Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 5
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Virginia Water Protection Permit Program
Project Title:
Nontidal Wetlands
Project Description as Proposed:
Through a statutory provision the State Water Control Board has been asked to seek from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) the issuance to Virginia of a Section 404 Clean Water Act State Programmatic General Permit (SPGP) to streamline the wetland permitting process and eliminate duplicative efforts on the part of USACE and DEQ. In order to implement the SPGP, DEQ requires additional VWPP staff for permitting and compliance, as DEQ will issue permits for impacts of less than 1/2 acre where before these activities were not required to get a permit from the state. Approximately 65% of these new permits will be in the Coastal Zone, where most nontidal wetlands as well as new development activities are located. This project is to provide one FTE to work on nontidal wetland permitting and compliance activities within the Tidewater Virginia localities covered by the DEQ Piedmont Regional Office.
Federal Funding:
$69,000
Project Contact:
Ellen Gilinsky,804.698.4375, egilinsky@deq.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The
grant funding was used in 2002 through 2004 to support a Virginia
Water Protection Permit (VWPP) program permit writer in the DEQ
Piedmont Regional Office in processing and inspecting for compliance
VWPPs for impacts to wetlands and streams within Virginia's Coastal
Zone. The VWPP permit writer reviewed applications, primarily for
VWPP General Permits for impacts less than 2 acres, and coordinated
with the applicant to obtain a complete application. Coordination
included the review of avoidance and minimization of impacts to
state waters to the maximum extent practicable, as required by VWPP
regulation. The VWPP permit writer also coordinated with State and
Federal agencies, including Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the United
States Army Corps of Engineers. All permits were issued within regulatory
timeframes.
Following permit issuance, the VWP project manager conducted at
least one inspection of each project site during the construction
phase and reviewed construction monitoring reports for authorizations
issued for impacts greater than 1/10 acre. The VWP project manager
conducted follow-up review and inspections of compensation sites
for a portion of the projects. All deviations from the permit conditions
were documented and compliance issues were coordinated with DEQ
enforcement staff.
No significant changes in the program are warranted at this time,
other than additional resources for inspections to improve permit
compliance.
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
