VCN
E-NEWS: May 14, 2004
NEWS ITEMS
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY BUDGET UPDATE
[This update is adapted from a release prepared by Lisa
Guthrie, Executive Director, Virginia League of Conservation
Voters]
The General Assembly finally agreed upon a $59 billion
dollar budget last Friday (May 7th) after 115 days of
deliberation. The Governor has 30 days to amend the budget
and then the entire General Assembly reconvenes on June
16 to consider proposed changes by Gov. Warner. The new
budget will take effect July 1. The biennium budget, which
is bolstered by $1.4 billion in new tax increases focused
primarily on education, health, and state government.
It did, however, provide some much-needed increases in
Natural Resources funding.
Of the $35 million in new funds for the two years, $30
million will go to the Water Quality Improvement Fund.
As you know, that fund has been woefully under-funded
because it was dependent upon the state having a funding
surplus. The new money will be divided between point sources
of pollution (DEQ) and non-point sources (DCR). An additional
$2.5 million has been allocated each year for land conservation
funding through the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation.
There is language in the budget that establishes six new
criteria for awarding land conservation grants through
VLCF. One reviews a locality's master plan as a Chesapeake
Bay Preservation Area. Another criterion is a land parcel's
protection of local drinking water supplies. In addition,
the $1 deed recordation fee revenue (HB 549) will generate
an additional $800 thousand each year for the operations
of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
This new funding is definitely a step forward for conservation
protection in Virginia.
The bad news in the Natural Resources budget is twofold.
CBLAD (Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Dept.) will no
longer be an independent state agency. It was folded into
the Department of Conservation and Recreation. As you
will recall, we raised concerns during the session about
how the budget should not set policy. The other disappointment
is that the $2 million for a private conference center
in Occoneechee State Park remains in the budget. We asked
conferees to consider shifting that funding to the state
park Hurricane Isabel cleanup which would have benefited
all parks in Virginia.
Overall, we should all be pleased with the outcome of
the budget. No, it is not nearly enough for all of the
environmental needs in Virginia. It is, however, a good
first step toward addressing them. In this unprecedented
budgetary crisis year, we have finally convinced our leaders
that we must invest NOW to protect our natural resources.
Your calls to the legislators have been invaluable in
communicating these critical needs to your legislators.
To view the Natural Resources budget items on the state
legislative website, go to: http://leg2.state.va.us/WebData/04amend5001.nsf/Conf%20Sec?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=16&Seq=1
If you want to see a summary of the Budget bill and how
the legislators voted, go to: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=042&typ=bil&val=HB5001
If your legislator
voted for the budget, you may want to contact him or her
to thank them for supporting Natural Resources. Even if
they voted for the budget for some other reason, it will
send a message to them that Natural Resources has a strong
constituent base and they'll file that away for next year!
Thanks again for your tireless support this year!
LOGGING QUALITY WORSENS
DOF Inspection shows BMPs not being followed! - - - The
latest random inspection of logging jobs by the Virginia
Department of Forestry (DOF) revealed that loggers are
not doing as good a job as they should be, or have done
in the past . Of the 30 jobs checked last November, it
was determined that only 13% of them were using all of
the Best Management Practices (BMPs) as recommended by
DOF. BMPs are preventive measures that keep mud from entering
the streams. (For a direct look at the report go to: http://www.vdof.org/wq/monitoring.shtml
)
According to
the report, "Of the 26 randomly inspected harvests
that did not have all necessary BMPs in place, 22 lacked
sufficient water control structures or had water control
structures installed that did not meet DOF standards.
"
At the time of inspection, active sedimentation (water
pollution) was actually taking place on 10% of the inspected
sites and the potential for pollution exist on an additional
23% of the jobs.
"This is 33% more than is acceptable to us,"
stated Gerald Gray, chair of Virginia Forest Watch. "The
forest industry and DOF should be doing a much better
job! After all, BMPs are not our highest goal, they are
only a minimum standard established by DOF."
The recent inspections revealed that while the actual
number of jobs where pollution was taking place remained
the same, the potential for stream pollution increased
by 13% from the previous year. The potential for pollution
is now at its highest since November of 2000.
