VCN
E-NEWS: May 28, 2004
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NEWS
ITEMS
ADDITTIONAL
ANALYSIS OF THE STATE BUDGET
[This update is adapted from a release prepared by Stewart
Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth]
In addition to the increased funding for natural resources,
another big result was the prioritization of education,
healthcare, the environment and other services over transportation
which was dropped. During the tours during the recess,
the Governor and legislature did not hear demands for
transportation. We think that the sales tax and the Virginia
League of Conservation Voters, Piedmont Environmental
Council, and Coalition for Smarter Growth findings of
January 2003 document why: Most people know that new roads
increase sprawl and don't reduce congestion. They strongly
support growth management solutions, urban revitalization
and land protection as an alternative approach.
Our message continues to be that the state and local government
must adopt smarter growth as part of any push for more
money for transportation.
GOVERNOR’S ACTION ON REMAINING
NATURAL RESOURCES LEGISLATION
The following text is taken from the Governor's Press
Release regarding Landfill Siting (HB 639, Albo) [VCN
initially opposed HB 639 but was satisfied with amendments
put forward by the Legislature] and Route 29 Bypass (SB
670, Newman) [VCN opposed SB 670].
Landfill Siting - - HB 639 (Delegate Abbitt)
I have vetoed HB 639 relating to landfill siting in Appomattox
County. Under current law, a landfill cannot be within
five miles up gradient of any water supply intake or reservoir
and cannot impact 1.25 acres or more of wetlands. HB 639
would have exempted Appomattox County from those restrictions.
I believe these decisions should not be made in piecemeal
fashion but should instead be based upon a scientific
evaluation of the area proposed for landfill siting, the
natural resources that would be affected, and the ability
of landfill technology and regulatory standards to protect
our environmental quality and public health. This legislation
sets a lower standard by allowing a landfill to be situated
in close proximity to drinking water supplies or in aquatic
resource areas if the Director of DEQ determines that
the landfill would not be detrimental to human health
or the environment.
Because I recognize that landfills are needed to meet
the demands of our growing communities, I have asked the
Department of Environmental Quality to develop criteria
for consideration by the 2005 General Assembly that would
be based upon the protection of public health and the
quality of the resource affected.
Accordingly, I am vetoing HB 639 so that this issue can
be decided based upon technical criteria, and the citizens
of Appomattox County can receive the same level of protection
as the rest of the Commonwealth.
______________________
Route 29 Bypass - - SB 670 (Newman)
Senate Bill 670 would impose financial penalties on the
entire Culpeper transportation district - nine counties,
numerous towns and the City of Charlottesville - should
the Charlottesville metropolitan planning organization
decide not to support construction of a Route 29 bypass
around Charlottesville.
I have signed SB 670 for two primary reasons. First, I
strongly support much-needed improvements to the transportation
infrastructure in the entire Route 29 corridor and by
signing SB 670 I hope this measure will keep the pressure
on all the interested parties to develop a long-term,
workable solution to the transportation needs in the corridor.
Second, while I believe the bill was misguided in its
conception and unfairly targets the entire Culpeper district,
I do not actually believe that the punitive provisions
will ever be imposed by the federal or state government.
To that end, I have directed the Secretary of Transportation
to work with the affected communities, including Charlottesville,
Culpeper, Lynchburg, and Danville, to reach a consensus
on the important issues of transportation and economic
development in the Route 29 corridor raised by SB 670.
I continue to believe that there is a middle ground on
this issue that meets the needs of these communities and
the Commonwealth as a whole.
My proposed amendment would have led to just such a middle
ground, and I am disappointed that Senator Newman and
the Senate rejected a common-sense solution. The current
version of SB 670 does nothing to promote economic development
in Lynchburg or Danville, or greater mobility in and around
the Charlottesville area. By working together, I am confident
that we can address the very real transportation needs
in the Route 29 corridor in a professional and substantive
manner.
VCN NEWSLETTER IS IN THE MAIL
The Spring 2004 issue of the VCN News is in the mail.
Read about the Friends of the Rappahannock success story
resulting in the removal of the Embrey Dam; read about
the new campaigns at VCN; learn about this year’s summer
capacity building and training program; see the last wrap-up
of the 2004 legislative session; and more …… if you haven’t
received your newsletter yet, call the VCN Office (804-644-0283)
and make sure you are in our data base . . . . . AND SAVE
THE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 for the 2004 VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSEMBLY (VEA) - - more information is in the newsletter.
REQUESTS FROM VCN MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
TRASH AND
TIPPING FEE RESEARCH BY VCN
VCN is looking for member organizations who have had experience
with solid waste disposal issues. HB 1462 (Dillard) Solid
Waste Disposal Fees, described below, was continued to
the 2005 Session. VCN’s Legislative Committee is reviewing
the bill and would like your help. Read through the description
of HB 1462 and if you have information to share please
call the VCN Office 804-644-0283 or share by email to
vcnmembers@aol.com
HB 1462 establishes a $5 per ton municipal solid waste
disposal fee to be collected by localities in which the
municipal solid waste landfills are located. This bill
directs the host localities to retain 50 percent of the
moneys collected for the abatement of pollution caused
by landfills or the improper management of waste, groundwater
monitoring and cleanup, litter control, recycling, or
for other waste-related purposes, including solid waste
management operating fees. This bill also directs the
host localities to remit 50 percent of all moneys collected
to the Commonwealth to be deposited into the Landfill
Cleanup and Closure Fund, the Virginia Brownfields Restoration
and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund, and the Virginia
Environmental Emergency Response Fund. HB 1462 was carried-over
to the 2005 Session.
SAVE THE CROW’S NEST ENDORSEMENT
REQUEST
VCN’s newest member organization, “Save Crow’s Nest” is
a non-partisan advocacy group organized to make sure that
the entire Crow’s Nest peninsula in eastern Stafford County
is protected from development. They request organizations
to formally endorse their efforts.
Crow’s Nest is a nearly 4,000 acre peninsula in eastern
Stafford County. It is the largest undeveloped tract of
land in the County. Over 1,300 acres of wetlands including
700 acres of freshwater tidal wetlands are found on Potomac
and Accokeek Creeks surrounding the peninsula. These marshes
account for 60% of all marshes remaining in Stafford County.
At least twenty-five species of waterfowl use the freshwater
tidal marshes and wooded swamps for nesting, mitigation,
and wintering habitat – including hundreds of blue herons,
the bird in our logo. There are active and inactive bald
eagle nests on the peninsula, and the adjacent Potomac
Creek is home to the short nose sturgeon, an endangered
species. The peninsula also contains habitat suitable
for two federally listed plant species, the sensitive
joint vetch and the small whorled pogonia. The peninsula
itself is the largest calcareous ravine forest (a globally
imperiled habitat) on the East Coast. Our website, www.savecrowsnest.org
contains additional information on the environmental,
cultural and historic resources on the peninsula, and
our actions to save the peninsula from development.
Won’t you please join use in our effort to save this treasure?
Please visit the website for more information and the
endorsement form. - - - Patricia Kurpiel
SUPPORT REQUEST – PARK HAZE RULE
– AIR QUALITY
Dear Friends,
Recently EPA released its draft rule to require the aging
smokestack industries that pollute America's national
parks and wilderness areas to meet modern pollution control
standards. Cleaning up park air quality not only will
help park resources and improve the visitor experience,
it will improve air quality across a wide region.
Please take one or more of the following actions:
1. Visit http://www.npca.org/aa.asp?ID=378
and send comments to the EPA urging it to adopt an effective
and enforceable park haze rule.
2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper,
using the information and talking points on our website.
3. Finally, some of you may be interested in and available
to attend the hearing EPA is holding in Virginia on the
draft park haze rule. NPCA and other groups are organizing
the public testimony to convey a strong message that the
smokestacks that pollute our parks must be cleaned up,
and that all the parks, not just some of them, must have
clean air as the law requires and the public expects.
NPCA will be happy to help in any way we can that you
need, please let us know how we can help.
