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Environmentally protected air and water are essential to the vitality and stability of any community. We need clean air to breathe and safe water to drink for our future economic development and to protect our quality of life in Athens-Clarke County. Without clean air and water, this community cannot survive - these two elements are crucial to our health and well-being. To maintain Athens' desirability as a place to live, it is imperative that we give the protection of our natural resources the utmost attention in our planning efforts.
Our air quality readings continue to border on the edge of “non-attainment” – a federal standard that not only endangers our health but also our future economic development. Studies have clearly demonstrated that our children, seniors, and those with existing health problems suffer greatly when our air is unhealthy to breathe. Air quality issues must be a priority when we plan for the growth of Athens-Clarke County. I have been a leading proponent of alternative transportation, tree preservation, and energy conservation standards that help reduce air pollution and energy costs, thereby improving overall air quality.
Water quality and quantity remain important issues as our county continues to grow in population and address drought conditions. In the long-term, decreased water supply can impact the availability of fresh, clean drinking water to our homes and businesses, and the sustainability and health of our farms, parks, and other green spaces. Additionally, new federal regulations require that we control the quality of stormwater runoff. The financial responsibility for building new infrastructure to ensure that water running off our parking lots, roofs, and lawns is cleaner before it enters our streams and rivers rests with local government.
I have long supported efforts to protect our waterways and will continue to fight for those protections and to seek state and federal funds to assist our citizens. I am proud to have helped lead the efforts to protect our waterways from excess sedimentation through increased riparian buffers, tree protection, and mass grading ordinances.
All of the citizens of Athens-Clarke County should be involved in the process of ensuring the protection of our community's natural resources. From development issues to recycling to water restrictions to air quality, we must safeguard our environment for our own quality of life and for the well-being of future Athenians.
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