"The Virginia Forestry Association (VFA) needs to
take a closer look at this and make some improvements!
It only goes to show there is a need for Virginia Forest
Watch to continue monitor logging jobs and to push for
better laws that will protect our streams." Gray
went on to say.
He was referring to a recent article in the VFA's Virginia
Forestry Magazine entitled Who's Watching Forest Watch?
In that article VFA's Executive Vice President Paul Howe
maintains, "Forestry professionals are doing a good
job tending their forests. As long as they continue to
meet their responsibilities to the land and adhere to
already existing laws, it is not appropriate to require
them to seek approval from government or private groups."
It is against the law in Virginia to pollute the streams
or to create a situation where there is a potential for
pollution can take place.
Other BMPs that were not followed at the 30 logging sites
include: · Vegetative cover was inadequate (17
jobs)
· Skid trails or haul roads were too steep (11
jobs)
· Stream crossings were inadequate (7 jobs)
· Streamside management zones (SMZs) were inadequate
(7 jobs)
· Rutting in excess of BMP standards occurred (3
jobs)
The lobbying efforts of the Virginia Forestry Association
helped defeat two bills in the most recent legislative
session regarding logging in Virginia. A bill (HB 921)
sponsored by Southwest Virginia Delegate Bud Phillips
(D) this past session would have required all logging
roads and skid roads be reseeded. Another bill (HB 1021)
sponsored by Delegate Jim Dillard (R – Fairfax) would
have given the DOF the power to charge loggers for staff
time spent to correct water quality problems.
MANY
LOGGERS STILL FAILING TO NOTIFY
According to Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) figures
many loggers are still failing to let DOF know when they
are beginning a logging job. Despite the fact that they
can now be fined for not telling DOF where and when they
are logging, over 145 loggers failed to do so in 2003.
The lowest number to notify was in Region 4, where 36%
of those given citations for poor logging practices failed
to do so. Of the 585 jobs that were cited by DOF for water
quality problems last year, 25% failed to notify the Department.
Of those 145 loggers, only 96 were required to pay a fine
by DOF.
For the first time failure to notify a $250 fine is issued,
it can then increase up to $2,000 within a give year.
Other fines are issued for failure to correct on going
pollution problems.
Of the $154,826 in fines that were issued last year, only
$28,919 have been collected. In the past 10 years only
$183,983 of the $685,375 fines have been collected.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO LET US KNOW ABOUT LOGGING JOBS!!
Send directions to any active job you see to vafw@mounet.com
To view the record of Water Quality Citations go to: http://www.virginiaforestwatch.org/badlogging.htm#anchor509436
LANDOWNER
PROTECTION BILL PASSES LEGISLATURE
Virginia Forest Watch was successful in moving a bill
through the Virginia legislature that will provide additional
protection to landowners. HB 1020 was sponsored by Fairfax
delegate James Dillard and was merged with a similar bill
put in by Terry Kilgore of Gate City.
Timber theft has become a major problem across the state.
It primarily consist of loggers crossing property boundaries
and cutting timber on adjacent land. It also includes
taking more timber from the landowner than was agreed
to. This bill will increase the penalty for such actions:
It provides that any person who cuts, removes, or severs
any timber from the land of another without legal right
or permission shall be liable to the rightful owner for
treble damages, reforestation costs, the costs of ascertaining
the value of the lumber and legal costs against. Establishes
criminal penalties for the theft of timber, and specifies
prima facie evidence of an intent to take, steal or remove
timber.
For more information contact: Gerald Gray, Esq. Chair,
Virginia Forest Watch. 276-926-4607, ggray@dcwin.org
FROM:
THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY UPDATE - on-line newsletter
Grassroots Organizing:
Rail Solution Pushing a Creative Alternative in Virginia
Rail Solution
is a grassroots coalition of Virginia citizens advocating
for railroad expansion in the Shenandoah Valley as a viable
solution to the problem of high tractor-trailer truck
volume currently plaguing Virginia’s Interstate 81. I-81
is a scenic highway that by-passes the congestion of large
urban areas that I-95 is notorious for, and because of
this has become the most popular and most direct route
for commercial trucks passing through Virginia. Though
the road was originally designed for only 15% of its vehicle
volume to be large commercial trucks, upwards of 40% of
all I-81 traffic is now comprised of these vehicles, with
70% of them traveling distances of one thousand miles
or more. Rail Solution originally formed in support of
a proposal from Norfolk Southern Railway to expand their
railroad line that runs parallel to the interstate in
order to divert much of the troublesome commercial truck
traffic off of I-81.
I-81 is also the main intrastate roadway in western Virginia,
and many residents who rely on it for daily commutes to
work and school are endangered and greatly inconvenienced
by the high volume of long-haul trucks that have taken
over. In response, the State of Virginia is seeking to
expand I-81 by adding four designated truck toll lanes
to the entire road which would turn it into a ten to twelve-lane
highway in some parts of the state, drastically altering
the Shenandoah Valley landscape and environment. The railway
expansion proposal that Rail Solution is behind, which
would create a high-performance railroad and cost approximately
¼ of what the current road expansion project could
total, would alleviate hazardous road conditions for local
residents and cut down on increased air and noise pollution
and other detrimental environmental effects that the expanded
highway would cause.
Rail Solution
has made significant strides in garnering support for
the railroad option and opposition to the I-81 road expansion
proposal throughout Shenandoah Valley and all of Virginia.
They have worked with 40 local and county governing bodies,
including several MPOs, to pass resolutions asking the
state to support creation of high-performance railways
in the I-81 corridor, and are tracking federal legislation
on the issue.
Though the trucking industry itself is not in favor of
the road expansion, House Transportation Committee Chairman
Don Young (R- AK) has publicly pledged to see the project
through to its completion and has made it known that he
wishes for dedicated truck lane roadway expansions to
be his legacy. Chairman Young has proposed over $1.5 billion
in federal support for the current road expansion proposal
by STAR Solutions, a Halliburton subsidiary, which would
likely be allocated through two multi-million dollar earmarks
in the next two reauthorizations of the federal transportation
law. So far, Young has succeeded in securing $910 million
in the current House transportation bill for the construction
of dedicated truck lanes in the U.S., though it remains
to be seen how much will be allotted to Virginia and I-81.
Rail Solution steering committee Vice-Chair Michael Testerman
“intends to make the I-81 corridor the focal point of
this epic national dialogue between truck ways and high-performance
railways.” Testerman, along with Rail Solution’s 100 other
members, will continue to devote hundreds of volunteer
hours to promoting railroad expansion as the best option
for the Shenandoah Valley community.
For more information
on Rail Solution, please visit www.railsolution.org <http://www.railsolution.org/>.
Or you may contact David Foster, the organization’s Secretary/Treasurer
at dfoster342@aol.com <mailto:dfoster342@aol.com>.
DRAFT VDOT
BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN PLAN CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT
On May 10, Susan Simmers, VDOT's Bicycle & Pedestrian
Program Manager, emailed a preliminary draft Statewide
Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to several individuals for
their review and comment by Tuesday, May 18, 2004. The
recipients included the membership of the VDOT Statewide
Bicycle Advisory Committee (which last formally met in
October 2002), the VDOT Internal Bicycle Task Force (representing
diverse VDOT disciplines and districts), and the VDOT
"Stakeholder Working Group" (which helped shape
the new VDOT bicycle and pedestrian policy--Policy for
Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations--that
was adopted on March 18, 2004).
VDOT is developing its Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian
Plan as part of its Statewide Multi-Modal Long-Range Transportation
Plan (VTrans2025) in accordance with a legislated requirement
(SB 393 of 2002) to prepare, and update as needed, a statewide
pedestrian policy. This draft bicycle and pedestrian policy
plan is conceived as an extension of VDOT's new bicycle
and pedestrian policy and includes input gathered during
the development of that policy.
The final bicycle and pedestrian plan will be part of
VTrans2025’s Phase 3 deliverable, as identified in the
state code, and is subject to the reviews and submissions
required for the latter. Public outreach meetings are
planned for July and August 2004.
