In Virginia today, there are several agencies and subagencies charged with the duty of regulating, controlling and preventing the pollution of the environment. Because there is evidence of overlapping of duties and duplication of efforts of these agencies, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 35, which directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to study the matter and determine the desirability of creating one central agency to regulate and control all types of environmental pollution.

Pursuant to this Resolution, the Council selected Lewis A. McMurran, Jr., of Newport News, one of its members, to serve as Chairman of the Committee to make this study and report. The following other Council members were selected to serve on the Committee with Mr. McMurran: Russell M. Carneal, Williamsburg; James M. Thomson, Alexandria; James C. Turk, Radford; Edward E. Willey, Richmond.

The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council and the Division of Statutory Research and Drafting made staff and facilities available to carry out this study, Robert B. Cousins, Jr. and Arthur H. Horwitz being assigned as counsel to assist the members and the study committee.

The Committee met and heard from representatives of the following agencies and organizations: the Department of Health, the Air Pollution Control Board, the State Water Control Board, the Division of Water Resources, the Department of Conservation and Economic Development, the Marine Resources Commission, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Governor's Council on the Environment, the Attorney General's Office, and the Virginia Manufacturers Association. There was agreement among the representatives that problems do exist as a result of several agencies being responsible for various phases of environmental pollution; however, there was little agreement as to what the problems were and how to solve them. After due deliberation and research, the Council now makes its report.