Join us tomorrow to protect the James!

We need your help! Tomorrow, July 6, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold an informational briefing and public hearing to review a draft wastewater permit for Dominion’s Chesterfield Power Station on the James River which will include “dewatering” of coal ash ponds. Please come out tomorrow evening and tell DEQ that we need improvements to this proposal! Here are some of our concerns:

• The draft permit, as written, allows discharge of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc at hazardous levels for fish and aquatic wildlife. DEQ should require Dominion to pre-treat the water at levels sufficient to protect fish and aquatic wildlife before the water is released into the river.

• The draft permit allows Dominion to release cooling water at very high temperatures that is harmful to fish and aquatic life.

• The Chesterfield Power Station is within an area of critical habitat for Atlantic sturgeon where the endangered species is known to spawn. Additional scrutiny of permit limits is required to ensure that Atlantic sturgeon are not negatively affected.

• The James River watershed is home to one-third of all Virginians, who live in its 39 counties and 19 cities and towns. The river serves as a drinking water source for millions via water intakes for public water systems including one downstream of the proposed discharge near Hopewell. 

HOW TO JOIN US: An informational briefing starts at 6:00 PM and oral comments will be received from the public during tomorrow night’s public hearing starting at 7:00PM.

Location:

Thomas Dale High School - West Campus
3900 West Hundred Road
Chester, VA 23831

In September, the State Water Control Board will hold a hearing where a final decision will be made on the Chesterfield wastewater permit. Importantly, if you wish to speak at the State Water Control Board meeting you must have either submitted oral comments during the July 6 public hearing or submitted written comments.

IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TOMORROW EVENING, you can still voice your opinion by submitting written comments by July 21st!

Comments can be sent to:

Joseph Bryan
DEQ – Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Email: ChesterfieldPowerStationWaterPermit@deq.virginia.gov
Fax: (804) 527-5106

Background: Dewatering is the first step in the process to close coal ash ponds which hold millions of gallons of wastewater that contain toxic chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc. Dewatering involves the removal of this wastewater from the ponds and then discharging the water into the James with some level of treatment. Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity, has been stored for decades in water-filled ponds at locations across the country. Many of these ponds were created before modern environmental regulations were established to ensure the safe management of coal ash. The Chesterfield Power Station is one of 3 facilities on the James River where coal ash ponds are being closed. The other 2 facilities are the Bremo Power Station and Chesapeake Energy Center on the Elizabeth River.

Earlier this year, Dominion was issued a wastewater permit at the Bremo Power Station to dewater coal ash ponds. Strong public involvement was critical to achieving major modifications to that permit. While the final permit was significantly stronger than the draft permit, the final permit fell short of protecting the health of the James River. As a result, the James River Association appealed the permit and later entered into a settlement agreement with Dominion that includes an enhanced treatment system to ensure water quality standards are met before water is discharged into the James.

While the 3 facilities will require wastewater permits for the dewatering process, each facility will also require a solid waste permit that will oversee the permanent closure of these ponds. A draft solid waste permit for the Chesapeake Energy Center is currently out for public comment, and it is expected that solid waste permits for both Bremo and Chesterfield will be out for public comment later this summer.

The James River needs your help!

On Wednesday, July 6th, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold an informational briefing and public hearing to review a draft wastewater permit for Dominion’s Chesterfield Power Station on the James River which will include “dewatering” of Dominion’s coal ash ponds.

On July 5 we will send another action alert to our Action Network outlining our major areas of concern with this permit so you can help us provide a voice for the river. To join our Action Network sign up at www.riveratrisk.org.

Dewatering is the first step in the process to close coal ash ponds which hold millions of gallons of wastewater that contain toxic chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc. Dewatering involves the removal of this wastewater from the ponds and then discharging the water into the James with some level of treatment.
The following are some key points about the coal ash pond closure process on the James River:

• Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity, has been stored for decades in water-filled ponds at locations across the country. Many of these ponds were created before modern environmental regulations were established to ensure the safe management of coal ash. The Chesterfield Power Station is one of 3 facilities on the James Riverwhere coal ash ponds are being closed. The other 2 facilities are the Bremo Power Station and Chesapeake Energy Center on the Elizabeth River.
  
