360#1h (DCR) Restore Funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts. HB30 - Committee Approved

State Budget

2012 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Committee Approved)

Bill Order » Item 360 #1h

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Restore Funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Item 360 #1h

Item 360 #1h	First Year - FY2013	Second Year - FY2014
Natural Resources
Conservation and Recreation, Department of	FY2013 $1,000,000	FY2014 $1,000,000	GF

Language
Page 268, line 6, strike "$65,814,280" and insert "$66,814,280".
Page 268, line 6, strike "$54,368,590" and insert "$55,368,590".

Explanation
(This amendment provides $1.0 million each year from the general fund to eliminate prior year budget reductions for soil and water conservation districts. This funding, originally adopted by the General Assembly during the 2011 Session, was determined by the Governor to be one-time funding rather than ongoing funding as directed by the General Assembly. Soil and water conservation districts are the entities primarily responsible for achieving reductions in the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment entering Virginia's waters from agricultural production. These agricultural nonpoint source pollution reductions are needed to meet the Commonwealth's Watershed Implementation Plan. The restoration of this funding will provide about $21,000 for each of Virginia's 47 soil and water conservation districts.)

Item 360

Item 360	First Year - FY2013	Second Year - FY2014
Land and Resource Management (50300)	$65,814,280	$54,368,590
Stormwater Management (50301)	FY2013 $55,917,010	FY2014 $44,471,320
Dam Inventory, Evaluation and Classification and Flood Plain Management (50314)	FY2013 $1,552,779	FY2014 $1,552,779
Natural Heritage Preservation and Management (50317)	FY2013 $4,004,240	FY2014 $4,004,240
Financial Assistance to Soil and Water Conservation Districts (50320)	FY2013 $4,340,251	FY2014 $4,340,251
Fund Sources:
General	FY2013 $16,217,649	FY2014 $11,187,716
Special	FY2013 $3,526,309	FY2014 $3,526,309
Dedicated Special Revenue	FY2013 $37,995,921	FY2014 $31,580,164
Federal Trust	FY2013 $8,074,401	FY2014 $8,074,401

Authority: Title 10.1, Chapters 1, 5, 6, 7, and 21.1; Title 62.1, Chapter 3.1, Code of Virginia.

A. The funds provided in this Item for the Soil and Water Conservation Districts shall be distributed to the greatest extent possible to the districts in accordance with program, financial and resource allocation policies established by the Soil and Water Conservation Board.

B. It is the intent of the General Assembly that balances in Stormwater Management be used for the Commonwealth's statewide match for participation in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.

C.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that all interest earnings of the Water Quality Improvement Fund shall be spent only upon appropriation by the General Assembly, after the recommendation of the Secretary of Natural Resources, pursuant to § 10.1-2129, Code of Virginia.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 10.1-2128, 10.1-2129 and 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of Conservation and Recreation use interest earnings from the Water Quality Improvement Fund and the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund to support one position to administer grants from the fund.

D. Out of this appropriation, $8,500 the first year and $8,500 the second year from the general fund is provided to support the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The funds shall be matched by the participating localities and planning district commissions.

E. Notwithstanding § 10.1-552, Code of Virginia, Soil and Water Conservation Districts are hereby authorized to recover a portion of the direct costs of services rendered to landowners within the district and to recover a portion of the cost for use of district-owned conservation equipment. Such recoveries shall not exceed the amounts expended by a district on these services and equipment.

F. Out of the amounts appropriated for Dam Inventory, Evaluation, and Classification and Flood Plain Management, $600,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year from the general fund shall be deposited to the Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund, established pursuant § 10.1-603.17, Code of Virginia. The funding provided in this paragraph shall be used for the provision of either grants or loans to localities owning dams in need of renovation and repair or for the provision of loans to private owners of dams in need of renovation and repair.

G. It is the intent of the General Assembly, that notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-2132, Code of Virginia, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is authorized to make Water Quality Improvement Grants to state agencies.

H.1. Included in the amounts for Stormwater Management is $9,100,000 the first year and $9,100,000 the second year from nongeneralfunds to be deposited to the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund, a subfund of the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, as established in § 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia. The funds shall be dispersed pursuant to § 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia.

2. The source of an amount estimated at $9,100,000 the first year and $9,100,000 the second year to support the nongeneral fund appropriation to the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund shall be the recordation tax fee established in Part 3 of this act.

3. Out of these amounts, a total of eight percent, or $1,200,000, whichever is greater, shall be provided to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for technical assistance to farmers implementing agricultural best management practices.

I.1. Notwithstanding § 10.1-564, Code of Virginia, public institutions of higher education, including community colleges, colleges, and universities, shall be subject to project review and compliance for state erosion and sediment control requirements by the local program authority of the locality within which the land disturbing activity is located, unless such institution submits annual specifications to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, in accordance with § 10.1-564 A (i), Code of Virginia.

2. The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board is authorized to amend the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (4 VAC 50-30 et seq.) to conform such regulations with this project review requirement and to clarify the process. These amendments shall be exempt from Article 2 (§2.2-4006 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act.

J. The Water Quality Agreement Program shall be continued in order to protect the waters of the Commonwealth through voluntary cooperation with lawn care operators across the state. The department shall encourage lawn care operators to voluntarily establish nutrient management plans and annual reporting of fertilizer application. If appropriate, the program may be transferred to another state agency in order to ensure its continuation.

K.1. Out of this appropriation, $5,029,933 the first year from the general fund shall be deposited to the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund established under the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997. This full amount is authorized for transfer to the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund, a subfund of the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund. These monies shall be disbursed in accordance with § 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia, including the eight percent for distribution to soil and water conservation districts to provide technical assistance.

2. This appropriation, together with the amounts included in Item 366 of this act, meets the mandatory deposit requirements associated with the FY 2011 excess general fund revenue collections and discretionary year-end general fund balances.