
Vol. 12 No. 1	February 11, 2005

THE LATEST CHANGES IN PRINCE WILLIAM VESTING, STORMWATER AND WETLAND PERMITS
AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

Resource Protection Area (RPA) Vesting Changes from 5 Years to 12 Months in Prince William County

In response to Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department's (CBLAD) comments on how Resource Protection Area (RPA) boundaries are vested in Prince William County (see WSSI's October 1, 2004 Newsletter), the County has issued an "Updated Vesting Policy Relating to the Chesapeake Bay Regulations," effective January 1, 2005. Full Article

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Coverage Now Required at 2,500 s.f. in Many Localities

Effective January 29, 2005, administration and enforcement of the Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Program for construction stormwater discharges was transferred from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Full Article

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Wetland General Permits Revised

Virginia DEQ's Virginia Water Protection General Permit program was implemented in October, 2001 with a series of four permits. Since that time, the need for minor corrections became evident. DEQ formed a Technical Advisory Committee, of which WSSI was a member, to advise the agency on the needed changes. The following permits have been revised effective January 26, 2005: Full Article

Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) Letters to Industry

If you are active in Fairfax County, you should subscribe to the DPWES Letters to Industry email service. There have been two critical announcements in recent months that have affected many rezoning submissions with respect to water resources that many people have missed: Full Article

DCR to De-List White Heath Aster and Hairy Beardtongue from Rare Species Status -- WSSI Scientists Discover and Document Hundreds of "Rare" Plants

White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Natural Heritage (DCR) has identified eight rare plant species associated with soils derived from diabase rock (a calcium rich, igneous rock) in the Culpeper Basin of Northern Virginia. These species are: hairy beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus), earleaf foxglove (Agalinis auriculata), white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides), blue-hearts (Buchnera Americana), downy phlox (Phlox pilosa), stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum), marsh hedgenettle (Stachys pilosa var. arenicola), and purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurescens). Full Article

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About Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI):

WSSI is the leading provider of wetland science, water resource engineering, and cultural resource consulting services in Northern Virginia. The firm has worked on over 1,600 sites, comprising more than 90,000 acres, and has created hundreds of acres of wetlands and restored miles of streams in the area. Our team of 90 engineers, scientists, archeologists, technicians, GIS specialists, surveyors, and administrative staff yield a unique combination of disciplines focused on natural and cultural resources and provide creative solutions for integrating the constraints of economics and land plan requirements with local, state and federal environmental regulations. For more information about WSSI, visit our web site at www.wetlandstudies.com.