Kerr Environmental News
New Virginia Stormwater Regulations Finalized
Applying the River Continuum Concept to a 1st and 4th Order Stream Pairing
New Draft Rapanos Guidance from USACE/EPA
Virginia Legislative Session and Regulatory Process Productive on Numerous Fronts
ARCADIS Secures US $43 Million Contract for Regional Water Supply in Central Virginia
Diana St. John, P.E. Hired At Kerr Environmental Services
CBDX welcomes Curtis Hickman to the Speaker/Education/Athletic Committee
VLWA welcomes Curtis Hickman to the Board of Directors
Virginia Beach Convention Center Earns Green Distinction
New Virginia Stormwater Regulations Finalized
On August 29, 2011 the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board published in the Virginia Register the Final Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit Regulations. These regulations become effective on September 13, 2011, marking the end of a nearly six year process since the Board issued its original Notice of Intended Regulatory Action on November 15, 2005. The following is an abbreviated summary of the regulations. The regulations cover many topics, and unfortunately could not all be addressed below.
Schedule for Implementation at the Local Level
While the regulations become effective September 13, 2011, it will be some time before they are implemented by localities. For those localities located within Tidewater Virginia as defined by the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, they have no less than 15 months and no more than 21 months following the effective date to adopt ordinances implementing these regulations, with an allowance for an additional 12 month extension. Consequently local ordinances will likely not become effective sooner than December 2012 and would have to be effective between June 2013 and June 2014. Between now and then the DCR is establishing committees with local governments and crafting a model ordinance for consideration by localities among other activities. (Download PDF below to read more.)
Bob Kerr, Kerr Environmental Services Corp.
Full Article - New Virginia Stormwater Regulations Finalized [PDF]
Applying the River Continuum Concept to a 1st and 4th Order Stream Pairing
Curtis Hickman, Kerr Environmental Services Corp.
Our Watersheds, VLWA, May 2011 [PDF]
New Draft Rapanos Guidance from USACE/EPA
May 2, 2011
On Monday May 2, 2011 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published in the Federal Register Draft “Guidance Regarding Identification of Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act” (see link below then see 2011/04/27 notice at top of the page), which will have the effect of re-interpreting their previous guidance as it relates to the outcome of the Rapanos Supreme Court case. Comments must be received by July 1, 2011 after which final guidance will be published and acted upon. This will then be followed by formal rulemaking (regulation), so an additional opportunity will be provided for public comment at a later date.
The agencies clearly state in their announcement in the Federal register that they believe under the proposed guidance “the number of waters identified as protected by the Clean Water Act will increase compared to current practice….” Consequently, we are reviewing this guidance closely so as to make comments that we feel are appropriate in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont physiographic provinces
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss this topic in greater detail.
http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/nnpi.aspx
Virginia Legislative Session and Regulatory Process
Productive on Numerous Fronts
Bob Kerr at Kerr Environmental Services assisted various organizations recently to secure adoption of both legislation and draft stormwater regulations in recent weeks. Mr. Kerr has been on various stormwater Regulatory Advisory Panels over the last six years, leading to the adoption of Draft stormwater regulations that were published for their 30 day public comment period on March 28, 2011. The House and Senate approved all the major elements of the Governor's Transportation Funding Plan, including $2.9 billion of bonds and about $283 million of funds for the new Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank. The State Senate did prevail in reducing the State General Fund contribution to the Transportation Fund from $150 million to approximately $33 million. Senate Bill 1206 will delete from the Code of Virginia the requirement for a VDOT Traffic Impact Statement (TIS) for all by-right development in Virginia. The measure also directs the Department of Transportation to eliminate all TIS Regulations related to by-right development by December 31, 2011. SB 1462, will require the Commonwealth Transportation Board to review and consider appropriate revisions to the VDOT Traffic Impact Statement (TIS) Regulations, and that VDOT requirements for Secondary Streets to be accepted in the state system. The reviews have to be completed by November 30, 2011, and the revisions shall be final by January 1, 2012. The Stormwater Regulatory Advisory Panel (RAP) concluded its work on March 9, and draft regulations were published for public comment by DCR on March 28. While the new regulations are ambitious, they are more reasonable than those that were suspended in 2009/2010 and contain a workable grandfathering clause for certain projects. In related news, SB 1099 is another important step in the creation of a Stormwater Nonpoint Nutrient Trading System. A study committee will be organized by DEQ and DCR to further develop a nonpoint source stormwater off-site nutrient trading program. It also removed current limitations on when localities may allow the use of offsets. It also specifies off-site options including all sites less than 5 acres; all sites with less than 10 pounds of phosphorus; all sites reaching 75% of required phosphorus reductions on site; and all sites demonstrating alternatives have been considered to the maximum extent practicable. SB 1055 and House Bill 1831 will prohibit the distribution and sale of established lawn fertilizer in Virginia that contains phosphorus. Once effective in 2013, the measure could reduce phosphorus pollution running off into the Chesapeake Bay from Virginia by up to 375,000 pounds per year, or nearly 40 percent of Virginia's phosphorus reduction goal for 2017. That could save localities millions of dollars by reducing their need to install and/or require expensive stormwater runoff treatment systems in their communities.
