Virginia Coastal Program: 2002 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2002 Task 3
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Impact Review
Project Title:
Environmental Impact Review/ Federal Consistency
Project Description as Proposed:
Conduct federal consistency review of activities which can affect Virginia's coastal resources pursuant to the CZMA and the federal consistency regulations. Coordinate Virginia's review of environmental documents for development of federal and state facilities and actions which require federal approvals or assistance. Revise and update Virginia's EIR and federal consistency manuals. Provide interpretation of federal consistency requirements to federal agencies, applicants for federal permits, approvals, or funding, and consultants preparing consistency determinations or certifications. Provide training for state reviewers and local government officials on the use of federal consistency. Ensure public participation in the review of federal consistency documents. Conduct site visits as necessary.
Federal Funding:
$140,500.00
Project Contact:
Ellie Irons, 804.698.4325; Ellie.Irons@deq.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
During
FY 2002 grant year, the OEIR coordinated the review of 217 development
projects for consistency with the VCP (37 major state projects,
126 federal actions and 64 federally funded projects). All projects
were completed within the established legal time frame. During FY
2002, the OEIR developed a website for Federal Consistency for the
Commonwealth. The site can be accessed through DEQ's main webpage
or found at http://www.deq.state.va.us/eir.
The webpage includes the Commonwealth's Federal Consistency information
package, a project listMay 16, 2006 DEQ Main webpage for public notices of Federal consistency reviews.
In addition, staff completed the Commonwealth's formal review of
de minimis activities and general consistency determinations submitted
by the Department of the Navy on behalf of all Defense Logistics
Agency, US Coast Guard, and Department of Defense Navy, Air Force,
Army, and Marine Corps. The Navy intends to use the list developed
in Virginia's review as a pilot for similar activities in other
coastal states. OEIR staff also met with the Virginia Department
of Aviation to follow up on earlier discussions pertaining to developing
a Memorandum of Agreement to govern general consistency determinations
for repeated activities at airports as allowed under section 930.36
(c).
In addition, federal consistency staff participated in several activities
involving federal consistency issues including the following:
*Federal Dredging Management quarterly meeting at the Norfolk District
Army Corps of
Engineers to discuss federal navigation projects scheduled for fiscal
year 2003;
*Field visits to determine potential impacts on sensitive environmental
areas;
*Meetings at the National Park Service in Jamestown to discuss federal
consistency issues;
*Meetings with the Department of the navy to discuss consistency
issues related to the Coastal Lands Management enforceable policy
of the VCP;
*James River fish study (continuation) demonstration project; and
* Coastal committee meetings.
There were no routine program changes requiring federal consistency
updates. OEIR staff conducted three training sessions involving
state reviewers (total of 35 participants) on environmental impact
review and federal consistency requirements in lieu of formal workshops.
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
