MAYOR’S OFFICE OF
COMMUNICATIONS
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 |
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| CONTACT: |
Sandra Allen Walker, Director |
| Office |
404-330-6395 |
| Cell: |
404-925-1666 |
| E-mail: |
swalker@ci.atlanta.ga.us |
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or |
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LaChandra Butler |
| Office: |
404-330-6248 |
| Cell: |
404-886-2334 |
| E-mail: |
ldbutler@ci.atlanta.ga.us |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2003
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CORRECTED TEXT OF MAYOR
FRANKLIN'S LETTER TO COUNCILMEMBER FELICIA MOORE ON RESOLUTION
REGARDING THE CSO CONSENT DECREE
May 23, 2003
The Honorable Denise Majette
House of Representatives
4th District
1517 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Majette:
We have spoken often during your short tenure in office. Therefore
I am extremely disappointed to have learned of your recent reversal
of opinion via letter. Wastewater is the single most difficult
challenge facing Atlanta. I have worked every single day since
my inauguration studying the issues and making the difficult
decisions. I have no hesitation in my support of our program
or in my belief that the current, court approved plan is the
best alternative.
In order to verify the previously authorized plan, I convened
a committee of national experts on combined sewer systems and
solutions. This committee was chaired by Dr. Wayne Clough, President
of the Georgia Institute of Technology. After a series of meetings
and an in-depth review of alternatives, including full sewer
separation, the Clough Committee reported in October 2002 that
the proposed CSO concept was sound and that some cost reduction
was possible with slight modifications. A copy of their report
was provided to your office in the past; however, for your convenience
another copy is attached. These recommendations were incorporated
into a refined plan that was authorized by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division
on January 22, 2003, and approved by the court.
The refined authorized plan has the least cost and highest
pollutant removal, both in the short-term and the long-term.
It also achieves water quality goals in the shortest time. Your
contention that immediate, complete sewer separation is a better
solution is factually wrong. The current authorized plan is
the “fiscally responsible, effective plan,” and
prepares Atlanta for the known, future stormwater management
regulations.
All solutions to the CSO problem are expensive and all must
be implemented in the near-term. The effective actions to minimize
the impact to Atlanta’s residents are cost reduction and
funding. Focusing your energies on assisting us with federal
funding, as has been achieved in San Diego and Boston with the
leadership of their congressional delegations, would be most
appreciated by the ratepayers of the Atlanta water system, which
includes residents of Fulton and DeKalb counties.
Sincerely,
Shirley Franklin
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