Governor Sonny Perdue says the state will appeal a federal ruling against Georgia in a regional water dispute with Florida and Alabama. Atlanta relies on water from Lake Lanier and has been drawing it for decades with an agreement from the Army Corps of Engineers, but US district Judge Paul Magnuson ordered yesterday it’s not up to the Corps, but Congress to grant the water’s release. Judge Magnuson cited the Water Supply Act of 1958 and ordered the city get approval from Congress in the next three years. Governor Perdue will meet with U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson next week. Perdue argues the ruling is based on outdated assumptions about federal reservoirs and he wants Congress to address the realities of modern day usage.
2009-07-21