The hearing date and location is: Friday, June 4, 2004,
9:00am - 5:00pm Holiday Inn Select-Old Town, 480 King
Street (cross street is Pitt), Alexandria VA
Questions? Contact: National Parks Conservation Association,
Joy Oakes, joakes@npca.org,
202-454-3386.
PLEASE
SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER VALLEY NWR!
Fellow conservationists:
Please take the time to read the message below forwarded
to us by the Northern Neck Land Conservancy and contact
our US Senators and Congresswoman. We have the chance
to help protect a very special tract of land in Lancaster
County. Susan L. Tipton, 778 Main St.,PO Box 526, Reedville,
VA 22539 804 453-3915 - - tipton@crosslink.net
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
serves as an integral part of the diverse ecosystem that
makes up the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It seeks to protect
the wetlands and associated uplands along the Rappahannock
and its tributaries. The refuge is ranked very high on
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Land Acquisition
Priority System (LAPS) list due to its high-value habitat.
Available for acquisition in FY 2005 is the Ball's Quarter
property located in Lancaster County along the Richmond
County line. The property is bordered to the north by
Lancaster Creek and Chinns Pond and on the south by Balls
Branch and Balls Mill Pond, all of which flow into the
Rappahannock River, and into the Chesapeake Bay. The 1,198-acre
property is comprised of natural mixed hardwood and pine
upland, marshland and open water that supports a well-established
population of wild turkey and whitetail deer. Since the
mid-1900's, the property has been managed as a tree farm.
It’s excellent soils, topography, and extensive road frontage
make this property an attractive target for development.
Thus, this conservation opportunity only exists for a
short period of time before it will be parcelized and
put on the open market.
HELP PROTECT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY! SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION
AT THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE!
This year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has an opportunity
to acquire 1,198 acres of land for the Rappahannock River
Valley NWR. An appropriation of $2.55 million from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund through the FY 2005 Interior
Appropriations bill is needed to preserve this land. If
not conserved, this land could be lost to development.
Congress is about to make important decisions on LWCF
project funding for the coming year. It is very important
that you urge your members of Congress to support this
project and secure a $2.55 million funding earmark in
the Interior Appropriations bill. Last year, despite many
Congressional funding requests, the House Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee did not include funding for specific LWCF
projects in the appropriations bill, but the Senate did.
It is crucial that funding for the Rappahannock River
Valley NWR appear in both bills this year!
PLEASE ACT NOW!
Contact your legislators and encourage their support for
$2.55 million for the Balls Quarter property for the Rappahannock
River Valley NWR funded through the Land and Water Conservation
Fund in the FY 2005 Interior Appropriations bill. Ask
your Representative and Senators to request a specific
earmark for the Rappahannock River Valley NWR. Please
write or call now as immediate action is necessary to
secure funding during the Upcoming
Appropriations markup. _____________________________________________________________________
PLEASE CONTACT:
(NOTE: There is a significant delay in the delivery of
letters to Members of Congress due to security concerns.
Instead, we strongly encourage you to fax, call, or electronically
contact your Member of Congress in order to ensure prompt
receipt. For online contact, please go to the congressional
websites listed below and follow instructions for constituent
contact.)
The Honorable John Warner
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202 224-2023
Fax: 202 224-6295
Website: http://warner.senate.gov
The Honorable Jo Ann Davis
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202 225-4261
Fax: 202 225-4382
Website: www.house.gov/joanndavis
The Honorable George Allen
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202 224-4024
Fax: 202 224-5432
Website: http://allen.senate.gov
CALENDAR
TRANSPORTATION
CONNECTIVITY SYMPOSIUM
JUNE 4, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE
Transportation Intermodal Connectivity Symposium Will
Be Held June 4 in Charlottesville
Hank Dittmar, president and CEO of Reconnecting American
will be the keynote speaker at a Transportation Connectivity
Symposium June 4 at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville.
Sponsored by the Virginia Rail Policy Institute, the symposium
will examine intermodalism and the advantages of investment
in transportation infrastructure that produces an integrated
system.
