#GeorgiaEPD | AM 1180 Radio

October 12, 2026

Georgia EPD Closes Investigation Into Chattooga County School Bus Garage

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ChattoogaInfo, #EnvironmentalInvestigation, #GeorgiaEPD, #northwestgeorgia, #SchoolBusGarage, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has closed its investigation into an environmental complaint involving the Chattooga County Schools Transportation Department, finding no evidence that state waters were impacted by oil, diesel fuel or other vehicle fluids.

October 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sewer Line Backup Sends Cooking-Based Oil Into Creek Near Lyerly Street

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfSummerville, #CreekPollution, #EnvironmentalProtection, #EPD, #GeorgiaEPD, #GeorgiaRugMill, #LyerlyStreet, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SewerBackup, #SummervilleFireDepartment, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #Wastewater, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Summerville Police said Tuesday afternoon that city police and fire personnel were notified of a discolored material in the creek near Lyerly Street.

After consulting with other city departments, officials learned that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division had reported the material to the city earlier in the day, prompting personnel from Summerville’s Water and Sewer Department and Wastewater Treatment Plant to respond.

During the inspection, city crews identified a sewer line backup at a trucking facility on the former Georgia Rug Mill property. According to the city, a displaced manhole allowed some of the backed-up material to enter the creek.

City crews were able to vacuum up a quantity of the visible material from the creek and dispose of it at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The trucking company told city officials that the substance was a cooking-based oil. City workers collected water samples for laboratory analysis and also sent samples to EPD.

Summerville Police said once the assessment of the incident and the material is complete, required regulatory reports will be submitted. At this time, ongoing monitoring is not expected to be necessary.

City officials thanked residents for reporting potential hazards and said the quick notification allowed crews to respond and address the situation.

October 6, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

EPD Reviewing Complaints Over Alleged Trash Burning Near Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #AirQuality, #AirQualityControl, #BurnBarrel, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #EnvironmentalComplaint, #EnvironmentalInvestigation, #EnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #EnvironmentalSafety, #EPD, #FireSafety, #GeorgiaEnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #GeorgiaEPD, #northwestgeorgia, #OpenBurning, #PublicSafety, #SolidWaste, #summervillega, #TrashBurning, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is reviewing complaints concerning alleged household garbage burning at a residence near Summerville.

September 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia’s Summer Burn Ban Comes To An End

Local News, Local News Items #BurnBan, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #FireSafety, #GeorgiaEPD, #GeorgiaForestryCommission, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #OpenBurning, #OutdoorBurning, #PennvilleGA, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #trionga, #WildfirePrevention, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YardDebris, georgia 0

Wednesday marks the final day of Georgia’s annual summer open burning ban, meaning some outdoor burning will again be allowed in Chattooga County beginning Thursday, October 1.

September 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

EPD Investigating New Environmental Complaint At Chattooga County School Bus Garage

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountynews, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfSummerville, #DieselFuel, #EducationNews, #EnvironmentalComplaint, #EnvironmentalInvestigation, #EnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #EPD, #GeorgiaEPD, #LocalNews, #MichelleHelie, #northwestgeorgia, #OilSpill, #PennStreet, #PublicSchools, #SchoolBusBarn, #SchoolBusGarage, #summervillega, #TransportationDepartment, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is investigating a new complaint involving the Chattooga County Schools Transportation Department, while Superintendent Michelle Helie says a similar complaint earlier this year was investigated and ultimately determined to be unfounded.

September 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Moderate Drought Reaches Lookout Mountain In Northwestern Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #AbnormallyDry, #agriculture, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Cloudland, #Drought, #DryConditions, #Farmers, #GeorgiaDrought, #GeorgiaEPD, #LookoutMountain, #ModerateDrought, #northwestgeorgia, #USDroughtMonitor, #WalkerCountyGA, #WaterConservation, #weather, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Dry conditions are worsening in Chattooga County, with a portion of the county now officially classified as being in moderate drought.

September 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summer Burn Ban Ends Next Week In Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BurnBan, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #FireSafety, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaEPD, #GeorgiaForestryCommission, #GFC, #GordonCountyGA, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #October1, #OpenBurning, #OutdoorBurning, #PennvilleGA, #SummerBurnBan, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WildfirePrevention, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YardDebris 0

Chattooga County residents will once again be able to burn certain yard debris beginning next week as Georgia’s annual summer open-burning ban comes to an end.

September 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Northwest Georgia Summer Burn Ban Ends October 1

Local News, Local News Items #BurnBan, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountynews, #ChattoogaInfo, #FireSafety, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaBurnBan, #GeorgiaEnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #GeorgiaEPD, #GeorgiaForestryCommission, #georgianews, #GordonCountyGA, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #OpenBurning, #OutdoorBurning, #SummerBurnBan, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WildfirePrevention, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YardDebris 0

Residents across much of Northwest Georgia have less than three weeks remaining under Georgia’s annual summer outdoor burning ban.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville PFAS Lawsuit Moves Forward Against Major Chemical Manufacturers

Local News, Local News Items #3M, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Chemours, #CityOfSummerville, #CleanWater, #CommunityNews, #DaikinAmerica, #DrinkingWater, #DuPont, #EnvironmentalNews, #EnvironmentalProtection, #FederalCourt, #ForeverChemicals, #GeorgiaEPD, #LocalNews, #MountVernonMills, #NorthernDistrictofGeorgia, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PFAS, #PFASContamination, #PublicUtilities, #RaccoonCreek, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #SummervilleWater, #townoftrion, #trionga, #WaterCustomers, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A federal lawsuit over PFAS contamination of Summerville’s drinking water supply continues moving toward trial after a federal judge rejected efforts by major chemical manufacturers to dispose of significant portions of the case.

September 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Moving Forward With Groundwater Storage Tank And Water Main Replacement

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfSummerville, #DrinkingWater, #DrinkingWaterStateRevolvingFund, #DWSRF, #GEFA, #GeorgiaEnvironmentalFinanceAuthority, #GeorgiaEnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #GeorgiaEPD, #georgianews, #Groundwater, #Infrastructure, #InfrastructureImprovements, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #MunicipalUtilities, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicUtilities, #summervillega, #SummervilleUtilities, #SummervilleWater, #WaterInfrastructure, #WaterMain, #WaterSystem, #WaterTank, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The City of Summerville is moving forward with another project aimed at improving the city’s drinking water system, according to records from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.