AG Herring backs federal Bay cleanup plan

Chesapeake Bay:

“Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced Thursday that he filed an amicus brief in support of the federal Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan that is being challenged in a federal court case by the American Farm Bureau Federation and attorneys general in 21 states. The case is pending before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal district court had upheld the plan…

Efforts to clean the bay have been underway since the mid-1980s. The latest plan aims to put enough pollution controls in place by 2025 to restore the bay, with most of the controls being implemented by 2017. The effort could cost Virginians more than $15 billion, according to state estimates.

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration worked to develop the current cleanup plan. But some environmentalists complained last year that the state was falling behind in meeting certain goals, including the use of modern methods to reduce stormwater runoff.”

~Writes Markus Schmidt of the Richmond Times-Dispatch

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Supervisors consider fee structure for stormwater management

Gloucester County:

“The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors was asked at its April 1 meeting to consider fees for stormwater management to advertise for a public hearing on the matter, which is scheduled for June 3. Gloucester’s environmental programs administrator Scott Rae updated the board of supervisors during its meeting in the colonial courthouse on a stormwater management program, mandated by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.

Gloucester supervisors are exploring managing the new requirements locally versus having the state DEQ administer the program. Therefore, the county must submit its final plan to DEQ by mid-June. According to Rae, the purpose of the stormwater management plan is to protect local water resources by minimizing off-site transport of sediment and other pollutants during and after construction.

County staff is currently proposing a set of fees for developing property in Gloucester, with a stormwater review base fee of $750, plus a per-acre cost and a land disturbance base fee of $200, plus per-acre cost. However, the board of supervisors will essentially have the final say in setting the fees for permitting and stormwater review.

Rae told supervisors that one thing they must decide is whether to set the fees lower to benefit business development, effectively offsetting county services through the use of general fund money, or they may set fees at a higher rate to meet the services provided and reduce reliance on the tax-sourced general fund.”

~ Writes Quinton Sheppard the Gazette-Journal

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House of Delegates passes storm runoff bill

General Assembly:

“Legislation moving forward in the Virginia General Assembly will allow area counties to opt out of a mandate on monitoring runoff from building sites. The House of Delegates on Wednesday passed a bill that allows most counties across the state to let the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality manage stormwater monitoring for development. The House voted 93-1 in favor of the bill sponsored by Del. M. Keith Hodges, R-Urbanna, which includes several other pieces of related legislation.

Hodges said Wednesday this bill would let smaller, rural counties opt out of a requirement seen as a costly endeavor handed down by the state. ‘That was the initial goal, was to give the localities the relief and remove the unfunded mandate,’ Hodges said.

The counties of Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren and others could ask the DEQ to allow them to opt out of the mandate. Local governments faced a July 1 deadline to implement programs designed to monitor runoff from construction. The Warren County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a resolution of support for the bill.

An emergency clause included in the bill allows the legislation to take effect as soon as Gov. Terry McAuliff signs it, Hodges explained. The clause lets counties off the hook for meeting DEQ deadlines and allows the state agency to prepare for the transition, Hodges explained.”

~Writes Alex Bridges of Northern Virginia Daily

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Important announcement from DEQ

Department of Environmental Quality

“Announcement of a meeting to present and discuss preliminary milestones for Chesapeake Bay restoration and the state-wide Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan. PUBLIC MEETING LOCATION: Webcast to each DEQ Regional Office on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Office locations can be found here”

~VAEPO

Stormwater Management Bills

General Assembly

“As mentioned in the last newsletter, revisions to the state’s stormwater management laws are getting a top billing at the General Assembly. The House Agriculture Committee overwhelmingly has approved a comprehensive measure that incorporates a number of changes proposed by the various bills that were introduced by delegates. The changes are incorporated into HB 1173 and include the following provisions: 

1. Reciprocity with other states regarding best management practices;
2. Approval of a program with common plan of development conveys to individual parcels;
3. Submission of an agreement in lieu of a permit where land-disturbing activity results from the construction of a single-family residence;
4. Allowance for non-MS4s to opt out of the program and have DEQ manage it; and
5. An emergency clause, meaning the bill would take effect upon passage and signing by the governor, rather than on July 1.

 The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider its various stormwater bills next Thursday; it is expected that its bill will look similar to the House version, but perhaps provide MS4 localities with greater flexibility to meet water quality standards. The full House will take up its measure early next week.”

~Writes David Blount TJPDC Legislative Liaison

General Assembly to Address Stormwater Management

General Assembly

“More than a dozen bills have been submitted to the 2014 General Assembly that address stormwater management. It is likely that the various House and Senate bills will be lumped into a comprehensive piece of legislation in each chamber that addresses many of the issues raised in the individual bills. The likely vehicles for the revised provisions are HB 261 and SB 423. As introduced, these bills authorize the State Water Control Board to adopt regulations that create a procedure for approving permits for individual parcels in a common plan of development, provide a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities that omits unneeded information on post-construction water quality standards, and provide reciprocity with other states regarding certification of best management practices. These bills also allow the submission of an agreement in lieu of a permit where land-disturbing activity results from the construction of a single-family residence, but neither provides any delay of the July 1, 2014 requirement for local management of stormwater programs (these final two items are positions taken by the TJPD Legislative Program). Four introduced bills would provide a one year delay in the requirement. Another, HB 1173, allows any locality that does not operate a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to opt out of establishing its own stormwater management program.”

