HRPDC COMMISSIONERS MEET IN FULL OPEN SESSION WITH EPA AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Hampton Roads, VA -The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission met in full open session with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Commonwealth of Virginia to discuss methods and timelines to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The Commission also voted today to drop consideration of legal action regarding the Chesapeake Bay TMDL process.
The EPA and the Commonwealth of Virginia provided valuable insight into a proposed Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan that provides flexibility to use best available technology, cost-effective tools and "adaptive" management processes. Commissioners continued to express concern about some technical issues, as well as cost-effective implementation to a standing room only crowd attending the meeting. The special meeting included HRPDC staff remarks and briefings from Jeff Corbin , Special Assistant to the EPA Administrator and Anthony Moore, Virginia's Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources.
"Ultimately, local governments will be held responsible for attaining Chesapeake Bay water quality goals, and we want to ensure that we do not set ourselves up for failure," said HRPDC Chairman Stan Clark. "We have a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer resources and we have some valid technical questions. By working with federal and state regulators along with local staff, we are positive that we can improve water quality in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Hampton Roads certainly has the most at stake in ensuring the health of the Chesapeake Bay," Clark said.
Today the Commission approved a letter (http://www.hrpdcva.gov/MTGS_%20AGDS/Agendas/2011/March31SpecialMtg/HRPDCJCorbin%20Ltr_FINAL.pdf) of comment to federal regulators outlining key technical questions and again offered staff support and expertise in facilitating appropriate regional solutions that localities can realistically achieve. More information on this topic can be found on our regional blog, Hampton Roads Review (http://www.hrpdcva.gov/HamptonRoadsReview/category/Water-Resource.aspx ) and video of today's meeting will be posted to our YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/HRPDC.
About the HRPDC:
The HRPDC is one of 21 Planning District Commissions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It serves as a resource of technical expertise to its member local governments and provides assistance on local and regional issues pertaining to Economics, Physical and Environmental Planning, Transportation and Homeland Security. The HRPDC is a 45-member commission that represents over 1.6 million people in the 16 localities of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Membership is based upon jurisdiction population with at least two representatives from each jurisdiction. The jurisdictions include the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry, and York.
