Project Task:
42
Grantee:
Crater Planning District Commission
Project Title:
Coastal Technical Assistance Program
Project Description as Proposed:
The Crater staff will work with the Commission’s Environmental Resources Management Task Force comprised of the planning directors of the Crater Planning District to carry out this Technical Assistance program. The Commission staff will assist tidewater communities with environmental impact reviews, provide technical assistance, coordination, training, and staff support to the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR).
Federal Funding:
$30,000
Project Contact:
Mark Bittner - 804.861.1666; mbittner@craterpdc.org
Project Status:
10/1/2011 - 9/30/2012
Final Product Received:
Crater PDC Technical Assistance Program Final Report (pdf)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Product #1 – Environmental Impact Reviews
Commission staff reviewed 29 Environmental Impact Reports during the past year. The projects were varied and included military applications, wildlife refuge planning, power generators, recycling facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, water withdrawals, pollution discharge, and grant funding applications.
Product #2 – Report on Coastal Meetings
Four (4) quarterly meetings were held during the past year (2012): January 27, March 23, July 13, and September 14. In addition to local government and Crater PDC staff, representatives from the following entities attended at least once: Fort Lee, VIMS, and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Crater PDC also hosted the Semi-Annual Coastal PDC meeting on October 3, 2011.
Product #3 – Coastal Training
The Commission sponsored several training sessions on the following topics: 1) Shoreline Management and Comprehensive Planning, 2) Virginia Outdoors Plan 2013 Update, 3) Stormwater Education Programs and Meeting Urban BMP, 4) Chesapeake Bay TMDLs, 5) Rural Transportation Planning, and 6) The East Coast Greenway.
Product #4 – FOLAR (Friends of the Lower Appomattox River)
The Commission staff expanded its ongoing support for FOLAR by providing financial administration, meeting facilitation, website maintenance ( www.folar-va.org ), participation in river events, map production, and grants administration. FOLAR performed approximately 10 local clean-ups and held its 5th Annual Battle or Paddle. It also secured $7,100 in grants from Dominion, The Chesapeake Bay License Plate Program, and Virginia American Water. Finally, Prince George County officially renamed the access road leading to Appomattox River Regional Park to “FOLAR Trail”.
Additional Environmental Matters
Commission staff participated in several other environmental activities including the Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative, the EPA Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, Chesapeake Bay TMDL Planning, solid waste reporting, the Albemarle-Chowan Roundtable, the Middle James Roundtable, water quality monitoring by Virginia State University, and the James River National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov