Virginia Law

A. The applicant shall conduct a preconstruction wildlife analyses as follows.

1. The applicant shall prepare a wildlife report and map generated either (i) from DWR's Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service web-based application or (ii) from a data and mapping system including the most recent data available from DWR's subscriber-based Wildlife Environmental Review Map Service of known wildlife species and habitat features on the site or within two miles of the boundary of the site, known or potential sea turtle nesting beaches located within one-half mile of the disturbance zone, and desktop information for bald eagle nesting locations from the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary.

2. The applicant shall assess and describe the expected beneficial and adverse impacts, if any, of the proposed project on wildlife identified by these studies and analyses.

B. The applicant shall perform a preconstruction historic resources analysis conducted by a qualified professional meeting the qualification standards of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archeology and Historic Preservation in the appropriate discipline. Any study or analysis required under this subsection submitted to DHR for review may be considered accepted by DHR if DHR does not provide comments within 30 calendar days from confirmed receipt of an analysis determined to be administratively complete. In this case, the applicant may assume DHR concurrence with the recommendations of the study or analysis and proceed accordingly. The analysis shall include each of the following:

1. Information on known historic resources within the disturbance zone and within one-half mile of the disturbance zone boundary, identified on the context map referenced in 9VAC15-100-70 B, or as an overlay to this context map, as well as in tabular format.

2. An architectural field survey of all architectural resources, including cultural landscapes 50 years of age or older within the disturbance zone and within one-half mile of the disturbance zone boundary, and an evaluation of the eligibility of any identified resource for listing in the VLR. The architectural survey area may be refined by the applicant based on an analysis to exclude areas that have no direct view to the facility. The applicant shall provide detailed justification for any changes to the survey area.

3. An archaeological field survey of the disturbance zone and an evaluation of the eligibility of any identified archaeological site for listing in the VLR. To streamline archaeological investigations, the survey may be guided by a research design that utilizes a probability assessment or predictive modeling. Such a research design shall be approved by DEQ and DHR prior to conducting the fieldwork.

C. For projects subject to 9VAC15-100-120, the applicant shall conduct a preconstruction desktop survey of natural heritage resources and Virginia Natural Lands Assessment Ecological Cores within the disturbance zone within six months prior to the date of the application submittal. The analysis shall include a report of natural heritage resources using either the DCR online information service order form or the DCR subscriber-based Natural Heritage Data Explorer web application and include the most recent data available on the following:

1. Documented occurrences of natural heritage resources within 100 feet of the site;

2. Intersection of the site with predicated suitable habitat models developed by DCR for rare, threatened, and endangered species;

3. Intersection of the site with the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment Ecological Cores; and

4. Onsite surveys for natural heritage resources recommended by DCR based on the analysis required under this subsection.