Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 47
Grantee:
Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Project Title:
Environmental Inspection and Compliance
Project Description as Proposed:
The Northern Neck
Planning District Commission will continue implementation and enforcement
of environmental regulations in an expanded form. The project will
assist in monitoring and managing coastal development, Chesapeake
Bay Act and Resource Protection Area activities, assure wetlands
project review and permit compliance, and provide environmental
enforcement and educational assistance for Lancaster, Northumberland,
Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties, and the six towns; Colonial
Beach, Kilmarnock, Irvington, Montross, Warsaw, and White Stone,
of the Northern Neck Region. Summarized tasks and work categories
include:
Chesapeake Bay Preservation: Inspectors will assist the localities
in administering Chespapeake Bay Act regulations and monitoring
activities within the Resource Protection Area for compliance.
Wetlands: Inspectors will conduct Joint Permit Application reviews;
perform inspections using written and photo documentation; complete
advertising, scheduling, and public notices; and monitor and enforce
permit compliance through routine and follow-up inspections. A pilot
project with VIMS will be undertaken to improve the content of applications
for wetlands board review. This will involve documenting the number
and percent of incomplete wetlands applications received by the
counties, types of improvements requested and any subsequent followup
actions.
Erosion and Sediment Control: The Environmental Inspectors will
assist in conducting plan reviews and site inspections to assure
Erosion and Sediment Control compliance.
Permit Tracking: Inspectors will develop and maintain improved database
formats for permits, inspections, and compliance.
Public Education: Inspectors will create public educational brochures
to distribute within the region. Also, two regional workshops will
be held to educate the public on environmental compliance.
Federal Funding:
$47,934
Project Contact:
Micqui D, Whiddon & Robin C. Markham, 804.333.1900
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The
Regional Environmental Inspections and Compliance project provides
assistance to the 4 counties and 6 towns of the Northern Neck Region
to implement and maintain compliance with environmental regulations.
This project consists of two regional environmental inspectors.
One inspector works primarily within the Rappahannock River Watershed
to aid Lancaster and Richmond counties and their towns; the other
inspector works primarily within the Potomac River Watershed to
aid Northumberland and Westmoreland counties and their towns.
Duties include monitoring coastal development and shoreline erosion
protection projects, working closely with the public, locality staff,
wetlands board members, and other agencies to enhance pre-construction
planning, monitoring Chesapeake Bay Act and RPA activities, conducting
wetlands project reviews, inspecting for permit compliance, assisting
with environmental enforcement, monitoring projects for erosion
and sediment control compliance (see site inspections map), and
providing environmental educational programs. Databases are being
implemented for tracking wetlands permit compliance (see enclosed
sample of working compliance database for Lancaster County).
The Regional Environmental Inspectors coordinated three educational
workshops: an RPA Development and Shoreline Management Workshop,
a Shoreline Protection and Buffer Preservation Workshop, and a "How
Your Local Wetlands Board Works For You" Workshop. Newspaper
notices, radio public service announcements, and flyers were all
used to publicize these events. A display board presentation was
exhibited at each workshop, as well as at the Rappahannock River
Summit. Also, the Regional Environmental Inspectors worked with
the Department of Forestry, Tidewater RC&D, USFWS, NRCS, and
the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District to present
a large interagency "Conservation is Cool" booth with
displays at the Richmond County Fair. A brochure was published,
"Plan, Preserve, Permit", highlighting wetlands vegetation
and forested buffers for distribution to county land use offices,
wetlands agents, realtors, and the general public. This brochure
can also be accessed through the NNPDC
Website.
Regarding a potential VIMS pilot project, a strategy session was
originally held including members of VIMS, VMRC, DEQ Coastal Program,
CBLAD and the Rappahannock River Regional Environmental Inspector
(RR-REI). As a result, the Regional Environmental Inspectors are
working closely with the Northern Neck localities to assure more
accurate review of incoming Joint Permit Applications. County staff
project reviewers are being instructed to use the JPA checklists,
as well as an additional completion checklist when performing wetlands
project reviews. We hope to continue this effort throughout the
next year. All Joint Permit Applications accepted for review are
documented in a compliance database as noted in Paragraph 2 above.
Scaled plan-view drawings, areas of wetlands vegetation, benchmarks,
and proper section views remain lacking in many incoming applications.
Both Regional Environmental Inspectors are placing special emphasis
on these items when conducting pre-construction planning with the
public, and also during educational workshops.
The State of the Chesapeake Bay Report (October 1999-EPA 903-R99-013
CBP/TRS 222/108) projects that by the Year 2020 the Chesapeake Basin
population will increase another 2½ million people. Development
will continue to increase in order to support population growth,
thus necessitating stringent land use regulations. Much of the development
in the Northern Neck region includes shoreline projects; therefore
it remains vital to implement and maintain Chesapeake Bay Act regulations,
local environmental ordinances, regulate wetlands protection, provide
erosion and sediment control monitoring, and avoid or minimize adverse
water quality impact within this portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Toward this end from October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002
the REIs performed greater than 3100 site inspections (CBPA, Wetlands,
and Erosion and Sediment Control), completed associated documentation
and correspondence, and monitored violation resolutions.
These activities resulted in increased public awareness, interaction
and feedback, and provided improved environmental planning throughout
the Northern Neck region.
Form C end
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
