ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia House has approved a bill that would require state environmental regulators to consult with local officials on how best to handle toxic spills.
House lawmakers backed the measure 157-0 on Wednesday, and it now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
Environmental groups began pushing for the law after a series of spills revealed problems in emergency response.
For example, firefighters poured water on a chemical plant to put out a blaze in 2010, inadvertently washing formaldehyde and other chemicals from the factory into a nearby creek. An estimated 15,000 fish later died.
If a spill threatened downstream health or safety, environmental officials would have to consult with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
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