January 21, 2008
Centenary United Methodist Church, Richmond, VA
REGISTER TODAY!

More Information: www.vcnva.org/events/2008/LobbyDay.htm

ENVIRONMENTALISTS BLAST LEGISLATION
A proposal would end citizen boards that oversee "green" initiatives.
January 5, 2008 - The Daily Press
Legislation that would strip citizen boards of the power to approve big projects like coal plants and the King William Reservoir — and turn that power over to a single person — has found itself a primary target of environmentalists.  Bills surfaced in the last General Assembly session to abolish the three citizen boards that oversee waste management and air and water pollution in Virginia. The bills would have created a single unified board that would set regulations and give advice to the director of the Department of Environmental Quality. -  BY PATRICK LYNCH

URANIUM LODE IN VA IS FEARED, COVETED
January 2, 2008 – Washington Post
Underneath a plot of farmland used to raise cattle, hay and timber in south central Virginia lies what is thought to be the largest deposit of uranium in the United States. Now, three decades after the deposit was found, landowner Walter Coles has set his sights on mining the 200-acre site despite concerns of environmental groups and residents about unearthed radioactive material that could contaminate the area's land, air and source of drinking water. - BY ANITA KUMAR

ARCHITECTS BRING HIGH DESIGN TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
December 31, 2007 – Wall Street Journal
Public housing used to mean fortress-like blocks and soulless rows of cheaply built townhouses. But now there's a new model: privately developed homes and apartments that are well-designed, well-built and attractive enough to win over wary neighbors. A growing number of architects, from established stars to ambitious up-and-comers, are looking to such projects as an opportunity to do innovative work. The interest in design comes as affordable housing is increasingly being mixed in among middle class and even luxury homes. Architecture is also being used as a wedge against NIMBYism. – BY BEN CASSELMAN

VRA, DEQ PARTNER TO BRING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS TO CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEAN-UP EFFORTS
The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the work of the Virginia Resources Authority and its state partner, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, in the area of water quality protection. The EPA recently honored the VRA and DEQ with its 2007 PISCES Award. PISCES, which stands for Performance and Innovation in the SRF (Clean Water States Revolving Fund) Creating Environmental Success, is given to acknowledge and promote program innovations that advance EPA goals of performance and water quality protection.
For More Information: Visit The Virginia Resources Authority

2008 General Assembly Session - Legislative Positions
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters hosts an list of positions on 2008 legislation.
VCN shares the positions found online at http://capwiz.com/valcvef/issues/bills/

Air Pollution Control Board - Public Hearing on Altavista Power Station
When: January 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Altavista Town Hall at 510 Seventh St. in Altavista, Virginia
For More Information: Contact Patrick Corbett / ptcorbett@deq.virginia.gov / 434-582-6230

Air Quality Plan – Northern Virginia PM2.5 Nonattainment Area
When: 1/29 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA
More Informaiton: Contact Doris McLeod at damcleaod@deq.virginia.gov or 804-698-4197
Meeting Information              

Submit Comments on the USDA Forest Legacy Program
Deadline: Comments are due by January 17, 2008
The USDA Forest Legacy Program provides grant funding to Virginia for forest land conservation. The Legacy program requires that the Assessment of Need document be re-evaluated periodically, and that the public be given the opportunity to comment on the revisions. Virginia began this process in early 2007 with the goal of revising the Eligibility Criteria and the Forest Legacy Areas for the state.  The revised Eligibility Criteria and Forest Legacy Areas are now in draft form, pending public comment. The input received will be considered at the January 23, 2008 meeting of the Forest Legacy Subcommittee.
Submit Comments: www.dof.virginia.gov/mgt/flp-2008-revisions.shtml
For More Information: Contact Larry Mikkelson, Land Acquisition Coordinator, Virginia Department of Forestry at
434.220.9091 or larry.mikkelson@dof.virginia.gov

Beyond CAFÉ: Tackling Transportation in Climate Policy
When: January 17, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: 253 Russell Senate Office Building
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing that will examine trends in carbon emissions from the transportation sector and discuss why vehicles, fuels, and the increasing amount that Americans drive each year (due to changing land use patterns and limited transportation alternatives) all need to be addressed in the context of policy goals to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. 
Panelists include:
Chelsea Maxwell, Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator John Warner
David Greene, Research Fellow, Center for Transportation Analysis, Oakridge National Laboratory
Steve Winkelman, Transportation Program Director, Center for Clean Air Policy
Alex Farrell, Professor, Energy & Resources Group, University of California-Berkeley
For more information, contact Jan Mueller, 202-662-1883 or jmueller@eesi.org

Environment Virginia
Early Registration Deadline: January 25
Sign up online now to save $50 over regular registration rates. 
www.environmentva.org/Register/register.asp

Volunteer for Virginia Conservation Network
Do you live in or near Richmond? Are you looking for ways to help nonprofits function more effectively? If so, VCN can use your help on a variety of projects.
Contact: Suzanne Ankrum at suzanne@vcnva.org or 804-644-0283 to volunteer

Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund – Small Watershed and Conservation Innovation Grants Programs
Deadline: February 29, 2008
The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program provides grants of $20,000 to $200,000 each to organizations and local governments working on a local level to protect and improve watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay basin while building citizen-based resource stewardship. The program also provides small grants for project planning and design.
For More Information: CLICK HERE
To register for the Webcast on 1/23: Visit http://www.nfwf.org/chesapeake
Contact Amanda Bassow, amanda.bassow@nfwf.org , Brian Kittler, brian.kittler@nfwf.org or call (202) 857-0166.

FARM FOUNDATION - FUNDING FOR CONFERENCES TARGETING RURAL ISSUES
DEADLINE: Applications may be submitted at any time
The Farm Foundation provides support to private and public organizations to present multi-state or national conferences and workshops that address economic and policy issues critical to agriculture and people in rural communities. The Foundation seeks project proposals that specifically address one of the following priority areas: Consumer Issues, Environmental Quality and Natural Resources Issues, Globalization, New Technologies, Role of Agricultural Institutions, or Rural Community Viability.
For More Information: Visit www.farmfoundation.org/guidelines.htm