  
• Earlier this year, Dominion was issued a wastewater permit at the Bremo Power Station to dewater coal ash ponds. Strong public involvement was critical to achieving major modifications to that permit. While the final permit was significantly stronger than the draft permit, the final permit fell short of protecting the health of the James River. As a result, the James River Association appealed the permit and later entered into a settlement agreement with Dominion that includes an enhanced treatment system to ensure water quality standards are met before water is discharged into the James.
  
  
• While the 3 facilities will require wastewater permits for the dewatering process, each facility will also require a solid waste permit that will oversee the permanent closure of these ponds. A draft solid waste permit for the Chesapeake Energy Center is currently out for public comment, and it is expected that solid waste permits for both Bremo and Chesterfield will be out for public comment later this summer.

HOW TO JOIN US: On July 6 an informational briefing for the Chesterfield wastewater permit starts at 6:00 PM and oral comments will be received from the public during the public hearing starting at 7:00PM

On July 5 we will send another action alert outlining our major areas of concern with this permit so you can help us provide a voice for the river.

Location:
Thomas Dale High School - West Campus
3900 West Hundred Road
Chester, VA 23831

In September, the State Water Control Board will hold a hearing where a final decision will be made on the Chesterfield wastewater permit. Importantly, if you wish to speak at the State Water Control Board meeting you must have either submitted oral comments during the July 6 public hearing or submitted written comments. IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT JULY 6th, you can still voice your opinion by submitting written comments by July 21st!

These can be sent to:
Joseph Bryan
DEQ – Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Email: ChesterfieldPowerStationWaterPermit@deq.virginia.gov
Fax: (804) 527-5106

General Assembly Budget Update

On Sunday afternoon, the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia released their proposed budget packages in response to the Governor’s proposal. In the coming weeks, these proposals will be used to formulate the final budget for the Commonwealth of Virginia for the next two years.

Below is a summary of the priority budget items for the James River Association.

Urban Water Quality Initiatives

Virginia has made significant investments in water quality over the last two decades resulting in major pollution reductions and improvements to local water quality. But urban stormwater is the only pollution source that is still growing. In order to stop this upward trend, it is important for Virginia to make investments in the critical water quality need. The Senate included $20 million which is a step in the right direction.

SUPPORT $20 million in bonds for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund

Protecting Virginia’s Vital Lands

Did you know that investments in land conservation, such as state parks and other open spaces, provide significant economic benefits to communities in Virginia? These benefits include increased opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism, attraction and retention of businesses and skilled workers, improved water quality, enhanced property values, reduced costs of community services, and support for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries. The House of Delegates included $39 million for land conservation. We need to protect this investment.

SUPPORT $39 million for Land Conservation

Keeping Virginia’s Farms Clean Water Friendly

Agriculture is the largest industry in Virginia. It is important to work with members of the agricultural community to reach solutions that help to restore the James River and support local farming operations. Both the House and the Senate included $61.7 million to help Virginia’s farmers – a remarkable investment.

SUPPORT $61.7 million for agricultural management practices

Support Wastewater Upgrades

Much of Virginia’s water quality progress is due to great work done by wastewater treatment plant upgrades. This year, more upgrades are due. We must keep this impactful state/local partnership strong. Both the House and Senate included $59 million in bonds for wastewater improvements across the state.

SUPPORT wastewater bonds totaling $59 million

General Assembly Update

www.RiverAtRisk.org

We’ve made it halfway through the 2016 General Assembly Session! Thanks to your help, we’ve made our priorities clear to legislators. Below is an update on each of our key priorities:

Priority One: Support Water Quality and Land Conservation Funding

Background: Virginia has made significant investments in water quality and land conservation over the last two decades resulting in major pollution reductions and improvements to local water quality. In order to keep Virginia’s on track with meeting our restoration goals, continued investment is necessary.

Update: The budget debate is heating up on the hill. This week, legislators will vote on funding that could determine whether the Commonwealth continues to make progress towards cleaner rivers and streams — or falls short on its goals. We will be there making the case for the James River!

Priority Two: Support Proper Coal Ash Pond Closure (Senate Bill 537)

Background: The James River watershed is home to coal ash ponds capable of holding five billion gallons of coal ash. Each pond in the watershed is adjacent to the river or one of its tributaries. Coal ash, which is a waste product of the electricity generation process, contains arsenic, lead and mercury among other toxics. Simply capping coal ash ponds in place, as currently proposed, does not stop the potential of groundwater contamination or leaching in to surface waters. Every North Carolina pond that has been tested has been shown to be contaminating the surrounding groundwater. Despite this track record of contamination, Virginia’s code does not require lining, capping and long-term monitoring for these facilities. Passing this critical bill will provide that protection to Virginia’s waterways and will allow power generating companies to recover the costs.

