Friends of the Rappahannock this is your opportunity to speak up about the DEQ Consent Order issued to the Virginia True Corporation. Read more about Fones Cliffs and the violations of State Water Control Law cited in the Consent Order here.
The State Water Control Law is designed to protect the Rappahannock River and other waters of our Commonwealth. Compliance is necessary to protect our water supply, our fisheries and the overall health of the river ecosystem.
Photo by Robert Martin
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced the opportunity for public comment on a Proposed Special Order By Consent for violations at the Virginia True Golf Course in Richmond County, Va., near Fones Cliffs on the Rappahannock River. The proposed Special Order by Consent addresses violations involving land-disturbing activity without required approvals and plans, installation of proper controls, and stabilization measures.
The proposed consent order includes a civil charge of $42,000. The proposed civil charge is developed in accordance with established DEQ guidance that takes into account the type and severity of the violation. The proposed consent order also includes corrective action including weekly reporting of site activities to DEQ to ensure compliance.
“DEQ will be monitoring the required compliance at the Virginia True Golf Course site closely and any identified violations will be addressed expeditiously and met with full enforcement authority by the agency, including engagement with the Attorney General’s Office,” said DEQ Director David Paylor.
Comments will be accepted from July 9, to August 9, 2018 on the proposed Special Order by Consent. Comments can be submitted to Kristen Sadtler at [email protected]. All comments will be considered prior to presenting a final recommended enforcement action to the State Water Control Board. The public notice and draft can be found at
https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Enforcement/PublicNotices.aspx.
FOR recommends the following when making comments to DEQ:
- read the Order in its entirety
- pay particular attention to Section D.2 which states the civil charge of $42,000 and to Appendix A which includes the schedule of compliance activities Virginia True must complete
- keep comments relevant to items addressed by the Consent Order (e.g., Section B: Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Section D: Agreement and Order, and Appendix A: Schedule of Compliance)
Friends of the river, thank you for speaking up for the Rappahannock.
