Georgia regulators are considering how to speed up the processing of environmental permits for firms willing to pay a premium.
A little-noticed Senate bill passed this year allows firms seeking permits from the Environmental Protection Division to pay a premium so they get results faster. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce pushed for the bill, saying that authority was helpful to attract new jobs and industries to Georgia.
Environmental watchdog groups call it the "pay-to-play" law.
Final program rules have not been adopted. State officials are still discussing how the system will work. The state government will still have final say on whether a permit is issued.
Critics worry about potential conflicts of interest between those seeking permits and those getting paid to do the reviews.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:45 AM EDT2013-05-21 13:45:59 GMT
It's college graduation time, but before many graduates celebrate, they've got to focus on what comes next.
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Police are investigating a suspected rape at North Atlanta High School. Authorities say a male at the school raped a female student on campus during school hours.
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The Douglas County district attorney used seized drug money to take support staff to a north Georgia training conference designed for prosecuting attorneys.
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