Update: This bill spurred great conversation of the coal ash issue with Virginia legislators. Unfortunately, the coal ash pond closure bill died in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee on a 7-7-1 vote. But do not fear — this conversation will not stop here. A dewatering permit to drain the ponds at Chesterfield Power Station is coming soon, as well as permits for the ultimate closure of the ponds. We still need your help in this fight!


Priority Three: Support Swifter Spill Notification (Senate Bill 581 & House Bill 977)


Background: Current law requires the spill of a dangerous substance be reported within 24 hours to the Department of Environmental Quality. We believe that this timeline leaves our waterways, citizens and economy at risk. Accelerating that timeline to 12 hours and enhancing public notification will better protect us all.

Update: After working with stakeholders to address opposition to this bill, we reached a compromise that removed the 12 hour timeline for notification (leaving it at the current 24 hours) but still increased spill notification from just newspapers to also include radio and television. The bill successfully made it out of the House of Delegates, but did not make it out of the Senate. We will work tirelessly to ensure that we can be successful when the House bill comes before the Senate again.


Priority Four: Support Proper Menhaden Management (Senate Bill 98 & House Bill 150)


Background: Menhaden have been called "the most important fish in the sea." Menhaden are both filter feeders and a primary food source for striped bass, bluefish, sharks, ospreys, brown pelicans, and dolphin. Beyond its ecological importance, the menhaden fishery is very important economically to the Commonwealth, supporting hundreds of jobs. JRA urges legislators to transfer management of the menhaden fishery from the General Assembly to the experienced fishery professionals at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). VMRC currently manages all of the Commonwealth's fisheries except menhaden.

Update: Both bills have been defeated, due to the delicate relationship between menhaden management and jobs. This is a conversation that will continue at the General Assembly level in the future.

2016 General Assembly Priorities

The 2016 General Assembly Session kicked off last week in Richmond. The James River Association is working hard to protect our river and watershed, but we need your help! 

Below are our key priorities for this session. Join our Action Network to stay up-to-date and involved in the coming weeks.

In order to reach the James River Association’s goals for a fully healthy James River and fulfill Virginia’s constitutional commitment to protect our waterways, we urge your support of the following critical actions:

Support Water Quality and Land Conservation Funding
Virginia has made significant investments in water quality and land conservation over the last two decades resulting in major pollution reductions and improvements to local water quality. In order to keep Virginia on track with meeting restoration goals for the James, continued investment is necessary. Therefore, we will be strongly supporting Water Quality and Land Conservation funding.

Support Proper Coal Ash Pond Closure (Senate Bill 537)

The James River watershed is home to coal ash ponds capable of holding five billion gallons of coal ash. Each pond in the watershed is bordering the river or one of its tributaries. Coal ash, which is a waste product of the electricity generation process, contains toxics such as arsenic, lead and mercury. Simply capping coal ash ponds in place without a liner, as currently proposed, does not stop the potential of groundwater contamination or pollution leaking in to surface waters. Every North Carolina pond that has been tested has been shown to be contaminating the surrounding groundwater. Despite this track record of contamination, Virginia’s code does not require lining, capping and long-term monitoring for these facilities. Senate Bill 537 would require that a liner be installed which will stop the potential for groundwater contamination and provide protection to Virginia’s waterways.  The bill also allows power generating companies to recover the costs for the safe closure of coal ash ponds.

Support Swifter Spill Notification (Senate Bill 581 & House Bill 977)

Current law requires the spill of a dangerous substance be reported within 24 hours to the Department of Environmental Quality. We believe that this timeline leaves our waterways, citizens and economy at risk. This bill accelerates that timeline to 12 hours which we believe enhances public notification and better protects us all.   

