RD378 - Annual Report on State Agency Farm Land and Forest Land Preservation Activities


Executive Summary:
Section 3.1-18.6 of the Code of Virginia requires the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to submit a written report by December 1 of each year to the chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on the impacts of state agency actions on the conversion of farm and forest lands. Section 3.1-18.6 of the Code of Virginia requires that the Department of Transportation (VDOT), Department of Health (VDH), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), State Corporation Commission (SCC), and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) contribute to this report.

The following is a synopsis of the plans submitted by the five agencies:

During FY05-06, VDOT estimates that 68.91 acres of farmland and 34.27 acres of forestland will be impacted by future construction projects. Since these estimates are determined during early environmental studies, the conversion will not actually take place for two to three years. “These estimates are preliminary and may decrease as the project develops and avoidance measures are pursued.”

VDH estimates that 68,262 acres were preserved as farm and forest lands through its activities between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. This figure includes 18,340 acres for which permits were issued for land application of biosolids and 49,922 acres spread with biosolids during this period. There are approximately 399,000 acres of farm and forest lands permitted by VDH to receive land applied biosolids.

DCR indicated that fifteen projects have been completed between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. These projects affected a total of 69 acres, 66 of which were forest land. No farm land was affected. The projects are part of the department’s master plan and focused on expanding and constructing campgrounds and infrastructure.

SCC’s farm and forest lands protection plan was unchanged during fiscal year 2006. The SCC indicated that it has had no capital projects for some years, and none are anticipated, which would have an impact on the conversion of farm and forested lands. The SCC explains that it approves the construction of utility facilities and considers the impact of proposed facilities on farm and forested lands and their conversion in its analysis of environmental impacts.

From July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, DEQ “coordinated the review of 158 state projects, each of which was reviewed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Forestry. DEQ reports that there were no adverse impacts to the farmlands that either agency identified. During this period DEQ had 16 comment periods on notices of intent to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation and 17 comment periods on proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulatory text. DEQ also conducted two public comment periods for Fast-Track rulemaking and four comment periods on suspended regulatory actions. Only two comment periods received comments regarding impacts to farm or forest lands.