HB 1281, sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron (R-22nd) of Lynchburg, would have authorized the State Water Control Board to assume full responsibility for regulating wetlands and dredge and fill programs that currently are regulated in Virginia by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act. HB 1281 failed in the House Chesapeake, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. As an alternative, Del. Byron introduced HJR 243, which would request that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) study the benefits and costs of Virginia’s seeking authority from the EPA to administer the Section 404 permitting program. As of February 2, HJR 243 had been approved by a subcommittee of the House Rules Committee.
Sources:Byron gets a start on wetlands study, Lynchburg News & Advance, 2/2/12; and Virginia Legislative Information System, http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm, 2/7/12.
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