Responsible Official FAQ

A Responsible Official (RO) is usually a principal executive officer of an organization or, for a municipality, an elected official. For a more detailed description of an RO please see the descriptions provided in the Responsible Official Authorization of Delegation form which can be found on the following web page (the form is the same for Air, Land and Watershed):
 https://epd.georgia.gov/forms-permits/watershed-protection-branch-forms…

A Preparer/Consultant is a person who can be associated with a facility by the Responsible Official (RO) to prepare applications/reports to be submitted by the RO. Preparers/Consultants can begin completing certain applications without being associated with an RO’s account (Air SIP and Title V, Municipal Wastewater and HSR/HWM Fee Invoice Reports). The RO must associate the consultant/preparer with their account and authorize them for the facility and application type before the preparer can select the facility name and send it to the RO for submission. NOTE: the consultant can submit the HSR or HWM reports without being associated with an RO.

The original of the electronic subscriber agreement (ESA) must be mailed to the address on the first page for RO approval, but ROs should first go through the e-Verify process as it gets their account approved faster. If the RO fails e-Verify on all attempts, then they must mail in the original of the paper subscriber agreement that bears the RO’s original ink signatures in sections E and F. Please use regular mail and use the complete address for faster service.

If you have a Responsible Official account, then you need to associate your facility with your account and get your RO status approved using e-Verify or, if that fails, print and mail the paper electronic subscriber agreement (ESA) signed in both sections E and F. The ESA mailed must bear the RO’s original ink signatures. If you have a preparer account, you need to have your RO associate you with their account AND authorize you for the facility and application type(s). For more information about this, see Georgia EPD Online System (GEOS) Technical Assistance.

EPD strives to approve requests within 2 business days after receipt of the paper Electronic Subscriber Agreement (ESA). If you haven’t heard from EPD or received approval within 10 business days, then you should send an email to [email protected]. Note: it is best to use regular mail to send the ESA as the faster methods cannot accept the complete mailing address and that sometimes causes delays or deliveries to the wrong location.

First, you should confirm that the preparer has an account in GEOS and that you have their correct email address used in their GEOS account.

You may add new account types at any time by logging in and clicking “My Account” on the top menu bar, then select the “Associate Facilities” tab. At the top of the screen additional account types may be selected by clicking in the check box and then clicking “Save Account.” Note that you must also click “Associate Facility” to add a new facility or to add the options to an existing facility for the new RO type that was added.

Click on the “My Account” tab at the top of the menu bar, then select the “Associate Facilities” tab. The status of your request is shown in the right hand column of the table.

No, you must mail the original Electronic Subscriber Agreement (ESA) bearing the RO’s original ink signatures in both sections E and F of the agreement. Failure to mail the original signed Subscriber Agreement will result in delays in getting your RO account authorized for your facility. Please print, sign and mail the original Subscriber Agreement to EPD at the following address at the top of the first page. Please use regular mail and use the complete address.