Support Proper Menhaden Management (Senate Bill 98 & House Bill 150)

Menhaden have been called "the most important fish in the sea." Menhaden are both filter feeders and a primary food source for striped bass (rockfish), bluefish, sharks, ospreys, brown pelicans, and dolphin. Beyond its ecological importance, the menhaden fishery is very important economically to the Commonwealth, supporting hundreds of jobs. The menhaden fishery is also the only fishery in the Commonwealth that is currently managed by the General Assembly – all others are managed by experienced fishery professionals at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).  We support this bill because it transfers management of the menhaden fishery from the General Assembly to the fishery professionals at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). 

The James River: A Moving Pipeline

The path of James River through Virginia carries millions of gallons of life-sustaining nourishment daily. But are you aware that it is also a winding course for exploding toxic substances?

A now renowned region of North Dakota recognized by oil prospectors to hold a geologic formation called the "Bakken play" might conjure images of the days of the Wild West. Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" -- a controversial method of extracting fossil fuels deep beneath the earth's surface -- is creating boom towns in this region. An influx of fracking and oil production workers has transformed sleepy, rural Dakota villages into booming industrialized towns overnight. The industry's goal: Get the oil out of the ground...and make it snappy. 
But then what? There is not endless storage capability for oil, so the industry is anxious to transport it to refineries quickly. Adequate pipeline infrastructure to meet this desire does not exist in the Bakken region, though, so the oil industry has taken to placing this crude oil into 1.5-mile long trains and shipping it across the continent daily. Federal regulations allow the industry to use antiquated shipping cars that have been documented for decades as being likely to spill and rupture during a derailment.

So what does oil from North Dakota have to do with the health & safety of James River, the protection of drinking water for many thousands of Virginians, and your community? And why has James River Association -- whose mission is to protect a river -- become so involved in this rail-based issue?
Please visit www.RiverAtRisk.org now to ensure solutions that benefit Virginians rather than the continuation of avoidable risks to our communities and irreplaceable water resources.

Unit trains carrying their hazardous and volatile cargo travel along a route that parallels, crosses and hovers over Virginia's James River for hundreds of miles over infrastructure that is minimally and self-inspected. Each month, as much as 15 million gallons or more of this highly toxic and explosive Bakken crude travels via rail line from West Virginia across the Commonwealth en route to Yorktown, Virginia. Bakken crude is not what you might typically visualize when you hear the term "crude oil". It is in fact a "light, sweet" crude oil that behaves much more like gasoline in its volatility, or likelihood to cause a dangerous explosion. Considering these similarities, I find it helpful to imagine the tankers to be loaded with millions of gallons of gasoline in forecasting possible derailment scenarios.

After reaching Yorktown, train tanker contents are offloaded onto tanker ships at a recently retrofitted transfer facility, and finally sent to refineries along the east coast. Lynchburg received national press last year for a derailment and alarming accounts of the April 30 derailment, James River oil spill and breathtaking explosion. Lynchburg, however, is by no means the only population center and resource along the oil-by-rail route. During its tour de Virginia, rail tankers travel through the heart of the towns of Covington and Clifton Forge -- along the James headwaters of Dunlap Creek and Jackson River. Upon the rail confluence with James River at its origin in Iron Gate, trains of Bakken crude make their winding, narrow path through Botetourt County, including the historic river towns of Eagle Rock, Buchanan, Natural Bridge Station and Glasgow. From the beautiful Allegheny Highlands, tankers of oil flow through the fabled Blue Ridge in full view of the James Face Wilderness Area and our National Forest lands -- through the most biologically diverse river gorge in the eastern United States. After straddling the Bedford-Amherst County line and passing through the Big Island industrial town and industrial facility, the trains roll into Lynchburg City to begin their snaking trek across the Piedmont of Central Virginia. Before approaching the fall line, Virginians can encounter black tankers of oil rolling through Galts Mill, Gladstone, Howardsville, Scottsville, the fabled Seven Islands, Bremo Power Plant, Goochland and Powhatan Counties, Richmond's James River Park System and Maymont Park. 

Bakken oil will cross innumerable creeks and tributaries on historic bridges, encountering countless public parklands, trails, schools, government buildings, hunting and fishing grounds and traversing hundreds of miles of private farmland, forest, neighborhoods, industries and businesses. If you look up while in Richmond City you may observe oil trains overhead from several vantage points, including Belle Isle, Texas Beach, Brown's Island, the Riverfront Canal Walk, Dock Street, the Virginia Capital Trail and Rocketts Landing. You can easily identify oil tankers by the bright red placards with the number "1267" aside each tanker.  Eastbound, loaded -- headed west, going back for more.

