ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 26, 1996 TAG: 9602270146
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: The Green Scene
SOURCE: CATHRYN MCCUE
Environmentalists say they're hopeful that legislation granting more Virginians the right to legally challenge state-issued pollution permits will pass the General Assembly this year. The bill passed the House 62-38, and probably will be heard by the Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee today.
"I think we'll be able to get it out of committee," said one insider.
But Sen. Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield, has in the past not favored proposals to broaden citizen standing. Lobbyists are hoping that Reasor's constituents in Bland County will put pressure on him this year. Bland County has for years fought a proposed medical waste incinerator. The Board of Supervisors this month sued the state to overturn a permit for the incinerator, but under existing laws, the county has only a slim chance of getting into court.
The environmentalists say they have the support of a key Republican on the commitee. And with the full Senate split 20-20 down party lines, that Republican vote could be crucial.
Gov. George Allen has historically opposed changing Virginia's standing laws, which are the strictest in the country.
Updates on other bills:
* A bill sponsored by Del. Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs, to establish an abandoned waste site authority and fund to cleanup of old dumps - passed the House unanimously, and goes to the Senate.
* A bill that requires the state to notify localities when a water body is nominated as an outstanding water resource, or is listed as not swimmable or fishable - passed both houses unanimously. The bill also requires state to provide information to a locality about a pollution permit applicant's enforcement history.
* A bill that requires any person responsible for a spill of sewage, industrial waste or other noxious substance that enters, or could enter, Virginia waters or lands to report the discharge to the Department of Environmental Quality - passed both houses by a strong margin. Such reporting requirements currently pertain only to petroleum spills.
* A bill that establishes a joint subcommittee to study Virginia's environmental programs and budgeting history, and to develop a long-term vision for future management of the state's natural resources - passed House unanimously, goes to Senate.
* A bill that requires the State Water Control Board to establish a toxin-management program for discharges to state waters - passed the House 53-46, goes to Senate. The Department of Environmental Quality is considering dropping a similar program.
For a complete status report of bills, the General Assembly Internet address is: http://www.state.va.us//dlas/welcome.htm. Or call the Virginia Conservation Network at (804) 644-0283.
Botetourt growth
Saving historic and natural resources can be good for the economy? Indeed, says Edward McMahon, director of the Greenways Program for The Conservation Fund, based in Arlington.
McMahon is scheduled to present a lecture, with slides, tonight at 7 at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville. The land-use planning expert will discuss the importance for a community to plan for economic growth within the context of its identity and surroundings.
"Communities that preserve their unique attractions, that are careful stewards of their scenic beauty, find that property values go up, and businesses move in," McMahon says.
The talk is sponsored by the Botetourt Committee of the Staunton-based Valley Conservation Council. Botetourt County residents face fast-paced residential growth as well as plans by the county to develop a multiple-use park including commercial and industrial development near the historic town of Fincastle.
Help the forests
The U.S. Forest Service is holding a series of public workshops on its revision of the land management plan for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. People are invited to draw areas on forest maps that have common management themes. All meetings will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the following locations:
* Today, Clinch Valley College Alumni Hall, Wise
* Tuesday, Best Western Hotel, Marion
* March 5, Natural Bridge Hotel, Natural Bridge
* March 6, McCleary Elementary School, New Castle
* March 12, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville
* March 14, Blacksburg Middle School, Blacksburg
Call forest planning specialist Nancy Ross at 265-6054 for more information.
Save the mussels
You can think of him as a "mussel-man" extraordinaire. Richard Hoffman is an expert on the world's greatest diversity of freshwater mussel species, found right here in Southwest Virginia in the Clinch and Powell rivers.
Hoffman, a scientist with the Virginia Museum of Natural History, will share his extensive research on why the decline of many mussel populations indicates that our rivers and streams are in trouble during a talk scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the fifth floor of the Science Museum in downtown Roanoke. His talk is sponsored by the Roanoke River Group of the Sierra Club.
Watershed workshop
Also on Tuesday, the Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District will host a workshop for local individuals and groups to learn about the Middle Fork of the Holston River Project and how to form their own watershed protection project.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Airport Holiday Inn in Roanoke. Call Dawn Shank at (804) 371-2356 for more information.
Brown bag lunch
Janet Herman will present a lunchtime talk Friday on how groundwater contamination affects the quality of water resources. Herman is associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia.
The talk is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center, on West Church Avenue. Call 857-7900 for more information.
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) McMahon. KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB