10.1-2132 - Nonpoint source pollution funding; conditions for approval.
§ 10.1-2132. Nonpoint source pollution funding; conditions for approval.
A. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall be the lead stateagency for determining the appropriateness of any grant related to nonpointsource pollution to be made from the Fund to restore, protect and improve thequality of state waters.
B. The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall,subject to available funds and in coordination with the Director of theDepartment of Environmental Quality, direct the State Treasurer to make WaterQuality Improvement Grants in accordance with the guidelines establishedpursuant to § 10.1-2129. The Director shall manage the allocation of grantsfrom the Fund to ensure the full funding of executed grant agreements.
C. Grant funding may be made available to local governments, soil and waterconservation districts, institutions of higher education and individuals whopropose specific initiatives that are clearly demonstrated as likely toachieve reductions in nonpoint source pollution, including, but not limitedto, excess nutrients and suspended solids, to improve the quality of statewaters. Such projects may include, but are in no way limited to, theacquisition of conservation easements related to the protection of waterquality and stream buffers; conservation planning and design assistance todevelop nutrient management plans for agricultural operations; instructionaleducation directly associated with the implementation or maintenance of aspecific nonpoint source pollution reduction initiative; the replacement ormodification of residential onsite sewage systems to include nitrogen removalcapabilities; implementation of cost-effective nutrient reduction practices;and reimbursement to local governments for tax credits and other kinds ofauthorized local tax relief that provides incentives for water qualityimprovement. The Director shall give priority consideration to thedistribution of grants from the Fund for the purposes of implementingtributary strategy plans, with a priority given to agricultural practices. Inno single year shall more than 60 percent of the moneys be used for projectsor practices exclusively within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
D. The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall managethe allocation of Water Quality Improvement Grants from the Virginia NaturalResources Commitment Fund established under § 10.1-2128.1.
(1997, cc. 21, 625, 626; 1999, cc. 257, 509, 549; 2005, cc. 704, 707, 709;2008, cc. 643, 701; 2009, c. 695.)