ARCADIS Secures US $43 Million Contract
for Regional Water Supply in Central Virginia
PR Newswire ~ DENVER, Feb. 28, 2011
ARCADIS (NYSE EURONEXT: ARCAD), the international consultancy, design, engineering and management services company, announced today that Malcolm Pirnie, the water division of ARCADIS, was selected by Henrico County, Va., to implement a regional water supply program in central Virginia. The $43.4 million contract is part of a $280 million endeavor that will span eight years, when reservoir filling commences.
Under the contract, ARCADIS with its partners (Schnabel Dam Engineering, Inc., Draper Aden Associates and Kerr Environmental Services Corporation) will provide permit compliance, engineering, design services and construction support for an intake and pumping station on the James River, and an accompanying dam and reservoir on nearby Cobbs Creek in Cumberland County. Malcolm Pirnie was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Cobbs Creek Regional Reservoir project, assisting the counties in establishing the regional partnership, negotiating river withdrawal conditions and obtaining all necessary permits. Malcolm Pirnie's identification of this particular reservoir site minimizes the project's impact on wetlands and cultural resources.
"This project meets the water demands of multiple stakeholders – an accomplishment that speaks to the shared vision of several counties, as well as Malcolm Pirnie's water expertise and regulatory knowledge," said Sandy Robinson, Senior Vice President of Malcolm Pirnie, the Water Division of ARCADIS U.S. "The Cobbs Creek Regional Reservoir project will ensure that a growing region in central Virginia will have access to drinking water and that the rural nature of the reservoir host community is preserved."
An innovative model for sustainable water supply solutions, the Cobbs Creek Reservoir project aims to alleviate potential drinking water shortages to 2055, while providing environmental benefits to the James River as water is released from the reservoir during low-flow conditions.
For more information, please contact Jeanna Blatt of ARCADIS at 303 471 3485 or outside office hours at 303 910 6504 or e-mail Jeanna.Blatt@arcadis.com
About ARCADIS:
ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, design, engineering and management services in infrastructure, water, environment and buildings. We enhance mobility, sustainability and quality of life by creating balance in the built and natural environment. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With 15,000 employees and over $2.7 billion in revenues, the company has an extensive international network supported by strong local market positions. ARCADIS supports UN-HABITAT with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. Visit us at: www.arcadis.com.
SOURCE ARCADIS
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/232797#ixzz1FITj2rOP
Diana St. John, P.E. Hired At Kerr Environmental Services
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – January 2011
Robert P. Kerr, President of Kerr Environmental Services Corp.,
announces Diana B. St. John, P.E., has been hired as a Senior Water Resources Engineer responsible
for hydrologic and hydraulic analysis for stream and wetland restoration, low impact development and
stormwater management engineering. She has 15 years experience modeling and designing facilities
dealing with flooding, and stormwater issues for various projects for local, state and federal
government agencies as well as industrial and private clients.
CBDX welcomes Curtis Hickman to the Speaker/Education/Athletic Committee
CBDA Newsletter- November 2010 Issue
CBDX Position:
Speaker/Education/Athletic Committee Chairman, Board of Directors
VLWA welcomes Curtis Hickman to the Board of Directors
Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association Newsletter ~ September 2010 Issue
The Virginia Lakes andWatersheds Board of Directors welcomes Curtis Hickman to the Board
of Directors. Curtis has been appointed to the position of Associate Director for VLWA.
Since graduating from Virginia Tech in 1997 with a Bachelors degree in Environmental
Science, Curtis has worked as an environmental consultant for over 13 years with diverse
experience focusing primarily on stream ecology, watershed management, and
environmental permitting. He was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to assist in
the development of the James City County perennial stream protocol which was recently
approved for use by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Past project
experience includes several large and small scale stream assessment and inventory projects
of various types, wetland delineations, stream and wetland permitting, stream restoration
feasibility studies, stream and wetland site searches, water quality sampling, and stream
and wetland impact violation resolution, among others.
As an environmental professional working with issues related to streams and wetlands, Curtis finds the Virginia Lakes and Watershed Association (VLWA) to be the most relevant and enjoyable professional organization pertaining to the work he does every day. The yearly VLWA Conference brings together the leading professionals in their respective fields to share the work that they have done, the lessons they have learned, and the challenges they have faced. Curtis would like to help facilitate this exchange of information in the future by serving as an Associate Director.
The VLWA BOD believes that Cutis will make a great addition to the Board. Welcome aboard, Curtis!
Virginia Beach Convention Center Earns Green Distinction
Kerr Environmental Services
assisted the Virginia Beach
Convention Center (VBCC) with
LEED® (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design)
certification by the U.S. Green
Building Council for stormwater
issues.
Kerr Environmental
Services determined surfaces
areas of each land cover type,
completed calculations for annual stormwater mitigation, prepared a narrative describing
the impact of the implemented stormwater management plan, and assisted with the
development of quarterly stormwater management facility inspection forms.
The VBCC is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED® Gold.
For more information visit: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/05/virginia-beach-convention-center-earns-green-distinction