The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has recently issued a statement saying that the DEQ will continue to process registration statements for projects needing to extend coverage from the 2009 to the 2014 Construction General Permit (CGP). DEQ will continue accepting registration statements until February 27th, 2015 for prospects that had a 2009 CGP. All new projects that were not previously covered by a 2009 CGP will have to be designed in accordance with the 2014 CGP criteria and 2014 registration statements have to be submitted to the local VSMP authority. DEQ will continue processing registration statements if your locality is not administering its own VSMP program.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) expects to provide a decision on the listing of the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as an endangered species throughout its range by early April of this year. This listing has the potential to affect development projects throughout Virginia and Maryland where forests are present. As always, WSSI stands ready to guide projects past this potential new hurdle.

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Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. welcomed a group of Bull Run Elementary School 6th graders, as well as their teachers and families, on Thursday, January 29th. Bull Run Elementary School was this year’s Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest winners for the state of Virginia, earning $20,000 in technology for school use.

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The Virginia State Water Control Board (the Board) is in the process of establishing a process for the certification of nonpoint source nitrogen and phosphorus credits pursuant to §62.1-44.19:20. Comments are due on March 16, 2015.The establishment of the proposed regulations will provide consistency and clarity to the nutrient trading market by establishing procedures for the generation and certification of nonpoint credits. This will aid the regulated community (developers), the public and the Commonwealth in complying with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plans as well as TMDLs established for other impaired waters throughout Virginia.

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The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will soon be announcing the availability of annual grant funds in the 2015 Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund. For existing state regulated dams that are owned by local governments or private entities, 50% matching grants will be available to help offset engineering costs associated with dam safety improvements.

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With spring almost here, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) is diving into another season of swamp pink (Helonias bullata) surveys. The swamp pink is found in forested wetlands in central Virginia and in eastern Maryland. The field survey "window" for swamp pink is open from April 15 to September 30. So schedule now and avoid critical delays in obtaining your wetlands permit, or other federal actions that require Endangered Species Act compliance.

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The City of Fairfax is currently in the process of rewriting the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Three committee meetings were held in 2014, and another took place in January of this year. Full details and draft documents can be found here. It should be noted that all aspects of the Zoning Ordinance are being reviewed, and many changes and additions are proposed. The changes to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation section are significant, but should serve to make the process simpler for those submitting Water Quality Impact Assessments.

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