The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has created an online portal to allow the regulated community to access and submit documents online. The Georgia EPD Online System (GEOS) will soon be the tool you will need to interact with the Georgia EPD for all applications, documents and fee payments. For owners and operators of underground storage tank (UST) systems this will include everything from the Annual Tank Registration (ATR) to Environmental Assurance Fee (EAF) payments and submission of environmental corrective action reporting.Use of the GEOS online access website will not be voluntary; all UST owners and operators will be required to utilize the GEOS web based platform for doing business with the Georgia EPD.
The EPD will be phasing out paper submissions as well as the current online ATR website in favor of the new GEOS structure.
The EPD has created the GEOS portal as the method to eliminate paper submissions and modernize the procedures used to regulate industry. The GEOS website has already begun operation and is currently requiring online submission of permitting and documentation for authorized discharges to air and surface water across Georgia. The regulated community operating under these permits has been required to establish an online user account, apply for environmental permits, certificates and other licenses, submit reports, and receive e-mail notifications and alerts from the EPD, all through the GEOS online portal. All of these tasks will soon be required of the UST community as well. The EPD has not yet established the rollout date for UST owners and operators. However, the EPD has indicated that by the end of 2017 all new ATR and other business with the EPD will be handled by the GEOS website.
Point to Point Environmental (P2P) has always assisted our clients with regulatory interface with the Georgia EPD, including the preparation of compliance documentation and environmental corrective action activities. P2P works hard to stay abreast of all environmental regulations so that we can best advise our clients and navigate the web of guidelines. Point to Point Environmental understands that computer and web based reporting can present challenges to many facility owners. Point to Point personnel have been trained in the Georgia EPD’s new GEOS online permitting and reporting service and our staff have the technical knowledge and experience to assist. We are fully prepared to help our clients with setup and operations within the GEOS system. Point to Point would like to offer our services to assist your company with training and setup on the GEOS system. An experienced P2P environmental professional can come to your office or facility and assist you with the setup and completion within the GEOS system. We will perform the training in your offices and assist you and your employees to setup GEOS accounts and your facility information on your computer equipment. P2P is committed to assisting the UST community with the initial phase of this new process while positioning your company for long term ease of use in a cost effective manner.
While the new GEOS platform may appear to be just another burdensome task, Point to Point knows that no challenge is insurmountable. Point to Point Environmental can assist you with the analysis of your particular preliminary needs and develop a plan to satisfy your company’s long term requirements. Please call Mark Faas of Point to Point Environmental at (678) 565-4440 to discuss your particular situation.