The groundwater permits for wells in both Bulloch and Bryan counties for the Hyundai Mega Site were issued Monday by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Jeffrey W. Crown, who serves at the pleasure of the Governor, signed the permits on October 7. The issuance of both follows a ‘private ceremony’ held on October 3 for Hyundai to begin operations.
The groundwater permits authorize:
- 3.500 million gallons per day monthly average and 3.125 million gallons per day annual average from two wells in Bulloch County and
- 3.500 million gallons per day monthly average and 3.500 million gallons per day annual average from two wells in Bryan County
Both permits state that the water, drawn from the Floridan Aquifer, is for “consumptive use to provide water to the various entities at the Bryan County Industrial Mega-Site and other associated development.”
The Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority released a statement Monday saying:
“Today, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia EPD) approved the permits for the four wells to support Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and related developments. We thank the Georgia EPD for its rigorous analysis of the impact this development will have on the area’s water supply. After thoroughly reviewing the science and considering all input from the community, the Georgia EPD concluded that the four wells can meet the interim water needs.
We appreciate that any time new wells are proposed, nearby residents will be concerned about the impact on their homes and properties, and we hope they will be reassured by the depth of the analysis the Georgia EPD has provided. It validates what we have seen since we started analyzing this site 10 years ago: there is enough water to support industry and agriculture while protecting and preserving the environment. We are excited about the estimated $7.59 billion in investment HMGMA will bring and the 8,500 well-paying new jobs that will be created, and we remain committed to working with the local community to develop this area responsibly.”
