---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-4-141. Legislative purpose.
collection: code
id: 12-4-141
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-4-141 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4-141
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4-141.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4-141/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=345
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4-140.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-4-142.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / MINERAL RESOURCES AND CAVES / CAVE PROTECTION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-4-141. Legislative purpose.

The State of Georgia finds that caves are uncommon geologic phenomena and that the minerals deposited therein may be rare and occur in unique forms of great beauty which are irreplaceable if destroyed. It is also found that the wildlife which have evolved to live in caves are unusual and of limited numbers, and many are rare and endangered species, and that caves are a natural conduit for ground-water flow and are highly subject to water pollution, which has far-reaching effects transcending man’s property boundaries. It is therefore declared to be the policy of this state and the intent of this article to protect these unique natural resources.

## History

Ga. L. 1977, p. 833, § 2; Ga. L. 1986, p. 10, § 12; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 12.