Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
On March 10, 2011, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (VSWCB) authorized and directed the development of the Resource Management Plan Regulations and the establishment of a regulatory advisory panel (RAP). The Board and DCR assembled a RAP to work on the new Resource Management Plan regulations (4VAC50-70). Between June 29, 2011, and February 14, 2012; the RAP held five meetings, and the RAP's three subcommittees met a total of six times. Additionally, two of the subcommittees held a joint meeting. DCR with input from the RAP, developed proposed regulations specifying the criteria included in a resource management plan. Three subcommittees of the RAP, assessment, plan development, and compliance, actively shaped important components of the regulations.
At its meeting on March 29, 2012, the Soil and Water Conservation Board proposed Resource Management Plan regulations.
Key elements of the proposed regulations included:
Under the proposed regulations, an approved resource management plan would be good for nine years. While the plan is in place, the farm operation would be exempt from any new environmental regulations related to the Chesapeake Bay or local TMDLs or total maximum daily loads. TMDLs represent the maximum amount of pollutants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment that can flow to streams that have been found to be impaired. The plans would not exempt operations from existing regulations, such as those for operators of poultry or larger confined feeding operations.
The public comment period for the proposed regulations began on July 16, 2012 and ended on Sept. 14, 2012. Final regulations were approved and authorized for filing as a final exempt regulation by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board on March 27, 2013 for consideration. The final regulations were published in the Virginia Register of Regulations (Volume: 29; Issue: 18) on May 6, 2013. A July 1, 2014, effective date for the regulations was set by the board at its April 4, 2014, meeting. Additional information on this regulatory action may be found on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewstage.cfm?stageid=6555.
The first meeting of the RAP was held on June 29, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia. Materials presented to the RAP include:
The first meeting of the plan development subcommittee was held on August 12, 2011. Materials presented to the subcommittee include:
The first meeting of the compliance subcommittee was held on August 15, 2011. Materials presented to the subcommittee include:
The first meeting of the assessment subcommittee was held on August 19, 2011. Materials presented to the subcommittee include:
The second meeting of the compliance subcommittee was held on Sept. 28, 2011. Materials presented to the subcommittee include:
There was a joint meeting of the assessment and plan development subcommittees held on Sept. 30, 2011. Materials presented to the subcommittees include:
There was a meeting of the full regulatory advisory panel on Nov. 9, 2011. Materials presented to the panel include:
There was a meeting of the full regulatory advisory panel on Dec. 16, 2011. Materials presented to the panel include:
There was a meeting of the full regulatory advisory panel on Jan. 3, 2012. Materials presented to the panel include:
There was a meeting of the full regulatory advisory panel on Feb. 14, 2012. Materials presented to the panel include:
A meeting of the VSWCB was held on Mar. 29, 2012. Materials presented to the Board include:
The public comment period for the proposed regulations began on July 16, 2012 and ended on Sept. 14, 2012. Three public hearings on the proposed regulations were held during the comment period; Wytheville on August 13, 2012, Verona on August 14, 2012, and Williamsburg on August 15, 2012. Information regarding the public comment period and public hearings includes:
A meeting of the VSWCB was held on March 27, 2013 where the Board approved and authorized the filing of the final exempt regulation. Materials provided to the Board include:
Documents filed supporting this final action included the following:
The VSWCB on Nov. 21, 2013, authorized a temporary delay in the implementation of its Resource Management Plans Regulations. Materials relevant to this action include:
The VSWCB on April 4, 2014, rescinded the suspension of its Resource Management Plans Regulation and readopted the final regulation without amendment. Materials relevant to this action include:
