ATLANTA — Chatham County’s refusal to pay the expenses to mitigate a disturbance of a marsh area at a boat ramp has led to passage of a new bill to require a defined buffer.

Legislation passed by the Senate Natural Resources Committee, introduced by Senator Ben Watson, of Savannah, will set a buffer requirement on salt water marshes to 25 feet.  These undeveloped strips of land will reduce erosion and filter land-based pollutants like fertilizer, insecticides and oil from parking lots before they reach the marsh.  It is designed to also protect marshes in their role in developing seafood species.

Supporters applauded the effort, but believe it should be stronger in preventing exceptions from occurring.  Exceptions for sea walls could allow factories, for example, to be constructed right next to marsh.  Business leaders opposing the legislation note exemptions will be crucial in avoiding expensive variance requests of which environmentalists can challenge in court.  Those challenges lead many times to lengthy and expensive development processes.