STATESBORO, Ga. — On Tuesday, the Advisory Committee for the Bryan-Bulloch Groundwater Sustainability Program unanimously endorsed a proposal from Georgia Southern University for a groundwater monitoring initiative.

The session, which had a concise agenda, focused on two primary topics: progress on the construction of four new wells intended to serve the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and its neighboring regions, and updates on project proposals aimed at tracking the impact of these wells on local groundwater resources.

The proposal from Georgia Southern University seeks to observe six wells within the vicinity of the new developments.

Paul Teague, the groundwater sustainability program manager for Bryan County and a committee member, emphasized that the committee’s priority is the local community rather than the forthcoming industrial consumer.

“Our main concern isn’t solely about aiding Hyundai,” Teague explained. “It’s about acknowledging the introduction of new wells and their potential impact on the area. Thus, we plan to monitor these effects closely. We will engage with local residents, and if issues arise due to these new wells, we have the resources to address and manage them.”

Teague said a $250,000 donation from three area development authorities and from HMGMA themselves have supplied the program with a million dollars in startup money and will use funds received from the sale of water from the wells to continue the program and assist if any problems arise.

Early projections show little to no effect so far.

“From the data side [and] from the scientific side, everything that we’re seeing is pointing to evidence that the impacts are going to be minimal to really just maybe not even at all,” Teague said. That’s really the point of the sustainability program.”

With a recommendation approved, the proposal from GSU will now go before the Bryan and Bulloch County Board of Commissioners for final approval.

Bulloch County Manager Chris Eldridge said the item will be tried to be placed on the Dec. 16 agenda for Bulloch County while Teague noted that the item will not be discussed by Bryan County until their next meeting in January at the earliest.