For the benefit of those who did not receive the draft
plan directly from VDOT, the Virginia Bicycling Federation
has posted the file at <http://www.vabike.org/docs/bp_plan_10may04.pdf>
with a link from its homepage <http://vabike.org>.
Comments on the preliminary draft plan may be emailed
to susan.Simmers@virginiadot.org by May 18 for consideration
in subsequent versions. Please forward a copy of your
comments to the Virginia Bicycling Federation vbf@vabike.org
Thank you, Allen Muchnick, President, Virginia Bicycling
Federation PO Box 5621, Arlington VA 22205-5621 703-271-0895,
muchnick@capaccess.org http://vabike.org
CALENDAR
A CITIZENS
PLANNING WORKSHOP-TUESDAY, MAY 18 7PM
The Community Consensus Coalition Announces
A Citizens Planning Workshop
Tuesday May 18, 7:00 pm
Our Health Conference Room
329 North Cameron St., Winchester
·Interested in the planning process?
·Want to know how decisions are made?
·Do you
know what body/committee has the responsibility for making
them?
·Want to become more involved as an interested
citizen?
Then it would be important for you to attend a Community
Consensus Coalition-sponsored Local Planning Process Workshop,
delivered by the Virginia Citizens Planning Association
What is VCPA?
The Virginia Citizens Planning Association is a volunteer
statewide citizens planning organization that has served
Virginians all over the Commonwealth for over 50 years.
VCPA offers education and planning training through not
only this Workshop, but also certification programs for
Planning Commissioners and Boards of Zoning Appeals, and
an annual Virginia Institute for Planning Commissioners.
VCPA is one of only a few such statewide organizations
in the U.S.
Why Should I Be Interested in This Workshop?
The program is recommended for citizens, community organizations,
elected officials, planning commissioners, BZA members
and staff which support these bodies.
There is a special emphasis on the planning process and
the role each of these parties plays in the overall success
of the future of the community—beginning with development
of the community’s visions of its future and its comprehensive,
long range plan--to the many separate decisions that together
will achieve the plan’s goals.
The knowledge gained during this short program will provide
participants with an understanding of the planning process
and the background for future involvement.
Workshop schedule
The workshop begins at 7:00 pm and is two hours’ in length.
Subjects to be covered:
- The role of the VCPA in planning
- Why plan and how the process works
- Who should be involved in the process
- What tools are used in the process
- What are the roles of the various participants
- Why citizens need to be involved
- Future planning in Virginia
- Questions and answers segment
What is the
Community Consensus Coalition?
Formed in 1999 the Community Consensus Coalition is a
consortium of organizations which seeks to create a collaborative,
broadly based vision for dealing with the variety of pressures
currently affecting our community and its potential future
viability. More information regarding the CCC may be found
at www.cccva.com.
How to register for the Workshop
Registration for the Workshop may be made by calling 540-450-1214
by Friday, May 14 or by filling in and faxing this registration
to 540-450-1393.
Name____________________________Telephone___________________________
E-mail______________________________
How familiar are you with the planning process (please
check)?
________New to the process ______Somewhat familiar ________Very
familiar
If you are familiar with the planning process, how have
you served?_______________
Directions to the Workshop
“Our Health” is a new facility located in downtown Winchester.
The property is located at 329 N. Cameron St., just north
of Piccadilly St. Heading north on Cameron after crossing
Piccadilly (or taking a right or left onto Cameron from
Piccadilly) at Baker St., turn left (you will see Our
Health at that left hand corner). Midway in the first
block of Baker St. turn left to enter the parking lot.
The entry to “Our Health” is midway back toward Cameron
St., off the grass courtyard.
VIRGINIA
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSEMBLY AND PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
ANNUAL MEETING-Saturday, September 18, 2004 Barboursville
Ruins, Orange County, Virginia - - - SAVE THE DATE !!!
On September 18, 2004, please join our Boards of Directors,
members and friends for a special gathering of Virginia's
environmental community. The event will be a one-time
conjunction of VCN's annual Virginia Environmental Assembly
and PEC's 2004 Annual Meeting.
