LC 44 2848S
The House Committee on Rules offers the following substitute to SB 132:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia1
Annotated, the "Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968," so as to provide for a three-year2
moratorium on the acceptance of applications for new permits by the Environmental3
Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources for surface mining utilizing4
dragline mining for heavy mineral sands; to prohibit tolling; to provide for related matters;5
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the9
"Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968," is amended by adding a new Code section to read10
as follows:11
"12-4-85.12
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2024, and continuing until June 30, 2027, the division shall accept13
no applications for new permits for surface mining utilizing dragline mining for heavy14
mineral sands in areas for which no prior surface mining permit has been obtained;15
provided, however, that the three-year period shall not be tolled or extended for any reason;16
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and provided, further, that, after such period has expired, the deadlines specified in17
subparagraph (c)(1)(A) of Code Section 12-2-2 for acting on any permit application18
formerly subject to such period shall be strictly enforced and shall not be extended for any19
reason.20
(b) This Code section shall not prevent the modification of permits already issued by the21
division or the granting or modification of permit applications originally submitted to the22
division pursuant to this part on or before June 30, 2024."23
SECTION 2.24
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.25
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