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. 2 nd . 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.