The February  2015 spill damaging the Kanawha River in West Virginia resulted in no fatalities and only a single injury. Thousands of citizens were evacuated and displaced, and two separate drinking water resources were threatened. One home was burnt to its foundation. Similarities between the West Virginia derailment to the Lynchburg derailment on April 30, 2014 include: Identical model of rail car (the "safer" CPC-1232), identical cargo (Bakken crude oil), identical rail carrier (CSX) and identical rail line (destined for Yorktown).

The Lynchburg events were not a fluke or a simple case of "bad luck". Derailments of these shipments have become routine occurrences in North America since 2013. Federal estimates forecast derailments to become exponentially more deadly, costly and frequent without intervention. As Virginians, we have the guaranteed right to waterways free of impairment. Your right to drinkable, swimmable and fishable water is unnecessarily jeopardized each time these unsafe trains are permitted to carry their cargo over and along our river.

If you share in our concern about Virginia's natural legacy and the river that will be left to our children, then please lend a voice to your voiceless river. Through JRA's Our River At Risk campaign, you will be provided with specific opportunities on how you can participate in securing a healthy James River for you, your family, your community and your future. Protections are possible and available but only with your involvement. 

Please visit www.RiverAtRisk.org now to ensure solutions that benefit Virginians rather than the continuation of avoidable risks to our communities and irreplaceable water resources.

James River Association Responds to West Virginia Bakken Crude Oil Train Derailment and Explosion on Kanawha River

February 17, 2015

Yesterday afternoon another freight train carrying over 100 cars of Bakken crude oil on its way to Yorktown, VA derailed in Fayette County, West Virginia, resulting in 25 derailed tank cars – 14 of these cars exploded and one spilled into the Kanawha River. The accident prompted an evacuation of a mile and a half radius around the derailment, and two water treatment plants were immediately closed to assess impacts to drinking water. The incident is similar to the Bakken crude oil train explosion and oil spill that occurred on the James River in Lynchburg on April 30, 2014, when 17 cars derailed and one ruptured spilling its contents into the river.

“This dangerous event could have happened on the James River again,” said Pat Calvert, Upper James Riverkeeper. “This is the same rail line that runs along hundreds of miles of the James River and through many population centers in Virginia. This is an alarming reminder that our river and communities continue to be at risk every day without stronger safety requirements for Bakken crude oil transport.”

Both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Transportation are considering new safety measures to address the risks posed to communities and the environment from the 4,000% increase in crude oil transport by railroads over the last five years. According to the rail carrier, CSX, both incidents involved the newer CPC 1232 train cars and not the older DOT 111 model that has been much of the focus of safety concerns.

“The James River Association believes that this incident further highlights the need for swift action by Governor McAuliffe’s Rail Safety Taskforce to issue recommendations improving safety on Virginia’s crude by rail lines,” said Adrienne Kotula, Policy Specialist for the James River Association. “Increased inspections of the lines carrying this highly volatile material are vital to the safety of Virginians and the James River – a key drinking water supply for millions.”

“We also urge the McAuliffe administration and Virginia’s congressional representatives to call on the White House to quickly complete their review of the new federal rail safety regulations so they may be rapidly implemented, Kotula continued. “We believe that immediate implementation of the strictest tank car standards proposed (Tank Car Option 1 in the proposed regulations) is the most prudent option given this recent incident and the similar derailment that occurred in Lynchburg, Virginia.”

Contact:

Adrienne Kotula, Policy Specialist

James River Association

804-788-8811, ext. 206

akotula@jrava.org

Stormwater Runoff Reduction in Petersburg

By Matthew Perry, JRA Intern

On July 22, JRA and the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) trained the City of Petersburg’s executive staff on the importance of stormwater management. The training focused on how the City’s departments could work together to limit its stormwater runoff and how they could foster a sense of environmental stewardship in its communities. From the head of the Municipal Golf Course to the Police Chief, everyone in the meeting room remained engaged and involved during presentations from both JRA and CWP.

