I live in Athens. I am a retired Federal employee; more about 

that later. My outdoor interest are gardening and fishing. 

During 2010, "11 & '12 summer weather was bad for both. So 

with lakes too low to launch my boat, trout dying in streams 

and in the hatcheries and no homegrown tomatoes I took 

notice. Who wouldn't. Athens had a severe drought and water 

conservation restrictions. Our local Trout Unlimited chapter 

began to consider the obvious questions; where would we fish 

and are trout in our future. North Georgia is the Southern tip 

of cold water habitat for trout and DNR stocked streams are 

marginal habitat during good rainfall summers. As the TU 

chapter considered these questions we formed a study 

committee and found some answers in Athens, at the 

University of Georgia. We hosted discussions of climate change 

and learned: Agricultural scientists are working to develop 

more heat/drought tolerant varieties of tomatoes and other 

crops. Ag scientists are studying citrus for south Georgia and 

recommending fewer apples for north Georgia. Their interest is 

food but they recognize climate change. Other research of 

climate change includes subjects from migratory birds to poison 

ivy. Science has no doubt of climate change; they deal with the 

effects and must think of the future. Climate change is real. 

The only question is"What can we do?" To those who say 

weather always changes and mankind is not the cause, I only 

have to say LA smog and China and baloney. 
Coal was the fuel of the '50s; the 1850's through the 1950's, 

until London learned they could not live with it. There is no 

such thing as clean coal. That term is a figment of Senator 

McConnell's fundraisers. Natural gas is only a transition fuel to 

cleaner energy IF fracking and collection are done by best 

practices. Cleaner energy exists. In addition to the well known 

results of air pollution from burning coal, consider the mess in 

North Carolina. Although previously warned and "slapped on 

the wrist" for the dangers posed by their coal ash sludge ponds, 

Duke Energy managed to spill 39,000 TONS of coal ash into the 

Dan River on Feb. 2nd . Duke has dredged and removed 3,000 

tons and say the river is "normal". Duke has 31 other coal ash 

ponds on 14 sites in NC. Repeating, there is no clean coal from 

mountaintop destruction, to use and even after use. China is 

investing in better energy sources of & for the future. The U S 

should be leading but we are not. It is easier and quicker for an 

authoritative government, like China's to change than for a 

democracy to reach a majority think. 

We must recognize the problem and go to work. We need to 

conserve water and natural resources. The ridiculous proposal 

of a coal fired power plant in Sandersville, drawing cooling 

water from the Oconee River near Dublin, is hopefully, history 

and an example of worst idea for electricity. 
Wind, solar and atomic energy are all better investments for 

our future. Reduce pollution; increase life. 

To the EPA I say, give us your best science. Ignore howls from 

the ignorant. As a former Internal Revenue employee I know 

you will be criticized by most politicians and "talk shows for old 

foggies". That is sad, but do your job. Give US, the U.S. your 

best science and best work. Then as you look into the mirror 

when you apply makeup or shave you can see integrity and 

know you did your best. I know you will. Thank you.