There is only one extra long document, the Rules, and I will divide it so that it will transmit.

Barbara Passmore Valdosta GA

June 29, 2000 M E M O R A N D U M TO: Participants in the Georgia Greenspace Program's Public Forums and Other Interested Parties FROM: Georgia Greenspace Program Staff: Connie Bell, Gail Hankinson, and Harvey Young SUBJECT: Status Report on Rule MakingProgram Staff: Connie Bell, Gail Hankinson, and Harvey Young

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) has completed the public forums on the draft Greenspace Program Rules. We want to thank those of you who participated for taking the time to become involved with this important new program. The comments you provided will be very useful in making this program a success.

The Department held forums in twenty of the forty eligible counties, ranging north to south from Dalton to Valdosta and east to west from Savannah to Carrollton, and including several locations in the Atlanta region. The average attendance was about 19 people, for a total of 375. Participants included state and local elected officials, county and city government staff, local landowners, and representatives from various business, preservation, conservation, and recreation interest groups. The organizations most frequently represented were the Georgia Home Builders Association, the Georgia Horse Council, and the Georgia Society for Archaeology.

Most of the attendees initially wanted to learn more about the program rather than to comment on the draft rules. However, in discussion, the participants contributed many good ideas and suggestions during the public hearing process. (Many of these have been incorporated into the proposed rules dated June 23, 2000.) Attached please find a summary of the questions and comments made most frequently at the hearings.

The Department will hold one more public hearing on July 24, 2000, to take comments on the proposed rules. The Board of Natural Resources will adopt final rules at its meeting on July 26, 2000. Additional information on the public hearing and the Board meeting, along with a copy of the revised draft rules, is available on the greenspace program's Web site at HYPERLINK http://www.ganet.org/dnr/greenspace www.ganet.org/dnr/greenspace. (Copies of the public hearing notice and the proposed rules are enclosed if you did not provide an e-mail address.)

We thank you again for your interest in and your contributions to the Georgia Greenspace Program. If we can be of further assistance to you, please contact Harvey Young or Connie Bell at 404-656-5165, or Gail Hankinson at 404-463-2137.

Enclosures. Georgia Department of Natural Resources 205 Butler Street, S.E., Suite 1252 East Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4100 Lonice C. Barrett, Commissioner (404) 656-3500 FAX: (404) 656-0770

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