This was the inaugural training of JRA’s Promoting Green Infrastructure program, which is designed to increase the understanding and facilitate the implementation of green stormwater projects. The program focuses on three urban areas within the James River watershed: Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and Petersburg. In each locality, JRA will work to increase stormwater knowledge, engage local citizens on stormwater issues, and establish a “Walkable Watershed” in a neighborhood. The walkable watersheds will connect a community to a nearby creek or stream, establish safe passage routes for pedestrians and cyclists to schools and community centers, and contain watershed improvements that help slow, infiltrate, and clean rain water. Not only will the neighborhood that hosts the walkable watershed reduce its stormwater impact, it will also benefit from the beautification and community-building that comes from making green space an important component of their area. This concept was introduced to all attendees at the meeting and was met with considerable approval.

Although the implementation process has not yet begun in Petersburg, this meeting marked a crucial step in the program: getting government officials educated and involved. Every official left the meeting with a new understanding of stormwater issues and how to address them. By establishing an environmentally-friendly mentality in Petersburg, JRA can ensure that all government departments will work together to make green infrastructure a reality in their city. Citizens and city officials both share the motivation for pollution reduction and both are ready to meet the challenge with assistance from JRA and CWP. 

Tell the General Assembly: Do Not Dilute Stormwater Regulations Designed to Protect Our Waterways!

We all rely on our waterways for drinking water, and sometimes it is hard to see the damage that stormwater inflicts on them. That’s why we all need to pitch in to make sure they’re healthy, or face the consequences of degrading our river, creeks, streets and homes.

Across our watershed and throughout Virginia, stormwater pollution is a serious problem that impacts the health and quality of our local waterways. It is an issue that all of our communities must address.

In order to contribute to solving the stormwater problem, local governments must adopt ordinances requiring all new development to address their stormwater impacts. Currently, all of the local governments in our watershed are required to do so by July 1, 2014 – but this requirement is currently under pressure at the 2014 General Assembly.

What is stormwater pollution? 
When it rains, the water falls on rooftops, streets, sidewalks and parking lots and then flows to our community’s waterways. Along the way, it picks up all kinds of pollutants like pet waste, fertilizers and pesticides, oil and automotive fluids. Much of the ground in cities and suburbs is covered in surfaces that do not allow this water to absorb (also called impervious surfaces) – surfaces like asphalt, cement, and roofing material– this makes polluted stormwater which flows into our rivers, streams and lakes.

What are the impacts of stormwater pollution?
Stormwater adversely impacts the quality of our local waters, as it carries with it various pollutants, sediments, and other debris from the surfaces over which it runs off. Stormwater also creates quantity problems which result in flooding, stream bank erosion, combined sewer overflows (CSO), basement flooding, and sewer backups. Polluted stormwater also often negatively affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increases drinking water treatment costs.

Why is it important to address stormwater now?
Virginia has been working for over ten years on the development of stronger stormwater requirements that will protect our local streams and the James River.  We cannot wait any longer - the time to act is now!

If we don’t want to face increased flooding in our homes, businesses, and streets, increased pollution in our rivers and streams, and increased fines for inac­tion, we need to act now. The outdated methods that we rely on to carry our stormwater are not up to the task. New local programs will be designed to handle stormwater runoff and improve our waterways for future generations.

Delaying or weakening the adoption of local stormwater programs will hinder Virginia’s ability to meet its state and federal Chesapeake Bay cleanup commitments to reduce pollution from runoff and would simply create a bigger, more costly gap to overcome. The program’s improved technical requirements and effective administrative framework (including citizen participation rights) should be permitted to go into effect without delay, weakening, or dilution.

Contact your legislators (Who is my legislator?) and let them know that they must not delay or dilute Virginia's stormwater management program to ensure safe, healthy, and productive waters for us all.  They must hold firm to the July 2014 implementation deadline.

Want to take more action? Becomea member of JRA’s Action Network.

To learn more about what you can do to reduce your runoff, visit smartstormwater.org.

Let us know if you take action, or if you have any questions, by contacting JRA’s Policy Specialist - Adrienne Kotula at (804) 788-8811 x206 or akotula@jrava.org. 

The Mighty Menhaden

By John Reedy, JRA High School Intern

(Source)

At a glance, it isn’t obvious that this fish is one of the most important animals in the sea.  Despite its small structure and ordinary features, the Atlantic menhaden plays an extremely important role in sustaining their ecosystem.  This little fish is a filter feeder, and an efficient one at that.  An adult menhaden can filter up to four gallons of water in a minute!  These fish keep the ocean water clean and clear.  The Atlantic menhaden also happens to be an extremely important food source for many other aquatic animals.  Therefore, the ecosystem’s stability is directly linked to the menhaden. 

