Environmental Regulation

After six years of rigorous review and extensive scientific and technical studies, a site assessment report (SAR) and application for a solid waste handling permit was submitted to and reviewed by the Georgia EPD. The agency determined the proposed site meets state and federal requirements for siting a solid waste handling facility by issuing a letter of site suitability.

Several key practical and environmental reasons for siting the facility at this location, in addition to those covered in the SAR include, but are not limited to, the following:

The proposed waste handling facility landfill conceptual footprint area comprises only 107 acres within a more than 2,000-acre property, more than meets all the required buffers and in some areas allows for a wider buffer.
Wetlands will be only minimally impacted if at all.
The landfill site sits atop a ridge two miles from the Satilla River, with no clear pathway for any site surface water run-off to migrate directly to the river.
It is outside of the flood and Category 5 storm surge zone.
Environmental studies found no risk of impact to sensitive plant or animal species.

The proposed landfill site sits atop a ridge two miles from the Satilla River, with no clear pathway for any site surface water runoff to migrate to the river

After the landfill is built and operating, it will remain subject to federal and state regulations, enforced by regular compliance inspections, such as:

Operating according to approved design and operations plan; semi-annual groundwater and surface water monitoring
Quarterly methane gas monitoring
Routine (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) stormwater inspections, recordkeeping, and reporting
Inspections of site operations by Georgia EPD
Annual demonstration of Financial Assurance: documentation the owner has funds available for closure and post-closure care of the facility
30-year minimum Post-Closure Care period after landfill closure (monitoring, maintenance, inspections continue)

Safety

Protection of our land and the safety of our people will be the top priorities at Coastal Terrace Green Energy Park. Our environmental experts will make sure we stay abreast of best environmental practices as new technologies become available. At the same time, on-the-job safety requirements will be strictly enforced. Safety and personal protection equipment (PPE) training will help us achieve our goals for a safe workplace. We will meet all the requirements for a drug-free workplace.

Landfill operators must be certified personnel who pass a rigorous training course with a focus on safety. Throughout the landfill operators’ careers, they must maintain the certification through continual education and re-certification courses.

Safe workplace

Best environmental practices

Storms

Disposal of storm debris is an important element of emergency planning.

Failure to provide a waste facility eligible to take storm debris could cost the state of Georgia federal grants funding and could jeopardize the protection homeowners get from their flood policies. Equally alarming is the prospect of contaminated debris, with the potential of creating significant public health issues, accumulating in residential areas following the next serious storm.

To avoid this scenario, the federally mandated disaster relief and recovery plan must ensure that an adequate disposal facility will serve the region. The Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) determined that a regulated landfill designated to accommodate disaster debris should be built in the region. Eastern Brantley County was identified as a suitable location due to its accessibility, topography, elevation and its proximity to areas impacted by coastal flooding. Coastal Terrace Green Energy Park is located outside of the Category 5 hurricane storm surge area. An important advantage is the site’s location on the east side of the Satilla River, outside the federal surge zone, creating easy and safe access if there is a major flood.

The site's location on the east side of the Satilla River, outside the federal surge zone, creates easy and safe access for storm debris disposal if there is a major flood.

Public Participation

EPD has a specific process – the Facilities Issues Negotiation Process (FIN) - that ensures the public is aware of and has the opportunity to negotiate with Brantley County Development Partners, the applicant, on all landfill issues except those which apply to environmental permit conditions. The public was presented with information about EPD’s “letter of site suitability” and the opportunity to enter the agency’s FIN during an advertised public hearing held virtually in July 2020. After the meeting, members of the public submitted petitions to Brantley County asking that the FIN process be initiated. The county verified the petitions, paving the way to the next step: the selection of a 10-person citizens committee to work with the owners and a professional mediator, Jerry Hester, to identify and negotiate non-environmental issues that are important to the community.

Brantley County Development Partners participated in five meetings with the FIN committee in 2020, held on: October 5, October 17, October 24, November 8, November 12. A final public meeting was held on January 16, 2021 to allow comments and questions from members of the community who were not on the FIN committee.

Although a written agreement was not reached, Brantley County Development Partners made a number of commitments, and these commitments stand:

No coal ash, untreated medical waste or hazardous waste will be accepted.
Brantley County will gain roughly $750,000 in annual host fees without investing a single dollar or taking any investment risks (this will be one of the operating requirements).
Local household waste will be handled mostly for free, and if we end up getting more waste from the county than what is projected (50 tons per day) then the fees will be minimal.
Our location and ability to handle storm debris will more readily help the coastal region recover from a future tornado or hurricane.
We will do our part to control the litter that comes from multiple sources and will participate in the “Adopt a Highway” program, adopting a section of Highway 82 near our property.
Hours of operation will be limited to Monday through Saturday, from 7 AM to 7 PM or sunset, whichever comes first. Exceptions may be made during natural disaster recovery efforts. The facility will be closed on major holidays. Some after-hours maintenance will be done as needed.
Outside of necessary security lights, facility lighting will be directed away from adjacent properties.
Looks are important, and we will work with Keep Georgia Beautiful or a similar established group to make the best use of plantings to improve the appearance of our facility from the roadway. The EPD already requires vegetative buffer.

See the state's guidelines on public participation

A public hearing was held on March 3, 2022 to take public comment on the permit.