The theme of the day's activities will be Reconnecting
Virginia, and will include workshops and special features
that provide a comprehensive look at the connection between
land use and the Commonwealth's major rail and road transportation
corridors. This year's keynote address will be given by
Hank Dittmar, President and CEO of Reconnecting America.
Mr. Dittmar co-founded Reconnecting America to expand
the mission and work of the Great American Station Foundation,
which revitalized historic rail stations to improve rail
access and intermodal connections and stimulate community
development.
The event will take place at the Barboursville Ruins on
the grounds of the Barboursville Winery in Madison-Barbour
Rural Historic District of Orange County, Virginia. The
site was the home of James Barbour, governor of Virginia
from 1812 to 1814. The day will also feature a special
children's program. Families are encouraged to attend.
GRANTS/TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES/JOB
ANNOUNCEMENT
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR WETLAND
CONSERVATION PROJECTS:
The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is accepting proposals for North
American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) standard grant
proposals. NAWCA proposals are four-year plans of action
supported by a NAWCA grant and partner funds to conserve
wetlands and wetlands-dependent fish and wildlife. The
deadline is July 30, 2004. For more information, click
on the following URL: <http://www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=690>.
VIRGINIA
NATURAL RESOURCE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TO KICK OFF FIFTH
YEAR OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
A successful program to help Virginia's leaders address
difficult environmental and community issues will kick
off its fifth yearlong program this fall.
Supported in part by funding from the U.S. Forest Service,
Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program, the Virginia
Natural Resources Leadership Institute trains people from
industry, businesses, local and state government, and
the environmental community. VNRLI is a partnership between
the University of Virginia's Institute for Environmental
Negotiation, Virginia Tech's Center for Economic Education
and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Graduates of the Institute give the program rave reviews.
Ed Daley, Winchester city manager and a 2001 fellow, said
the program offers "powerful tools" to those
seeking to improve their effectiveness as a participant
and mediator of community conflict. "[I left] the
program with an expanded toolbox of dispute-resolution
and leadership skills and a broader understanding of the
environmental issues confronting us at the community and
global levels."
Beginning in
October, the Institute will launch its fifth series of
six seminar workshops, held throughout the year in various
locations across the state. Participants accepted into
the program attend all six workshops, which generally
run from Wednesday through Friday.
Institute Fellows will learn ways of moving people in
conflict into collaborative problem solving through a
mix of dynamic exercises, role plays, mini-lectures, field
trips, and stakeholder panel discussions about specific
regional "hot" topics. A sampling of topics
to be covered include:
*Processes for collaborative problem-solving and conflict
resolution: principled negotiation (negotiation for mutual
gains), dialogue, consensus building, Six Thinking Hats,
facilitation, mediation
*Personal conflict management styles and skills
*Environmental justice
*Leadership
*Key environmental
issues in Virginia involving land use, such as open space
conservation, smart growth, water quality, Superfund site
cleanup and redevelopment, and sustainable agriculture
and forestry.
The VNRLI is open to all people involved with natural
resource issues. We are actively seeking applicants from
*small and large business
*industry
*state, local and federal government;
*American Indian tribes;
*environmental and civic organizations;
*African-American and Latino communities; as well as
*individuals who are catalysts in the communities.
The continuation of VNRLI is based on the affirmation
that it offers an important and perhaps unique opportunity
for people with differing perspectives to come together
on an informal, friendly basis over a period of time,
and to interact and learn from each other in a safe, non-threatening
environment. These kinds of interactions, still uncommon
in the field of natural resources, enable people to engage
each other "upstream" - or before a conflict
occurs - thereby increasing the capacity for collaborative
problem downstream when a problem needs to be resolved.
The Leadership Institute does not try to convince anyone
of any particular solution or outcome, but it does aim
to help people gain insight into different perspectives
about the same issue.
Graduates of
the Virginia Institute have applauded the VNRLI program.
