Environmental Law and the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Act: W在这里 Local Knowledge is a “Must” - October 2015

by 詹姆斯·T. 朗

生活在 water provides beautiful vistas, opportunities for boating and fishing and other amenities, all of which come with a (sometimes hidden) cost because the waterfront is subject to a complicated web of environmental laws and regulations. Among these, the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Act (found at Virginia code §§ 62.1-44.15:67 to 62.1-44.15:79) is unique in that it is a creature of local government, with minimal state oversight, and no federal role whatsoever. Those with concerns relating to the Act need look no further than their town/city council or local board of supervisors.

由于 the predominant influence of local government in this area of environmental law, it is wise to seek representation by an environmental attorney with the experience and local knowledge necessary to develop a successful compliance strategy for a particular project or to provide defense services if authorities have already issued a “show cause” or a “summons” due to an alleged violation.  

采用 1988, with significant amendments in 2012 and 2013, the Act, at Virginia code § 62.1-44.15:74, 指导城镇, cities and counties to determine the boundaries for the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area within their jurisdiction, determine the measures to be implemented within it to protect the bay, and express those measures in the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance (if applicable) and the Subdivision Ordinance. T在这里 are 46 cities and counties and 43 towns that border the tidal waters of the 切萨皮克 Bay, and each is required by the Act to adopt an individually tailored program.

Ch的esapeake Bay Preservation Area delineated by the City of 切萨皮克, 例如, can be viewed 在这里.

Just as each locality has flexibility to determine the measures to be implemented within the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area, they have similar flexibility in designing their own bureaucracy to administer the Act. The City of 弗吉尼亚海滩, 例如, has created a 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Act Board, with nine members appointed by city council, to oversee the 弗吉尼亚海滩 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Ordinance (the ordinance is Appendix F of the 弗吉尼亚海滩 City Code), and appeals are taken to the Circuit Court. 与此形成鲜明对比的是, the City of Norfolk opted against creating a board and instead relies on city staff to administer its 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Act Overlay District Ordinance, with appeals to the Board of Zoning Appeals and then to the Circuit Court (the ordinance is Section 11-2 of the Norfolk City Code).

一次 the locality has defined boundaries for its 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area, it must then designate two areas within the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area known as the “Resource Protection Area” and the “Resource Management Area.”

的再保险source Protection Area, 或“战,” typically is the 100-foot wide strip of land adjoining water bodies that have perennial flow within the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area. Land disturbance activities within the RPA are tightly controlled. Permits are required for most activities, although some localities allow very minor land disturbances in the RPA without a permit, provided t在这里 is proper advance coordination with local authorities. Examples of such minor land disturbance activities may include:

- Vegetation removal to enhance sight lines and vistas

- Construction of access paths

- Construction of recreational area

更高的强度 activities in the RPA, such as demolition of a home or other structure (presumably one that was built prior to adoption of the Act), construction of one or more new structures following such demolition, the addition of a swimming pool, pool house or driveway, or raising the elevation for protection of existing structures, will trigger the comprehensive permit process. The costs associated with this process typically are in the tens of thousands of dollars because the required submissions oftentimes include a site plan, 景观规划, stormwater management plan, erosion and sediment control plan, water quality impact assessment and a performance bond.

“展示事业” or a “summons” typically is issued when land disturbing activities are initiated in the RPA without a permit. The garden variety enforcement actions brought before the CBPA Boards in Hampton Roads include:

- Deck built adjacent to bulkhead

- Removal of all vegetation down to the waterline

-Filling marshy area with soil (to expand the back yard)

- Filling low lying area with construction debris (to leve out the back yard)

-树木移除

-树肢

- Removal of forest litter and understory plants (the removal is impermissible; replacing the leaves and understory plants in the RPA with turf is equally impermissible)

Violations come to the attention of local government authorities most often through citizen complaints but also on occasion as a result of a notification from a state agency or from site or area inspections by local government administrative staff. Wrongdoers may be exposed to a civil penalty of up to $5,000.00 for each day of violation. In some localities, violators may face criminal misdemeanor prosecution. 弗吉尼亚海滩, 例如, allows a fine of $1,000.00 or confinement in jail for 12 months, 或两个, 在定罪, as an alternative to the daily civil penalty (Appendix F, Section 112 of the 弗吉尼亚海滩 City Code).  

RMA is the part of the 切萨皮克 Bay Preservation Area that is not included in the RPA. A greater range of land disturbing activities are permitted in the RMA, although a permit is normally required, just as permits are for most of the land disturbing activities undertaken in the RPA.  

如果你 need assistance with the use and development of your waterfront property in compliance with applicable environmental requirements, with developing a compliance strategy for a project, or with defense representation because the authorities have commenced an enforcement action against you, please contact 皇冠搏彩APP下载 & 皇冠线上买球平台 shareholder Jim 朗 at (757) 502-7326 or jlang@lzystjf.com.