ATLANTA (July 6, 2016) | Sen. Rick Jeffares (R– McDonough) has been selected by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to serve as Co-Chair of the Joint State Commission on Petroleum Pipelines Study Committee.
“Over the next several months, my colleagues and I will begin studying the current environmental impacts of pipeline siting, construction and operation, and evaluating the ways we can streamline this process while maintaining the integrity of our state’s natural resources,” said Sen. Jeffares. “I look forward to conducting an in-depth review of this important issue and gathering feedback from citizens throughout the state.”
“Sen. Jeffares has a proven track record in addressing the needs of our citizens and will be an invaluable resource as the Co-Chair of the Joint State Commission on Petroleum Pipelines Study Committee,” said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. “I’m confident he will examine the issues at hand and provide new legislative recommendations to the General Assembly as we prepare for the 2017 Legislative Session.”
The State Commission on Petroleum Pipeline Study Committee was created by the passage of House Bill 1036 during the 2016 legislative session. As stated in the bill, the committee shall be comprised of 13 members; three members of the Senate, three members of the House of Representatives, the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the commissioner of community affairs and five members appointed by the Governor. The State Commission on Petroleum Pipeline Study Committee will review the environmental impacts and the legal and regulatory structures associated with pipeline siting, construction and operation, as well as examine the purpose and extent for the use of eminent domain. The committee must report its findings on or before December 1, 2016.
Sen. Jeffares will also serve as a member of the Joint High-Speed Broadband Communications Access for All Georgians Study Committee and the Joint Alternative Fuels Infrastructure and Vehicles Study Committee.
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For Immediate Release:
July 6, 2016
For Information Contact:
Ines Owens, Acting Director
Brittany Wagner, Communications Specialist
Brittany.wagner@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028