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1995 SESSION

LD5353687
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 270
Offered January 16, 1995
Requesting that the Department of Environmental Quality in conjunction with Virginia universities conduct a study to establish protocols for bioassessments in watersheds of 200 to 560 acres in size.
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Patrons--Howell and Nolen; Delegates: Abbitt, Robinson and Wagner
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the 1994 Session of the General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 44 continuing the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Efficiency and Consistency of the Stormwater Management and Permitting Policies of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee has completed a two-year review of the siting policies of the Commonwealth and with the assistance of additional technical experts and the regulated community has made certain findings that will expedite and make more efficient the stormwater siting and permitting policies of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, one of the findings calls for the establishment of a protocol for conducting bioassessments for use by those who are seeking state approval to site stormwater facilities in streams located in watersheds of 200 to 560 acres in size; and

WHEREAS, existing biomonitoring protocols have been used in Virginia by several state university researchers; and

WHEREAS, the joint subcommittee agrees with the conclusion of these researchers that it would be best to modify existing protocols to tailor them to conditions found in Virginia and that standard procedures be developed for use with the protocols to allow comparability of data collected at various sites by various individuals; and

WHEREAS, research is needed to develop standardized protocols, to determine if protocols for bioassessments in different regions of the state would be useful, and to identify and analyze representative streams to provide baseline conditions against which other streams may be compared through bioassessments; and

WHEREAS, experts at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University have committed to work together to develop an interim protocol for use while this research is undertaken and standardized protocols are developed; and

WHEREAS, a cooperative effort between the Department of Environmental Quality and the universities of Virginia would provide the most cost-effective and technically accurate analysis for the conduct of this research and the creation of standardized protocols for Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the university community has expressed a strong interest in assisting with such a study; and

WHEREAS, the conduct of the needed research and the establishment of standardized protocols for Virginia is essential to streamlining the permitting process and easing compliance with environmental regulations by the regulated community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Environmental Quality be requested to coordinate a study with Virginia universities, including at a minimum Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University, for the development of standardized protocols for the conduct of bioassessments in watersheds of 200 to 560 acres in size and for identification of reference streams and conditions against which the data collected through the bioassessments may be compared. The procedures in the protocols shall at a minimum include (i) sampling and subsampling procedures, (ii) required taxonomic specificity, and (iii) specific metrics to be used.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the selected state universities. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department, upon request.

The Department shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1996 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.