Source: https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2013/hb1757/fulltext/
Timestamp: 2019-08-22 11:27:54
Document Index: 416460081

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 28', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 1251', '§ 403', '§ 62', 'art 332', '§ 62', '§ 62', '§ 1251', '§ 403', '§ 62', 'art 332', 'art 332']

HB1757EH1
HB1757H1
HOUSE BILL NO. 1757 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Scott, E.T.) House Amendments in [ ] -- January 25, 2013 A BILL to amend and reenact § 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.2 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.15:24, relating to establishment of the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund.
1. That § 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2.2 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.15:24 as follows:
B. Permits shall contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands. Such compensation requirements shall be sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions and may be met through (i) wetland creation or restoration, (ii) purchase or use of mitigation bank credits pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:23, (iii) contribution to the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund established pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:24 to provide compensation for impacts to wetlands, streams, or other state waters that occur in areas where neither mitigation bank credits nor credits from a Board-approved fund that have met the success criteria are available at the time of permit application, or (iv) contribution to a Board-approved fund dedicated to achieving no net loss of wetland acreage and functions. When utilized in conjunction with creation, restoration, or mitigation bank credits, compensation may incorporate (i) (a) preservation or restoration of upland buffers adjacent to wetlands or other state waters or (ii) (b) preservation of wetlands.
G. No Virginia Water Protection Permit shall be required for impacts to wetlands caused by activities governed under Chapter 13 (§ 28.2-100 et seq.) of Title 28.2 or normal agricultural activities or normal silvicultural activities. This section shall also not apply to normal residential gardening, lawn and landscape maintenance, or other similar activities that are incidental to an occupant's ongoing residential use of property and of minimal ecological impact. The Board shall develop criteria governing this exemption and shall specifically identify the activities meeting these criteria in its regulations.
§ 62.1-44.15:24. Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund established.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All contributions to the Board pursuant to clause (iii) of subsection B of § 62.1-44.15:21 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall be administered and utilized by the Department of Environmental Quality. The Fund may be used as an additional mechanism for compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources (i) that result from activities authorized under (a) Section 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), (b) the Virginia Water Protection Permit Regulation (9 VAC 25-210 et seq.), or (c) Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. § 403); (ii) that result in unauthorized activities in waters of the United States or state waters; and (iii) in other cases, as the appropriate regulatory agencies deem acceptable. Moneys in the Fund shall be used for the purpose of purchasing mitigation bank credits in compliance with the provisions of subsection A of § 62.1-44.15:23 as soon as practicable if qualifying credits are available. If such credits are not available within three years of the collection of moneys for a specific impact, then funds shall be utilized either (1) to purchase credits from a Board-approved fund that have met the success criteria, if qualifying credits are available, (2) for the planning, construction, monitoring, and preservation of wetland and stream mitigation projects and preservation, enhancement, or restoration of upland buffers adjacent to wetlands or other state waters when used in conjunction with creation or restoration of wetlands and streams, or (3) for other water quality improvement projects as deemed acceptable by the Department of Environmental Quality. Such projects developed under clause [ (1) (2) ] shall be developed in accordance with guidelines, responsibilities, and standards established by the Department of Environmental Quality for use, operation, and maintenance consistent with 33 CFR Part 332, governing compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by U.S. Army Corps of Engineer permits. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. The Department may charge a reasonable fee to administer the Fund.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1757 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 23, 2013) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Scott, E.T.) A BILL to amend and reenact § 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.2 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.15:24, relating to establishment of the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All contributions to the Board pursuant to clause (iii) of subsection B of § 62.1-44.15:21 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. The Fund shall be administered and utilized by the Department of Environmental Quality. The Fund may be used as an additional mechanism for compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources (i) that result from activities authorized under (a) Section 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), (b) the Virginia Water Protection Permit Regulation (9 VAC 25-210 et seq.), or (c) Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. § 403); (ii) that result in unauthorized activities in waters of the United States or state waters; and (iii) in other cases, as the appropriate regulatory agencies deem acceptable. Moneys in the Fund shall be used for the purpose of purchasing mitigation bank credits in compliance with the provisions of subsection A of § 62.1-44.15:23 as soon as practicable if qualifying credits are available. If such credits are not available within three years of the collection of moneys for a specific impact, then funds shall be utilized either (1) to purchase credits from a Board-approved fund that have met the success criteria, if qualifying credits are available, (2) for the planning, construction, monitoring, and preservation of wetland and stream mitigation projects and preservation, enhancement, or restoration of upland buffers adjacent to wetlands or other state waters when used in conjunction with creation or restoration of wetlands and streams, or (3) for other water quality improvement projects as deemed acceptable by the Department of Environmental Quality. Such projects developed under clause (1) shall be developed in accordance with guidelines, responsibilities, and standards established by the Department of Environmental Quality for use, operation, and maintenance consistent with 33 CFR Part 332, governing compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by U.S. Army Corps of Engineer permits. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. The Department may charge a reasonable fee to administer the Fund.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1757 Offered January 9, 2013 Prefiled January 8, 2013 A BILL to amend and reenact 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.2 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.15:24, relating to establishment of the Aquatic Resources Improvements Fund.
