Bill Text: VA HB2187 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, Commonwealth Center for; study topics to manage water quality, etc.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-18 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0150) [HB2187 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HB2187-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. That the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, as established by Chapter 440 of the Acts of Assembly of 2016, shall assist the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions (i) by providing critical applied research, policy, and outreach resources to build resilience in the face of rising water and recurrent flooding in Virginia impacting low-income to medium-income and disadvantaged and indigenous Virginians; (ii) by prioritizing flood management actions and the development of necessary studies to determine adaptation strategies, as well as implementation of the agreed-upon strategies; and (iii) with evaluating new shoreline resiliency products and services that protect water quality, improve resiliency, and support the development of minority-owned economic development initiatives that will protect the public health, safety, and welfare of citizens of the Commonwealth.
§2. That the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency shall oversee the development of a Flood Resiliency Clearinghouse Program (the Clearinghouse) for coordinating flood mitigation solutions. The Clearinghouse shall solicit from the public the submission of tidal and sunny day flood mitigation solutions, as well as solutions for failing septic systems suffering from flood damage and high water tables, and review such flood mitigation solutions in coordination with other members of the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency.
§3. That the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency shall research and provide recommendations for solutions that (i) manage both water quality and flooding and (ii) emphasize nature-based solutions, including currently approved and not approved stormwater best management practices. The Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency shall recommend for approval as a flood mitigation solution any design that meets the definition of a living shoreline as set forth in §28.2-104.1 of the Code of Virginia or is designed to a tidal storm surge elevation referenced in a flood insurance study prepared for the locality by the Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program.
§4. That every member of the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency shall make final recommendations for solutions to be approved for flood mitigation that are deemed appropriate for permitting by the Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation and other appropriate agencies of the Commonwealth.
