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| Vol. 23, No. 2 |
April 16, 2015 |
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In This Issue:
5th Annual Reston Kids' Trout Fishing Day is a Huge Success!
Northern Long-Eared Bat Listed as Threatened
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Survey Window is Approaching
New Expiration Dates for DEQ Wetland Permits
DEQ Proposes Major Changes to Wetland Permits
New Floodplain Rules Proposed
WSSI Adds Architectural Historian Services
5th Annual Reston Kids' Trout Fishing Day is a Huge Success! |
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Over 325 children under 12 years old, with parents and siblings in tow, turned out for the 5th Annual Reston Kids' Trout Fishing Day on March 21st in Reston, Virginia. The event, sponsored by Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI), Reston Association, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited, provided a venue for children ages 2-12 to spend a day outdoors and, for some, the opportunity to catch their first fish.
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Northern Long-Eared Bat Listed as Threatened - Could Delay Land Clearing |
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On April 2, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued their Final Rule listing of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as threatened. This listing could affect all development in Virginia and Maryland on sites with forested cover that require a federal action (such as a wetland permit, floodplain compliance, federal financing, federal highway access, etc.). Additionally, the USFWS issued an Interim 4(d) Rule which allows for exemptions for certain activities. However, typical clearing of forested lands for development is not included under these exempt activities.
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Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Survey Window is Approaching |
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If you are undertaking a project that will impact tidal waters, you will likely be required to undertake surveys to document the presence or absence of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) within your project area. Example projects include boat piers/docks, marinas, and channel dredging operations.
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New Expiration Dates for DEQ Wetland Permits |
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The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administratively changed the expiration dates for wetland and stream permits – authorizations under the Virginia Water Protection (VWP) General Permits (GPs) – on March 11, 2015. Now general wetlands permits (WP1, WP2, WP3, and WP4) that expire before July 31, 2021 can be extended only when the request is submitted to DEQ before July 1, 2016. A proposed plan change or new permit cannot be extended past July 31, 2021. Now is a good time to evaluate your project’s timeline and consider a request for an extension.
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DEQ Proposes Major Changes to Wetland Permits |
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Major changes are on the horizon for the Virginia Water Protection Permit regulations. Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) staff have been involved in the revision process and are prepared to guide you and your projects through the changes that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) proposed to the State Water Control Board (SWCB) on March 30, 2015. DEQ staff obtained approval from the SWCB to proceed to Notice of Public Comment and a hearing on the proposed amendments to the main regulation and associated General Permit regulations...
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New Floodplain Rules Proposed |
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President Obama’s new Executive Order 13690 (EO 13690) calls for the creation of a new flood risk reduction standard for federally funded projects in an effort to improve the Nation’s resilience to current and future flood risks. Although the intent is to address requirements for projects that are funded with taxpayer dollars, the supporting language may result in any project involving federal action, including federal permitting (i.e wetland permits) or review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), having to meet higher flood resiliency standards. FEMA is soliciting public comments through May 6, 2015, to provide input on the draft guidelines for implementing these new standards. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is extremely concerned about these proposed standards - as detailed in their recent newsletter.
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WSSI Adds Architectural Historian Services |
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Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) is pleased to announce that our Thunderbird Archeology division will now provide in-house architectural historian services as part of our full-service cultural resource consulting. We have expanded our team by adding the expertise of Anna Maas, a Senior Architectural Historian and Planner formerly of Corn Island Archaeology in Louisville, Kentucky, and John Milner Associates. Our strong and experienced cultural resources team now provides an expanded menu of regulatory compliance and preservation planning services.
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About Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI):WSSI is the leading provider of natural and cultural resource consulting services in Northern Virginia. The firm has worked on a total of over 5,000 projects, comprising 200,000 acres, and has created hundreds of acres of wetlands and restored miles of streams. Our team of 90+ engineers, scientists, archeologists, ecosystem technicians, GIS/survey/compliance and technology/training specialists, and administrative staff yield a unique combination of disciplines focused on wetlands and water resources and provide creative solutions for integrating the constraints of economics and land plan requirements with local, state, and federal environmental regulations. For more information about WSSI, visit our Web site at www.wetlandstudies.com. |
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