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2007 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1650 (Committee Approved)

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Distribution of Southern Rivers Funding (language only)

Item 364 #1h

Item 364 #1h

Natural Resources
Environmental Quality, Department of

Language
Page 394, strike lines 28 through 50 and insert:
"C.1.  Out of the amounts for Environmental Financial Assistance, $17,000,000 the first year from the Water Quality Improvement Fund shall be provided as grants to local governments and public sewer providers that are located outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Of the total amount provided, $1,700,000 shall be used for the design and construction of mandated wastewater treatment facility improvements at publicly-owned wastewater treatment works for which such projects would otherwise result in a financial hardship for the residential users of the facilities, based on the reasonable sewer cost guidelines established by the State Water Control Board for the Virginia Facilities Revolving Fund.  Of the total amount provided, $15,000,000 shall be used for the correction of onsite sewage disposal problems with an emphasis on the elimination of illegal "straight pipe" sewage discharges from individual homes, and with priority given to projects demonstrated to be financially feasible and ready to proceed quickly and derived from an adopted regional comprehensive sewage service improvement plan.  Of the total amount provided, $300,000 shall be used for the development of comprehensive local and regional wastewater treatment plans, preliminary engineering, and environmental reviews.  The Department of Environmental Quality shall work with the Department of Housing and Community Development, local governments and planning district commissions located outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the Virginia Department of Health to develop appropriate criteria and guidelines for the use of this funding.  Any unexpended balances on June 30, 2007, and June 30, 2008, from the amount appropriated in this paragraph shall not revert to the general fund but shall be carried forward and reappropriated."


Explanation
(This amendment specifies the dollars that will be used for each of the three components of the funding provided during the 2006 Session of the General Assembly for the improvement of wastewater treatment in the Southern Rivers area of Virginia, which lies outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The language directs $1.7 million to be used for improving wastewater treatment facilities in the area, $15 million to be used for correcting illegal straight pipes, and $300,000 to be used for developing local and regional wastewater treatment plans.)