Supplemental Environmental Project Advisory Committee - (SAC)

What is the SAC?

Section VIII.C of the Consent Decree establishes a ten member Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Advisory Committee (SAC) for purposes of (1) reviewing submissions of the Greenway Consultant; (2) providing advice and making recommendations regarding the development, management, and implementation of the Greenway Acquisition Project; and (3) providing advice and making recommendations regarding suggestions from minority neighborhood groups with particular emphasis being placed on input from minority communities adjacent to the Designated Streams and streams affected by combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges.

The Consent Decree provided for the SAC to be composed of representatives from the citizen plaintiffs, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Fulton County, and from mayoral appointments. On September 14, 1998, the City of Atlanta appointed a SAC to provide advice to the City of Atlanta regarding the development, management, and implementation of the Greenway Acquisition Project. Table A presents a list of the current SAC members. Table B presents the terms each are appointed to serve, as indicated by the Consent Decree.

The History of SAC

Section VIII.D.2.b(iv) of the Consent Decree requires that the City of Atlanta's Greenway Acquisition Project "promote and coordinate the full participation of the SAC and the public in the development, management, and implementation of the Greenway Acquisition Project…" In addition, Section VIII.D.2.j(viii) of the Consent Decree requires that the Greenway Acquisition Plan provide for "public participation processes that involve the SAC and include minority outreach in the development, implementation, and management of the Greenway Acquisition Project…" In order to meet these requirements, a Public Participation Process, including the SAC, was developed and implemented during the Inventory Phase and Planning Phase of the City of Atlanta Greenway Acquisition Project. The Public Participation Process included presentations during community meetings, public workshops, preparation and distribution to the public of project-related literature, project website creation and updates, and coverage of the Greenway Acquisition Project in newspaper articles. SAC continues to provide input during the Implementation Phase of the Greenway Acquisition Project, which will be on-going through March, 2007.

During Greenway Acquisition Plan development, quarterly SAC meetings were held from September 22, 1998-September 8, 2000, as required by the Consent Decree (Section VIII.D.2.d). Greenway Acquisition Plan development included three phases: The Inventory Phase, the Assessment Phase, and the Planning Phase. During the Inventory Phase, the SAC created two subcommittees: the Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee (GAS), and the Environmental Justice Subcommittee (EJS). Both the GAS and the EJS assisted the SAC in the greenway planning process by reviewing submittals of the greenway consultants and by assisting in the organization and advertisement of public workshops.

   Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee (GAS)

The Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee (GAS) was made up of SAC and project team members and chaired by Harvey Young, EPD. The subcommittee contributed to the development of criteria used to rank properties, identified neighborhoods to target for the public outreach effort, and reviewed and provided input on materials developed by the City and project team for public dissemination. Members of the GAS also attended public informational meetings to represent the SAC, explain their role, and solicit input from communities. The GAS met regularly from February 19, 1999-July 10, 2000, and reported to the full SAC at quarterly SAC meetings.

   Environmental Justice Subcommitee (EJS)

The Consent Decree states that, in the process of developing a list of potential acquisitions, "…particular emphasis should be placed on input from minority communities adjacent to the Designated Streams and other streams affected by the discharges…" from the City's CSO control facilities. An Environmental Justice Subcommittee (EJS) was formed, chaired by Eric Wilson, and included both SAC members and citizens. The subcommittee identified low-income and minority neighborhoods within the vicinity of the Designated Streams, prepared a presentation to inform these communities about the project, suggested ways of participating in the project, and collaborated with the Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee (GAS) in reviewing and commenting on the criteria used to rank properties. EJS met regularly from March 3, 1999-March 8, 2000 and reported to the full SAC at quarterly SAC meetings.

The SAC was presented with an Inventory Phase Summary on May 17, 1999 and an Assessment Phase Summary on November 19, 1999, for review and comment. These documents were created to summarize the Greenway Acquisition Project activities conducted within the respective greenway planning phases (these documents are not EPA deliverables required by the Consent Decree). On June 16, 2000, the SAC was presented with a Preliminary Draft Greenway Plan for review and comment, as required by the Consent Decree (Section VIII.D.2.e).

SAC Role during the Implementation Phase

The Implementation Phase began on April 2001, and will continue through March, 2007. Throughout the Implementation Phase, SAC will meet quarterly, provide advice, and make recommendations to the City in the following areas:

• Solicitation of property and easement donations.
  
• Identification of properties for sale within priority segments.
  
• Requests made to the City for approval to operate heavy equipment in surface waters or wetland areas and alteration of stream flow.
  
• Minority outreach and involvement.
  
• Public participation and education.
  
