Virginia Coastal Program: 2004 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2004 Task 93.08
Grantee:
Environmental Law Institute
Project Title:
Virginia Coastal Program Updates
Project Description as Proposed:
The Virginia Coastal
Program (VCP) was fully approved by NOAA in 1986. Since program
approval, 9 Routine Program Updates have been submitted and approved
by NOAA in an effort to keep the core regulatory authorities of
the Virginia Coastal Program up to date. In 2004, the Coastal Program
contracted with the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) to draft Program
Change packages for 4 core enforceable polices. The Coastal Program
received comments back from NOAA on March 29, 2005 regarding those
draft packages.
Under this project, ELI will:
(1) address NOAA’s comments on the draft packages submitted
last year for Subaqueous Lands Management and the Virginia Water
Protection Permit Program statutes and
(2) prepare additional draft program change packages for the Virginia
Tidal Wetlands Act, Coastal Primary Sand Dune and Beaches Act and
the compensatory mitigation regulations and policies for tidal wetlands.
Previous Section 309 funding supported projects to analyze and develop
recommendations for improving Dunes and Wetlands policies in Virginia.
The Program Change for the compensatory mitigation policies will
incorporate policies developed through Section 309 funding. The
Program Change for the Coastal Primary Sand Dune and Beaches Act
will bring the statute up to date in preparation for future changes
as a result of Coastal Program funded studies.
ELI will identify and explain the enforceable mechanisms in the
statutes and regulations that will be included in the program change
submissions. ELI will prepare the submission in a format and content
suitable to NOAA, in conformance with OCRM Program Change Guidance
and Regulations at 15 CFR 923 by requesting feedback from NOAA throughout
the project period. However, ELI is not acting as legal counsel
to the Commonwealth.
During this process, ELI will consult regularly with the Virginia
Coastal Program and NOAA to ensure that the process is on track
and that the submissions will be suitable to both the Virginia Coastal
Program and NOAA.
Federal Funding:
$20,000
Project Contact:
Laura McKay, 804/698-4323; Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The Environmental Law Institute prepared detailed responses to NOAA’s preliminary review of proposed Routine Program Changes to Virginia’s Subaqueous Land Management Program, and revised the narrative and tabular descriptions of the Routine Program Changes.
The Environmental Law Institute prepared detailed responses to NOAA’s preliminary review of proposed Routine Program Changes to Virginia’s Water Protection Permit Program Statutes, and revised the narrative and tabular descriptions of the Routine Program Changes.
The Environmental Law Institute prepared updated proposed Routine Program Changes to Virginia’s Water Protection Permit Program regulations to reflect regulatory changes made since September 2004, and revised the narrative and tabular descriptions of the Routine Program Changes.
The Environmental Law Institute reviewed statutory and program changes to the Coastal Primary Sand Dunes and Beaches Act, and prepared a narrative and tabular description to support approval by NOAA as a proposed Routine Program Change.
The Environmental Law Institute reviewed statutory and program changes to the Tidal Wetlands Act, and prepared a narrative and tabular description to support approval by NOAA as a proposed Routine Program Change.
The Environmental Law Institute reviewed the Tidal Wetlands Act Compensatory Mitigation Regulation and Policy, and prepared a narrative and tabular description to support approval of the policy by NOAA as a proposed Routine Program Change.
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
