The Atlanta Regional Commission is objecting to language in a proposal from the state of Georgia for allocation of water in the region, saying it unfairly restricts Fayette County's access to water.

Meanwhile, the public will get a chance to comment on the environmental impact of the proposal during public meetings Nov. 18 and 19.

According to ARC's written comments, the state proposal "eliminates the current and future needs of Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale counties to be supplied from the Chattahoochee River basin and is inconsistent with the ARC Regional Water Supply Plan.

"We strongly object to this language given the unnecessary harm it will cause these counties," the comments continue.

Fayette depends upon purchases from the city of Atlanta for part of its water supply, the water coming from the Chattahoochee. "There has been no damage to downstream users from past use, and the future increase in demand is relatively insignificant," the ARC said. "We request that this language be eliminated from the proposal or significantly modified."

Georgia's proposal is part of a three-state negotiation over water rights in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint river basins.

Georgia, Alabama and Florida have been working for about four years to devise an allocation formula for water from the three basins, and are under a federally imposed mandate to finish their work this year.

"They're finally getting to the point where they're going to tell us what they're going to do to us," said Tony Parrott, director of Fayette's water department. He said he hasn't been able to fully digest the 100-plus-page proposal and isn't sure how the county will respond. "I'm in the dark too," he said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also recently completed the first draft of environmental impact statements based on the allocation formula and will conduct public meetings during November. Two hearings are scheduled in Georgia:

Nov. 18 at Kennesaw State University's gymnasium, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw.

Nov. 19 in the Columbus Convention and Trade Center North Hall, 801 Front Ave., Columbus.

Both meetings will be 5 - 8 p.m. Public comment will be taken through Dec. 18. The draft statement is available for review at the Newnan-Coweta County Public Library in Newnan.