ABRA member Wild Virginia this week released a comprehensive summary of the more than 13,000 comments filed with the Virginia State Water Control Board (SWCB) regarding the adequacy of the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12) regarding stream crossings for the ACP. The 104-page summary, prepared by Wild Virginia’s Director of Conservation, David Sligh, has been sent to members of the SWCB. A copy of the summary is available here. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality had promised to prepare its own summary of the comments filed on the NWP 12 issue, but at this writing, it is not yet available to the public.
The SWCB’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, August 21 at 9:30 am at the Pocahontas Building, First Floor House Committee Room, 900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The agenda calls for a report in the afternoon from DEQ staff on the filed comments. It is not known what action, if any, will be taken by the SWCB in response to the comments that were submitted. While there is a public forum comment period scheduled at the end of the meeting agenda, there is not an opportunity for the public to comment to the Board in advance of its considering the NWP 12 agenda item.