Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 3
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Impact Review
Project Title:
Environmental Impact Review and Federal Consistency
Project Description as Proposed:
Staff working in
the Office of Environmental Impact Review conducts federal consistency
reviews pursuant to the CZMA. The EIR unit is responsible for the
coordination of Virginia's review of environmental documents for
development of federal and state facilities and DEQ's review of
local projects receiving federal funds. One Environmental Program
Manager and two planners work under the Director of the Division
of Environmental Enhancement to ensure that state and federal facilities
and federal actions occurring within Virginia's designated coastal
management area (as well actions located outside of the coastal
area which can affect coastal resources) receive appropriate and
comprehensive environmental review. The scope of the work includes:
* Review and respond to all state EIRs, Federal EAs, EISs, and federal
consistency
determinations/certifications within legal time frames;
* Revise and update federal consistency manual;
* Provide interpretation and technical advice on federal consistency
requirements;
* Participate in Corps of Engineers Dredging Management meetings;
* Conduct site vists as necessary;
* Train state and local government reviewers on the use of federal
consistency.
Staff in the EIR unit also participates in coastal issues as needed.
For example, EIR staff assisted the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance
Department in developing strategies to address enforcement issues
associated with the incorporation of CBLAD's regulations as an enforceable
program of the VCP. The EIR unit needs a lap top computer to facilitate
power point presentations in the upcoming training sessions planned
for localities, planning district commissions, state reviewers and
DEQ's regional office staff assisting the EIR unit in conducting
federal consistency reviews.
Federal Funding:
$122,949
Project Contact:
Ellie Irons, 804.698.4325
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
During FY 2000, there was an unprecedented increase in the number of projects submitted for review resulting in a heavy workload for federal consistency coordinators. This situation was further exacerbated by the resignation of one of the coordinators. Thanks to Anne Newsom for volunteering to help during this difficult time. Despite the heavy workload and decreased staff, the OEIR completed the review of all the projects submitted within the legal time frames. However, in order to cope with the heavy workload, federal consistency coordinators were unable to attend workshops, meetings, and other training sessions planned for FY 2000. These tasks were completed in FY 2001. During FY 2000, the Environmental Impact Review/Federal Consistency Section reviewed 183 development projects in Tidewater for consistency with the VCP (of the 333 development projects reviewed). Major state projects accounted for 46 projects, 100 were federal actions, and 37 were federally funded projects (predominantly local government projects). The 100 federal projects included 81 direct federal action and 19 indirect federal actions (licenses and approvals). Expenditures from FY 2000 grant included:
Improving EIR/Federal Consistency Tracking Database: Entailed purchasing Filemaker 5.0 software and hiring a contractor to train 4 EIR/Federal Consistency staff. All projects reviewed since January 2000 are currently logged in the tracking system.
Preparing training materials and consistency information package. OEIR prepared training material and conducted a federal consistency workshop at the Virginia Coastal Workshop in December 2001. OEIR also compiled an information package on the revised federal consistency regulations and federal consistency requirements of the VCP. Over three hundred of these packages have been distributed to federal, state, and local government agencies. A section of this package is available on DEQ's website: www.deq.state.va.us\coastal\federal.html
In addition, federal consistency staff participated in several activities involving federal consistency issues including the following:1. Federal Dredging Management quarterly meeting at the Norfolk
District Army Corps of
Engineers to discuss federal navigation projects scheduled for fiscal
year 2000;
2. Field visits to determine potential impacts on sensitive environmental
areas;
3. Scoping meetings at the National Park Service in Jamestown to
discuss federal consistency issues;
4. James River fish study (continuation) demonstration project;
and
5. Coastal committee meetings.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
