because every Georgia family deserves clean drinking water. Startling recent reports show well water contamination around the state because toxic coal ash isn't stored in safe, lined facilities. HB 756 and SB 297 simply require toxic coal ash be disposed in the same way as household garbage: in a lined storage facility.