1. That 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2.2 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.15:24 as follows:
62.1-44.15:21. Impacts to wetlands.
B. Permits shall contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands. Such compensation requirements shall be sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions and may be met through (i) wetland creation or restoration, (ii) purchase or use of mitigation bank credits pursuant to 62.1-44.15:23, (iii) contribution to the Aquatic Resources Improvements Fund established pursuant to 62.1-44.15:24 to provide compensation for impacts to wetlands, streams, or other state waters that occur in areas where mitigation bank credits are not available at the time of permit application, or (iv) contribution to a Board-approved fund dedicated to achieving no net loss of wetland acreage and functions. When utilized in conjunction with creation, restoration, or mitigation bank credits, compensation may incorporate (i) (a) preservation or restoration of upland buffers adjacent to wetlands or other state waters or (ii) (b) preservation of wetlands.
C. The Board shall utilize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' "Wetlands Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1, January 1987, Final Report" as the approved method for delineating wetlands. The Board shall adopt appropriate guidance and regulations to ensure consistency with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' implementation of delineation practices. The Board shall also adopt guidance and regulations for review and approval of the geographic area of a delineated wetland. Any such approval of a delineation shall remain effective for a period of five years; however, if the Board issues a permit pursuant to this article for an activity in the delineated wetland within the five-year period, the approval shall remain effective for the term of the permit. Any delineation accepted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as sufficient for its exercise of jurisdiction pursuant to 404 of the Clean Water Act shall be determinative of the geographic area of that delineated wetland.
2. Facilities and activities of utilities and public service companies regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or State Corporation Commission. No Board action on an individual or general permit for such facilities shall alter the siting determination made through Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or State Corporation Commission approval. The Board and the State Corporation Commission shall develop a memorandum of agreement pursuant to 56-46.1, 56-265.2, 56-265.2:1, and 56-580 to ensure that consultation on wetland impacts occurs prior to siting determinations;
G. No Virginia Water Protection Permit shall be required for impacts to wetlands caused by activities governed under Chapter 13 ( 28.2-100 et seq.) of Title 28.2 or normal agricultural activities or normal silvicultural activities. This section shall also not apply to normal residential gardening, lawn and landscape maintenance, or other similar activities that are incidental to an occupant's ongoing residential use of property and of minimal ecological impact. The Board shall develop criteria governing this exemption and shall specifically identify the activities meeting these criteria in its regulations.
H. No Virginia Water Protection Permit shall be required for impacts caused by the construction or maintenance of farm or stock ponds, but other permits may be required pursuant to state and federal law. For purposes of this exclusion, farm or stock ponds shall include all ponds and impoundments that do not fall under the authority of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board pursuant to Article 2 ( 10.1-604 et seq.) of Chapter 6 pursuant to normal agricultural or silvicultural activities.
62.1-44.15:24. Aquatic Resources Improvements Fund established.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Aquatic Resources Improvements Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All contributions to the Board pursuant to clause (iii) of subsection B of 62.1-44.15:21 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used for the purpose of purchasing mitigation bank credits pursuant to the conditions established in 62.1-44.15:23 as soon as practicable if qualifying credits are available. If such credits are not available within five years of the collection of moneys for a specific impact, then the funds shall be utilized either (i) to purchase credits in the closest fourth order subbasin regardless of river watershed, as defined by the hydrologic unit boundaries of the National Watershed Boundary Dataset, as the impacted site, or (ii) for the planning, construction, monitoring, and preservation of wetland and stream mitigation projects that shall be developed in accordance with guidelines, responsibilities, and standards established by the Department of Environmental Quality for use, operation and maintenance consistent with federal regulation 33CFR Part 332, governing compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by U.S Army Corps of Engineers permits. Any projects sponsored by the Board shall comply with the provisions of subsection A of 62.1-44.15:23. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. The Department may charge a reasonable fee to administer the Fund.
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