Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Environmental Impact Statements of the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality, Environmental Impact Review Section, 1976-2004. Accession 45114, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Dept. of Environmental Quality on 26 July 2010.

Processing Information

This collection has been processed using minimal processing standards: the original arrangement has been maintained for the most part, the container list is brief and simple, and the records have not been refoldered and fasteners have not been removed.

Historical Information

The Dept. of Environmental Quality was created by an act of the General Assembly (effective April 1, 1993) by consolidating the programs, functions, staff, facilities, assets, and obligations of the State Water Control Board, the Dept. of Air Pollution Control (State Air Pollution Control Board), the Dept. of Waste Management (Virginia Waste Management Board), and the Council on the Environment. The director of the department is appointed by the Governor.

It is the policy of the Dept. of Environmental Quality to protect the environment of Virginia in order to promote the health and well-being of the Commonwealth's citizens by assisting in the effective implementation of state policies aimed at conserving the Commonwealth's natural resources and protecting its atmosphere, land and waters from pollution; coordinating permit review and issuance of procedures to protect all aspects of the environment; establishing and implementing a pollution prevention program to reduce the impact of pollutants; establishing procedures for and undertaking long-range environmental program planning and policy analysis; conducting comprehensive evaluations of the Commonwealth's environmental protection programs; providing for public education programs; developing uniform administrative systems to ensure coherent environmental policies; coordinating with federal agencies on environmental issues, such as environmental impact statements; promoting environmental quality through public hearings, permitting, inspection, monitoring and enforcement to enhance, preserve and protect Virginia's natural, scenic and historic environment; and advising the Governor and the General Assembly on matters relating to environmental quality.

Scope and Content

The Office of Environmental Impact Review coordinates the Commonwealth's response to environmental documents for proposed state and federal projects. The environmental impact review staff distributes documents to appropriate state agencies, planning districts and localities for their review and comment. Upon consideration of all comments, the staff prepares a single state response.

State agencies are required by the Virginia Code sections 10.1-1188 to prepare and submit environmental impact reports for construction of facilities that will cost $100,000 or more. The coordinated response is sent for consideration to the Secretary of Administration, who represents the Governor, under Executive Order 88(01). The Secretary's approval, after consideration of DEQ's comments, is required before funds can be released for a project.

Other types of state reviews coordinated by the Office include permits for the operation or expansion of public airports or landing fields. In addition, exploration for and extraction of minerals on state-owned lands and application for drilling permits into the Tidewater area require environmental impact statements. The Office also coordinates with the State Corporation Commission to review environmental reports for proposed power plants. Highway projects are handled exclusively by the Dept. of Transportation.

The National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental impact statements or assessments for certain classes of federal projects. The Office participates in scoping, draft document review, and final document review for these projects and coordinates federal intergovernmental review for all federal projects/actions and locally sponsored project that are federally funded. Also all federal projects/actions that directly affect Virginia's coastal zone must be carried out in a manner that is consistent with Virginia's Coastal Resources Management Program and the Office may review these projects for consistency during the National Environmental Policy Act process.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series: