HR 11: Georgia Environmental Protection Division and DeKalb County government; resolve sewage pollution and spills; urge

This resolution addresses long-standing sewage pollution and spills in DeKalb County, which the resolution says have disproportionately affected predominantly Black areas classified as 'nonpriority,' particularly in South DeKalb. It states that North DeKalb has received preferential treatment over South DeKalb in addressing these problems. The resolution urges the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the DeKalb County government to take immediate action to fix the pollution and spills, and to set a specific deadline within a consent decree (a court-approved agreement to fix a legal problem) for resolving the issue. It also encourages the same agencies to give South DeKalb the same priority as North DeKalb. Finally, it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to officials at these agencies. As a resolution rather than a bill, it does not change Georgia law or create any binding legal requirement.

• Urges the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the EPA, and DeKalb County to take immediate action to fix sewage pollution and spills in predominantly Black 'nonpriority' areas of DeKalb County.
• Urges those same entities to set a specific deadline inside a consent decree for resolving the sewage problems.
• Encourages the agencies and county government to give South DeKalb the same priority as North DeKalb when addressing sewage issues.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to officials at the named agencies and county government.

Residents of DeKalb County, especially in predominantly Black areas of South DeKalb affected by sewage pollution and spills, along with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the DeKalb County government, which the resolution calls on to act.

The resolution does not create any legal obligation, but it publicly presses the Georgia EPD, federal EPA, and DeKalb County to speed up fixes to sewage spills and to treat South DeKalb the same as North DeKalb, potentially shaping political and regulatory attention to the issue.

• States that sewage pollution and spills have disproportionately affected predominantly Black 'nonpriority' areas of DeKalb County, with North DeKalb prioritized over South DeKalb.
• Resolves that the House urges the three named entities to take immediate, comprehensive action to fix sewage pollution in these areas.
• Resolves that the entities should establish a set deadline within a consent decree to resolve the pollution.
• Resolves that South DeKalb should receive the same priority and resources as North DeKalb.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the relevant agencies and county government.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor

• sewage pollution
• DeKalb County
• environmental justice
• water infrastructure
• EPA