• Promotion of the Greenway Acquisition Project.
  
• Identification of restoration project opportunities.
  
• Assessment of environmental and public health benefits associated with the implementation of the Greenway System.

Current SAC Member Biographies

Ms. Marcia Bansley  << Back
Ms. Bansley was recently appointed as the SAC Chair by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 3-year term. She is currently the Executive Director of Trees Atlanta, a position she has held for 18 years. Ms. Bansley has been actively involved in the conservation movement in various capacities for twenty-four years. She is an attorney and her professional background includes serving as a law clerk to the Regional Counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency. She has been honored with several awards including the National Arbor Day Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Stafford Award, and Georgia's Environmental Women of Action Award. Ms. Bansley assisted in the creation of a new 2-acre park at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the preservation of a 31-acre City natural area, and has been involved in numerous other successful land preservation efforts.

Ms. Sally Bethea  << Back
Ms. Bethea was appointed by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for a 4-year term. She is the founding Executive Director of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. She has served in this role since the creation of the organization in 1994. Ms. Bethea also has over twenty years of experience working with environmental issues, including employment with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, and the Georgia Conservancy. Her educational background includes city planning. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Water Conservationist of the Year Award and the Special Achievement Award from the Georgia Environmental Council.

Mr. Rex Boner  << Back
Mr. Boner was appointed by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for a 4-year term. He is the Vice President and the Southeast Representative of The Conservation Fund and has served in this capacity since 1988. His educational background includes biology and ecology. He has been honored with several awards, including the Georgia Environmental Council Special Achievement Award and the Georgia Wildlife Federation Special Conservation Award for Building Partnerships. Some of Mr. Boner's land preservation accomplishments include the protection of Connally Park in East Point and the protection of over 1000 acres in the Arabia Mountain - Panola Mountain area.

Dr. James E. Fason, Ph.D.   << Back
Dr. Fason was appointed by Fulton County for a 4-year term. He is the Deputy Director for the Fulton County Department of Environment and Community Development and has served in this position since 1997. His educational background includes biology, environmental science, and resource development. Dr. Fason has worked to improve the quality of life of Fulton County's citizens by promoting the protection of the environment, strict code enforcement compliance, and the development of policy. His dedication the protection of the environment earned him two Fellowships from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Buszeda Hudson  << Back
Ms. Hudson is newly appointed to the SAC by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 1-year term. Ms. Hudson most recently served as a supervisor for SouthTrust Bank. She has been involved in the banking industry for over twenty years. Her educational background includes business administration.

Ms. Gloria Martin   << Back
Ms. Martin was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 2-year term. Ms. Martin has served in various management positions for the Internal Revenue Service. She is active in her community and has specifically focused on the preservation and restoration of the South River. She is a community volunteer and has held an office in her Neighborhood Planning Unit. Ms. Martin is also active in the South River Gardens community organization.

Ms. Clair Muller   << Back
Councilperson Muller was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 1-year term. She is the Council Representative for District 8 in the City of Atlanta. She has served on the Atlanta City Council for 13 years and currently holds the position of Chair of the City Utilities Committee and Chair of the Atlanta/Fulton County Water Resources Commission. Councilperson Muller has also served on the Advisory Board of the Georgia Water Campaign. She is also an active member of the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). Within the GMA she serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Ms. Rosie Pettigrew   << Back
Ms. Pettigrew is newly appointed to the SAC by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 2-year term. She is employed by Lucent Technologies as a Program Manager. Ms. Pettigrew's professional experience includes over 25 years of diversified corporate experience. Her educational background includes human resources and management. She has received numerous awards for achievement and leadership within the telecommunications industry.

Ms. Cleta Winslow   << Back
Councilperson Winslow was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta for a 3-year term. She is a Council Representative for District 4 in the City of Atlanta. Councilperson Winslow has played a key role in the revitalization of the West End neighborhood. She is also a former City employee, having served as a Human Service Planner and as the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) Coordinator in the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning. Councilperson Winslow has also served as the president of the West End Neighborhood Organization. Her educational background includes a degree in social work.

Mr. Harvey Young   << Back
Mr. Young was appointed by the EPD for a 4-year term. He is the Coordinator of the Georgia Greenspace Program for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and has served in this position since 1999. He has been employed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources since 1972 and has held various other positions within the Department including, Coordinator for the RiverCare 2000 Program and Coordinator for the Preservation 2000 Program. He also developed the Georgia Heritage Trust Program. Mr. Young's educational background includes humanities and chemistry, with degrees in the French and German languages, as well as a business degree with concentration in information systems.

Original SAC Members

If you are interested in participating in the Greenway Acquisition Project, please contact us directly.