Congressman Collins Challenges Higher Fees, More Bureaucracy for Corps Permits

Press Release

Today, Congressman Doug Collins sent a letter to Commanding General and Chief of Engineers Thomas Bostick questioning the recent Army Corps of Engineerspolicy change regarding the application process for residents to apply for Shoreline Use Permits and licenses. The Congressman, as well as the Lake Lanier Association and the Lake Hartwell Association, issued the following statement after the letter was sent:

"The Corps insists that this change is minor, but it imposes a huge burden on homeowners on the affected lakes, including multiple lakes in the Ninth District," said Congressman Collins. "Describing a change that will alter a decades-long policy as "administrative' is flippant, and dismissive of the thousands of property owners who have put down roots in these communities. Additionally, residents received little, if any, notice of the changed policy, despite the fact that it is likely to increase fees and significantly slow down the permit process. Changing a process that used to be simple into a bureaucratic maze, and forcing applicants to submit personal information that has little to do with the situation, is unnecessary and only serves to further weaken the relationship between the community and the Corps. I hope that this can be resolved in the same manner as the sudden policy changes that prohibited residents from drawing water from the lakes, when public opinion was enough to get the Corps to reconsider. "

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