            (Source)

Unfortunately, the Atlantic menhaden is in trouble.  Over the past three decades, the menhaden has been the victim of extreme overfishing.  This has caused large declines in population size and has put the stability of an entire ecosystem in jeopardy.  The fish population is down to approximately 10% of its original, non-commercially fished size.  A reduction so large could have huge detrimental impacts on the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem.  In order to save the population and promote stability in the ecosystem, limitations must be set on menhaden fishing.

The Virginia General Assembly has the power to help the Atlantic menhaden population.  It is crucial that our elected officials approve the total allowable catch and a 20% reduction in the harvest cap.  Otherwise, the menhaden population will drop to even lower levels, and other species are likely to suffer.  In order to prevent this tragedy in the Bay, please contact your legislator and tell them that you support House Bill 1840 today. 

Diving in to the Richmond Riverfront Plan

by Adrienne Kotula, JRA's Policy Specialist

After two years of work by consultants, City staff and numerous stakeholders, Richmond City Council unanimously approved the Riverfront Plan on Monday night. Here at JRA, we feel that this is a pivotal time for Richmond and the James River. We also feel that the Riverfront Plan is the perfect vehicle to capture the momentum from Richmond being named the “Best River Town” by Outside magazine. Now that the plan is approved, it is imperative to begin moving forward with key projects that will bring citizens to the riverfront.

If fully implemented, the Riverfront Plan will greatly increase the opportunities to enjoy the James by protecting its scenic resources, its wildness, improving its water quality, and enhancing the already developed portions of the riverfront. Here are some reasons why:

·      Increased Connectivity: The riverfront plan makes public access a priority and contains a series of both visual and physical connections to the riverfront. Providing citizens with more avenues to experience the James is the most effective way to ensure that it will be treasured by those who are in Richmond.

Providing a Variety of Experiences: The James in Richmond offers residents “wild” experiences on Belle Isle, urban experiences on Brown’s Island and even dining experiences at Rockett’s Landing. This plan hopes to enhance those experiences by providing more recreational experiences in places that are already developed, such as Chapel Island.

  

·    Environmental Stewardship: The Riverfront Plan recognizes that the health of the river is integral to ensuring the success of the Plan. The importance of protecting riparian buffers, increasing vegetation and the infiltration of stormwater are all elements of the plan.

Now that the Richmond Riverfront Plan has passed, we can look forward to a brighter future for Richmond and the James. Thanks to all who helped us ensure the passage of the plan, we look forward to working with you on implementation.

Vote for Clean Water

by Adrienne Kotula, JRA's Policy Specialist

In the 40 years since the Clean Water Act was passed, we have made great strides toward fishable and swimmable waters. The James is arguably one of the rivers that has been the most improved – coming back from a 13-year fishing ban to recently being lauded as the river that runs through Outside Magazine’s Best River Town.

But what can we do to continue to protect and improve America’s Founding River? One simple act is voting for Clean Water. So on November 6^th, please keep the James in mind as you head in to the voting booth. Remember that your vote affects the future policies and funding that will impact water quality.

Learn where your candidates stand on the Clean Water Act and remember that Virginia families have a right to enjoy clean rivers, streams and beaches. Let them know that Clean Water is a priority for you. Cast your ballot for Clean Water!

Questions about voting? 

Visit the State Board of Elections.

To take the “I Vote Clean Water” pledge and receive a sticker of your choice, visit the Vote Clean Water webpage here!

A Look at Clean Water and the Law

By Adrienne Kotula, JRA Policy Specialist

Water quality issues in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, such as the James, have been hotly debated. Due to the recent effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give Chesapeake Bay states an effective framework to make real progress toward healthy waters for the future, a significant backlash has sprung up. This backlash includes a lawsuit challenging the cleanup, which is poised to go before a judge next week. So I thought this would be a good time to point out a few principles and facts to support cleaning up the James and the Bay watershed.

1. Virginia’s constitution states: “It shall be the Commonwealth’s policy to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.” (Article XI, Section 1).

Enshrined in our Commonwealth’s constitution is the principle that I can’t pollute and destroy a resource that you also use. That would be a form of theft. This democratic principle isn’t something the Environmental Protection Agency invented; it came from the people and leaders of our state.