Panelist will discuss the state of multimodalism and intermodalism
in Virginia. Tom Finkbinder, CEO of Quality Distribution
Inc. and former vice president of intermodal for Norfolk
Southern, will discuss I-81 highway to rail diversion
potential. Program participants include Thomas D. Capozzi,
senior managing director of the Virginia Port Authority;
James A. Wilding, retired president and CEO of the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority; Dr. Louis S. Thompson,
retired World Bank Rail expert and former U. S. DOT officer;
Josee G. Covington, CEO Covington International Travel;
Brett A. Vassey, president and CEO, Virginia Manufacturers
Association; Linda McMinimy, executive director Virginia
Transit Association; Frank B. Atkinson, chairman of the
Federal and Vice Chair of the State Commission planning
the 400th Jamestown anniversary event; Dwight Farmer,
deputy executive director of transportation, Hampton Roads
Planning District Commission; and Ronald W. Kosh, vice
president public and government relations AAA Mid-Atlantic
Inc.
Dr. Charles W. Sydnor Jr., president and CEO of Commonwealth
Public Broadcasting will be moderator of the Symposium.
Sponsors are the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth
Transportation Alliance, Port of Richmond, Richmond Friends
of Rail, Southern Environmental Law Center, Virginia Port
Authority, Virginia Transportation Research Council and
Virginians for High Speed Rail.
For more information or to register to attend, contact:
Elise Hughes, Virginia Rail Policy Institute in Richmond.
804-864-5193 or vhsrdc@earthlink.net Checks for $175 may
be made to: VHSRDC/VRPI Symposium. Mail to: Ms. Elise
C. Hughes, Virginia Rail Policy Institute, 5101 Monument
Ave., Richmond, Va 23230.
2004 CITIZENS FOR WATER
QUALITY SUMMITT-JULY 24, 2004
Charlottesville, Virginia (exact location to be announced)
Come spend some time with fellow water quality monitors
from across the state at our annual Citizens for Water
Quality Summit
Topics (final agenda will be ready in June): Fundraising,
Erosion, Sediment Control and Your Locality, GIS, Coliscan
EasyGel method for Bacteriological Monitoring, VA SOS
Eastern Bio-monitoring Method, Volunteers and Community
Events
Other information: Lunch - this year, with tighter budget
and smaller staffs, lunch will be on your own (bring you
own). However, Jay Gilliam has graciously offered to make
a lunch run for those desiring a boxed lunch. More details
on that to follow.
Awards - We will be presenting Citizens for Water Quality
Awards to Outstanding Organizations this year. Go to http://www.vasos.org/cwq2004award.htm
to nominate an organization to receive an award.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
VCN
LEGISLATIVE TRAINING IN YOUR AREA !?!
Would you like VCN to provide the basic legislative training
session in your region this summer? We are looking for
at least two VCN member organizations to host the presentation.
As a host, you will need to determine a date with us,
identify a location, and help recruit participants. The
program runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We provide sandwiches
or pizza and beverages. After introductions, we use the
Legislative Program - PowerPoint that explains how the
legislative process works in Virginia and how an individual
can have an impact! We then respond to questions and have
a bit of role playing - how to talk about legislation
with your legislator. If you are interested in hosting
a session this summer, let us know soon. This is a joint
project with VCN and the Virginia League of Conservation
Voters Education Fund. Call David at 804-644-0283 or email
Ellen at ellenshepard@yahoo.com
ANNOUNCING THE FIRST SUMMER SESSION
FOR THE ESPECIALLY FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAM!
The Summer 2004 Brochure & Registration forms can
be found at http://www.vcu.edu/ocp/programs/nonprofitorgs/summer04.pdf
Looking forward to seeing you and your colleagues this
summer!
Rebecca M. Halloran
Program Coordinator
Especially for Nonprofit Organizations
____________________________________________________________
Nonprofit Enterprise Institute/Office of Community Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University
Scherer Hall
923 W. Franklin Street, Room 201
P.O. Box 842028
Richmond, VA 23284-2028
Phone: 804-827-0246
Fax: 804-828-2171 or 804-828-2756 Email: rmhallor@vcu.edu
http://www.vcu.edu/ocp/programs/nonprofitorgs
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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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