"One of the most rewarding and beneficial opportunities
that I have experienced, the lessons learned and the network
of Fellows will greatly increase my future effectiveness
to work towards sound conservation public policy"
Owner of a private resource management company
"It will help you become more effective in your work
as a leader of environmental programs. I have developed
more confidence and knowledge in my efforts to bring people
together on particular issues." Director of a regional
environmental non-profit
"An excellent opportunity to become better informed
on natural resource issues, work with some great people,
and develop valuable skills in facilitation and mediation."
Regional Forester
PROGRAM INFORMATION
VNRLI is for ALL people who are involved with natural
resource issues in their communities or professionally.
Tuition: $1600
*This includes all tuition, materials and books, meeting
rooms, field trip transportation, all breaks and at least
Wednesday's dinner and Thursday's lunch for each session.
*Lodging, travel, and some food (Wednesday and Friday's
lunches, breakfasts, and dinner Thursday night) are additional
costs you will need to cover. You can reduce your lodging
costs by rooming with another Fellow.
*You must be able to attend ALL six sessions; if you cannot,
please consider applying in a subsequent year.
*Many participants secure funding from their own organization
and/or a donor agency.
*Tuition scholarships are available to reduce cost as
a barrier.
DATES
October 6-8, 2004: Central Virginia
November 10-12, 2004: Hampton Roads
January 5-7, 2005: Richmond
March 9-11, 2005: Shenandoah Valley
April 20-22, 2005: far Southwest Virginia
June 1-3, 2005: Central Virginia
APPLICATIONS
MUST BE RECEIVED BY June 1, 2004 in order to be considered.
Admission decisions will be provided no later than June
25, 2004. Applications can also be downloaded online at:
http://www.virginia.edu/ien
For further information, contact: Caroline Wilkinson,
cwilk@virginia.edu, 434 - 924 - 6569
SCENIC
340 PROJECT SEEKS PART TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Job Title: Executive Director
Location: Page Valley, Virginia
Scenic 340 Project is looking for a part-time Executive
Director to expand the organization’s programs and manage
the daily needs of the organization.
The Scenic 340 Project seeks to preserve and protect the
unique rural character, the natural environment and heritage
of the Route 340 corridor from Front Royal to Waynesboro,
with most of our work currently focused in Page and Warren
Counties. We are committed to protecting scenic views
and air quality along Route 340 and from Skyline Drive
while also fostering economic development through heritage
tourism, protecting productive farmland, and attracting
appropriate new companies to the area.
Scenic 340 Project has already secured over 1,000 acres
of land under permanent conservation easement in the Overall
(in both Warren and Page) area; a new agricultural-forestal
district in southern Warren, and a new Rural Historic
District which runs from south of Bentonville to Luray,
between the Park and the Shenandoah River.
Job Description
- - - The Executive Director is responsible for carrying
out day-to-day activities and working with the Board members
to implement each campaign. Responsibilities will include:
recruiting and coordinating volunteers, expanding the
membership base, fundraising, administrative duties, implementing
and coordinating educational programs, and networking
with other local and statewide groups.
Qualifications:
Computer literacy
Comfort with public speaking
Strong writing skills (for newsletter, web, materials)
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Leadership abilities
Reliable personal transportation
Need to be available for meetings during the work day
as well as some evenings and weekends.
College education preferred.
It is essential that candidates are self-starters with
a passion for environmental issues. Experience coordinating
volunteers and managing projects independently is preferred,
but not required. Office space is not yet secure and working
from home is a possibility.
Part-time salary is $12,000 -14,000 annually.
Position is open until filled, but our goal is June 2004
as starting date. Please send a resume and letter outlining
your interest and qualifications to:
Scenic 340 Project, Search Committee
Christine Andreae: andreae@lynxconnect.com and Jim Guy:
jjguy@lynxconnect.com
or mail to: Scenic 340 Project, Inc. PO Box 340, Bentonville,
VA 22610
***************************
VCN's mission is to protect the Commonwealth's air, lands,
and waters for the benefit of the people, as guaranteed
by the Virginia Constitution.
If
you have an item that should be included on this list,
please send it to Jim Wamsley at jwamsley5@comcast.net
. VCN E-NEWS is emailed the second and fourth Friday
of every month, except during the session when it is weekly.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday.
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