2. The status quo isn’t working, and the Bay clean-up that has been underway for 25 years has not achieved a healthy Bay ecosystem. When the status quo isn’t working, something needs to change. The EPA worked with extensive monitoring data, peer-reviewed science, and state-of-the-art models in an attempt to address this need for change. Then, after a period of public comment and negotiating with state governments, the EPA refined the goals for cleaning up each waterway. Virginia developed its own plan with input from stakeholders and Virginia officials will be the ones responsible for making sure that the costs of meeting these goals are spread fairly among all affected economic sectors and geographic areas.

3. The goals for pollution reduction are attainable. No one is trying to eliminate all pollution from our rivers. Scientists, business leaders, and government officials can all agree that some pollution is an inevitable side-effect of economic activity, and that we need to have a healthy economy alongside a healthy environment. That’s why the new targets for reducing pollution in the James River allow for 23.21 million lbs. of nitrogen, 2.94 million lbs. of phosphorous, and 966 million lbs. of sediment pollution each year.

Before you let anyone tell you that the James River will be getting “too clean,” reflect on these numbers. That’s how much pollution is allowed under the new EPA goals. That’s how much pollution we can reasonably expect this river to take and still be healthy enough for wildlife and humans to use and enjoy. 

Making Our Voices Heard for Clean Water

by Adrienne Kotula, JRA's Policy Specialist

From left to right: Adrienne Kotula, JRA Policy Specialist; Jacob Powell, Virginia Conservation Network; Chip Rice, Friends of the Rappahannock; Peter Marx, Choose Clean Water Coalition; Pamela Goddard, National Parks Conservation Association; Kelly Simpson, Legislative Director & Counsel for Congressmen Hurt; Robbi Savage, Rivanna Conservation Society (Photo Credit: Robbi Savage, Rivanna Conservation Society)

Two weeks ago, I headed north - out of the James River watershed, through the Rappahannock River watershed and into the Potomac River watershed.

Why would I want to leave the ever-impressive James River watershed, you ask?  For some very important visits to Congress, of course.

With the help of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, fellow Coalition members and I visited five Virginia congressional offices to help protect funding for the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. This funding is critical to helping farmers and landowners throughout the six-state Chesapeake watershed play a key role in ensuring the health of local waters and the Bay. This funding benefits the over 17 million citizens of our region by providing cleaner water and healthier, more productive farms.

At a time when localities are just beginning to fully grasp the restoration that needs to take place and we have achieved half of the pollution reductions necessary to restoring the Bay, it is critical for federal funding to stay in place. As EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson recently told CNN, “Now is not the time to quit. We are so close to actually turning the corner, but it’s going to require all of us…to keep contributing our share.” Everyone will have to do more and critical federal funding will be needed if we are going to restore the James and the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. JRA remains committed to working with our elected representatives to ensure that all levels of government do their fair share to reduce pollution and restore our national treasures.

To contact your Congressmen and tell them how important clean water funding is to you, click here.

Virginia LID Design Competition Winners Announced

The competition was fierce, the efforts were strong, but decisions eventually had to be made.  The winners of the Virginia Low Impact Design (LID) Competition were announced at the 23rd annual Environment Virginia Symposium held in Lexington, Virginia.  And the winners are:

• Green Roadway:  William H. Gordon Associates, Chantilly, VA
• Urban Infill:  Williamsburg Environmental Group, Williamsburg, VA  
• Suburban Mixed Use:  Hinchey & Baines, PLC. Culpeper, VA

The purpose of the Virginia Low Impact Development Design Competition was to challenge teams of development professionals to demonstrate cost-effective approaches to replicating the natural treatment of stormwater on development sites.  This Virginia-wide competition was held to provide landscape site designers with a hands-on experience of working in LID to reduce stormwater runoff and protect local water quality.  Each winner took home a $15,000 cash prize. 

These talented consultants from the Virginia LID Competition have demonstrated that minimizing the impact of development on streams is not only possible, but cost-effective.  We hope that developers and regulators alike will implement these types of natural approaches on all development plans in the future.  At a time when the quality of the James and its tributaries is being measured against the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup goals and development is a growing issue affecting water quality, the need to increase protections and minimize impact with cost-effective methods is more important than ever.

For more information on the first ever Virginia-wide LID Competition, check out the Competition website: www.VirginiaLIDComp.org