~Writes David Blount of the Thomas Jefferson PDC

Stomwater Act could devastate growth across the Northern Neck

Northern Neck

“Tiny droplets of rain could soon cost area residents big money if state legislation comes to pass.

Nearly 10 years in the making, the New Virginia Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPP) has officials concerned, citing dire consequences to growth in rural communities if the act passes through and becomes commonwealth law.

According to new SWPP regulations, in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act program, any land disturbance of more than 2,500 square feet will incur fees, planning and annual dues that could put an abrupt halt to new construction, renovations, upgrades and home improvements statewide.

As of July 2014, in the Commonwealth’s attempt to improve the quality of local rivers, bays and their tributaries, any party–from a multi-conglomerate building an office park in Fredericksburg to a homeowner in Warsaw looking to put in a driveway–will be subject to fees that will require engineer contracts, stormwater drainage field construction and annual dues with inspections and the costs they involve, all on the taxpayers dime.”

~Writes the Northern Neck News

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Bay group: Stormwater runoff must be reduced

Chesapeake Bay

“Localities and lawmakers must do more to keep polluted runoff from fouling Virginia’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. That’s the gist of a report released Monday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which calls for tens of millions of dollars more from state legislators to help pay for stormwater runoff reductions. ‘This is clearly a problem that demands local solutions for local benefits. It’s time for all of us to reduce polluted runoff,’ CBF President Will Baker said Monday in a conference call with reporters.”

~Writes Rusty Dennen of the Free Lance–Star

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1on1: Virginia Stormwater Management Permit program

City of Harrisonburg

“The state is mandating localities to implement a Virginia Stormwater Management Permit program beginning this July. Harrisonburg City Engineer Dan Rublee explains the program.”
~Reports Bob Corso WHSV – ABC3

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Albemarle undecided on how to fund expanded stormwater program

Albemarle County

“The Albemarle Board of Supervisors is keeping three options on the table to pay for a state mandate to expand the scope of its water resources protection program. The county is expected to increase spending on the program from $414,000 in the next fiscal year to $1.23 million in 2019 to comply with changes to the Virginia Stormwater Management Program… The additional money will pay for inspectors and reviewers to look over blueprints for how development projects will mitigate the velocity of stormwater created after undeveloped land is disturbed.”

~Writes Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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Video on Stormwater Runoff

Focused Topic 

Richmond Times-Dispatch environmental writer Rex Springston discusses the effects of stormwater runoff.

                                   

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Town of Christiansburg Receives Grants for Stormwater Projects

Town of Christiansburg

“The Commonwealth of Virginia has awarded the Town of Christiansburg $631,000 in grant money from the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund.  The Stormwater Local Assistance Fund is managed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and was established to make $35 million available in matching grant funds to local governments for best management practices that reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.

The Town is one of 31 localities to receive grant funds. Four grants were awarded to the Town for three projects; the Diamond Hills Stream Restoration Project, the Depot Street Drainage Basin Stream Restoration Project and the Christiansburg Industrial Park Basin Conversion Project.”

~Writes NRVNews

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Roanoke County awarded grant to assist storm water projects

Roanoke County

“Roanoke County has been awarded $753,550 in grant money under the state Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to assist in meeting water quality standards set by the federal government. The money is managed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which makes $35 million available in matching grants to aid local governments.

The county will use the funds on two projects: Glade Creek stream restoration at Vineyard Park and stream restoration at Murray Run and Ogden Road. The projects aim to reduce phosphorus levels in storm water. The town of Christiansburg and the city of Lexington also will receive grants. Lexington will receive $225,000 and Christiansburg $631,000 for various projects.”

~Writes Chase Purdy of The Roanoke Times

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County will Move Ahead on Stormwater Management

Isle of Wight

“Isle of Wight's Board of Supervisors will go ahead with plans to implement new federal and state stormwater management regulations – but they won't like it. The issue raised the ire of some county residents earlier this year when the Board approved an annual stormwater fee to fund federal and state mandates aimed at curbing pollution and water contamination, effective July 1. For most, the fee will be $72 and will be included with their real estate tax bill.

However, commercial entities will pay based on the amount of ‘impervious area’ on their property – surfaces like asphalt, concrete, rooftops and gravel that contribute to runoff. The county will collect about$1.4 million from the fees, which will help to regulate stormwater runoff and permitting at the local level, as well as actually developing and installing management technologies around the county.”

~Writes Ryan Murphy of the Daily Press

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