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2013 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1500 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Sherwood
Co-Patron(s): Peace
Prohibit Use of Forest Lands for Offsets (language only)

Item 102 #2h

Item 102 #2h

Agriculture And Forestry
Forestry, Department of

Language
Page 81, after line 3, insert:
"K. In any Virginia State Forest assigned to the Department of Forestry, for use, development and administration, no forest land shall be used to provide compensatory mitigation for wetland or stream impacts.  Forest land means all sites, roadways, game food patches, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, beaches and lakes on which the department holds title."


Explanation
(This amendment prohibits the use of any land under the control of the Department of Forestry for wetland or stream impact mitigation. Guidance provided by the Virginia Water Protection Program applies compensatory mitigation preferences of the U.S. EPA's Mitigation Rule. This preference includes a first preference in the use of a mitigation bank or banks if there are sufficient credits to offset the environmental impact of a development or project. This amendment is intended to prevent Virginia's government from competing with privately owned, funded and permitted mitigation banks.)