General Assembly:
“Concerning stormwater, the House provides $38 million from the Virginia Public Building Authority (VPBA) for the stormwater grant program contingent upon the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) providing a grant to improve statewide digital orthography files (state mapping). The Senate shifts the $20.0 million in VPBA bond funding from the second to the first year and amends language to more clearly focus local stormwater grants on implementation of local best management practice capital projects.
The Senate also includes just over $31.4 million for agriculture best practices and $2 million for maintenance for SWCD district dams. It includes language requiring local governments imposing a stormwater utility fee to provide an annual report to DEQ on the programs being funding by the fee and the nutrient and sediment reductions expected to be accomplished by the programs. The Senate also directs a review of stormwater management program fee structure.
The Senate provides $2 million for the Dam Safety Program to address repairs needed for certain flood control dams maintained by Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The House reduces dam funding by over $1 million.
A House budget amendment provides $300,000 each year to support the eradication of hydrilla on Lake Anne, Lake Gaston and Smith Mountain Lake.”
~ David Blount, TJPDC Legislative Liaison
No comments:
Post a Comment