ATLANTA- People accused of polluting Georgia's waterways would see more enticements to negotiate a settlement with state officials under a bill approved by a Senate committee. The proposal from Republican Sen. Rick Jeffares would instruct the head of the Environmental Protection Division that he could notify a polluter of his right to negotiate a settlement to the problem with the state. It would allow the director to extend by six months the deadline for any fixes deemed necessary to stop water pollution. The bill approved Wednesday would give local governments accused of pollution the option of avoiding penalty payments if they agree to fix the underlying problem, for example, a faulty sewage system. Officials for the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper said that authorities should not be encouraged to negotiate during environmental emergencies.