Stomwater Act could devastate growth across the Northern Neck

Northern Neck

“Tiny droplets of rain could soon cost area residents big money if state legislation comes to pass.

Nearly 10 years in the making, the New Virginia Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPP) has officials concerned, citing dire consequences to growth in rural communities if the act passes through and becomes commonwealth law.

According to new SWPP regulations, in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act program, any land disturbance of more than 2,500 square feet will incur fees, planning and annual dues that could put an abrupt halt to new construction, renovations, upgrades and home improvements statewide.

As of July 2014, in the Commonwealth’s attempt to improve the quality of local rivers, bays and their tributaries, any party–from a multi-conglomerate building an office park in Fredericksburg to a homeowner in Warsaw looking to put in a driveway–will be subject to fees that will require engineer contracts, stormwater drainage field construction and annual dues with inspections and the costs they involve, all on the taxpayers dime.”

~Writes the Northern Neck News

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Bay group: Stormwater runoff must be reduced

Chesapeake Bay

“Localities and lawmakers must do more to keep polluted runoff from fouling Virginia’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. That’s the gist of a report released Monday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which calls for tens of millions of dollars more from state legislators to help pay for stormwater runoff reductions. ‘This is clearly a problem that demands local solutions for local benefits. It’s time for all of us to reduce polluted runoff,’ CBF President Will Baker said Monday in a conference call with reporters.”

~Writes Rusty Dennen of the Free Lance–Star

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Poplar Island Restoration Project

Chesapeake Bay

“In the early 1990s, an effort was initiated by the Port of Baltimore, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Environmental Service to use material dredged from shipping channels of the upper Bay to rebuild Poplar Island near Talbot County, MD. At four miles long, the restored 1140 acre site approximates the 1847 outline of Poplar Island, which was renowned for its waterfowl, terrapins, fish and crabs. Construction began in 1998 and is expected to continue until 2020. When complete, the island will be equally divided between tidal marsh and upland, and will provide habitat for a variety of migratory and resident wildlife.”

~Center for Environmental Science: University of Maryland

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The Last House on Holland Island

Chesapeake Bay

“Built in 1888, this Victorian home from a different era has braved the elements and fought shoreline erosion on Holland Island in Chesapeake Bay for well over a century. Despite former resident and owner Stephen White’s best efforts to save the house and protect the island, the waters would overcome both and erase them from the map.

So what happened to Holland Island, and why did one man try to save it?”

~Writes Sometimes Interesting

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Gloucester supervisors seek delay of new environmental regulations

Gloucester County

“In one of its first acts of 2014, the Board of Supervisors pushed back, albeit ever so diplomatically. With new members Mike Winebarger, Phil Bazzani and John Meyer aboard, the board voted unanimously to direct County Administrator Brenda Garton draft a letter to state legislators asking to delay by a year the implementation of a state-mandated storm water management program that critics say will prove costly to home builders, homeowners, businesses and taxpayers.

The storm water management program is billed as protecting Chesapeake Bay through the development and implementation of corralling storm water to ensure sediment, nutrients and pollutants don't wash into the bay and its tributaries. Counties are supposed to enact the new regulations by July 1.

The program is anticipated to cost Gloucester County $126,000 a year for a six-year period beginning in 2014. The program comes with added ordinances and requirements — and for applicants higher fees for permits and increased costs for engineering and construction — to install infrastructure to ensure storm water doesn't overwhelm local tributaries.”

~Writes Matt Sabo of the Daily Press

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Chesapeake Bay Foundation faults US Bay Commitment

Chesapeake Bay

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation says the federal government is falling short in its commitments to clean up the bay. The foundation has been a leading voice in the multi-state, multi-billion-dollar effort to restore the bay by 2025. Partners in the historic restoration include Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, three other states and the District of Columbia.

In a news release, the foundation said its criticism is based on a review of the federal government’s 2014-15 draft milestones, as well as other actions. It concluded that the government is not meeting its commitment to expand forest buffers, limit air pollution and comply with the Clean Water Act when approving permits to reduce stormwater pollution from urban and suburban runoff.”

~Writes the newsleader.com

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