Home Page

Roanoke Valley Trout Unlimited

Chapter 308

Your web site is of great value as a reference item on the topic of the proposed site in Elliston for an intermodal rail facility. Letters are being sent to concerned parties to promote awareness about the issue. A reference to your web site is much easier than listing all the data in an email.

There are many environmental organizations which are being identified and informed of the potential environmental impact of this proposed new project. The list so far includes the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the American Canoe Club (a well-sponsored organization which sued Va. govt. to enforce the clean water act), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. Others include Wil Orndorff (DCR's Karst program), VRWA’s Source Water program (Albert Crigger), the water supply system managers for Roanoke city reservoir, and Ellie Irons (804 - 698-4325) program manager of Va. Environmental Impact Review.

In addition to the above government entities, local representatives here in Montgomery County are receiving information on environmental issues. Del Nutter's office forwarded inquiries to the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Mont. co. councilman Gary Creed, on the phone, has already given up, and says the railroad can do whatever they want. He seems mainly concerned with the problems of emminent domain land acquisition due to complaints from local landowners. This proposed project caught the local government by surprise - we have to give our representatives credit for voting "no" to the project.

According to the most recent studies, the endangered species Roanoke Logperch lives at the proposed intermodal rail site. There was a study on the effect of proposed I-73 construction on the endangered Roanoke Logperch http://filebox.vt.edu/users/awheeler/var/final_I-73.pdf, but we still need information on how that study was initiated. One objective of the study was to choose a road path with the least degradation to the fish habitat. Research is needed on relevant laws and/or government entities which required that study. This is the type of action required to enforce sound environmental management.

The Roanoke Logperch feeds by turning over little stones with its nose. Even a slight amount of siltation runoff from construction, or from newly paved areas, can destroy its ability to feed and survive. Siltation is probably the most common cause of stream and river degradation. The presence of the Roanoke Logperch indicates a river system of the highest quality. This river supplies the drinking water for Roanoke city.

The EPA recovery plan for the Roanoke Logperch is attached to this email. This might be a creature of little or great concern; however, as a measurement of quality of water and quality of life, he might be the lowest and most valuable common denominator. He might also have more legal clout than any other concerned party. He can be our spokesperson for a clean river.

There are many environmental/government entities listed in the attached logperch recovery plan, so all of these entities should be made aware of recent developments. The Clean Water Act requires, encourages and promotes the efforts of private citizens in order to achieve its mission.

It appears there is no stormwater management plan for Montgomery County. Mr. Wil Orndorff has been contacted for advice on this subject, as he recommended that counties adopt this type of plan to prevent pollution problems like those discovered in the Karst program study at the intermodal facility in Warren county. Though the Montgomery County council rejected the site plan for the intermodal railyard, this was likely due to land acquisition issues and complaints from residents. We need to find out if the county has plans or incentives to implement additional environmental quality standards through the use of a stormwater management plan.

If anyone in your organization is adept in the clean water act regulation and enforcement area, it would be great if your organization could enlist their participation. The TMDL process is quite complex.

We all drink water, so every one of us is a stakeholder. You can forward this information to interested parties who might wish to get involved. It will take some work to promote public awareness and assure responsible environmental management for the Roanoke river and its inhabitants.

-- Regards,
Resident of

Erika Perdue

Legislative Assistant Delegate Nutter

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is currently reviewing site proposals submitted by area localities and Norfolk Southern Railway to determine which site would provide the most public benefits for the investment of public dollars.

The review process is anticipated to take approximately 45 days, during which time public comments will be received on the sites identified. Once the review process is complete, DRPT will seek to enter into agreement with Norfolk Southern on a preferred site location that meets their respective needs based on the established criteria for evaluation.

The 45-day review period is scheduled to take place between November and January, at which time the Commonwealth’s decision on the site location and any associated public funding will be announced.

1. What types of environmental impact studies are planned for this area, which is bordered on two sides by the South Fork of the Roanoke River and the Roanoke River, home to rare and endangered fish species such as the roanoke bass and roanoke logperch?

Since a site has not yet been determined environmental impact studies have not been determined. Once a site is determined the state will then determine what environmental impact studies need to be conducted. These studies will include studies of endangered species at the site.

2. Does Montgomery County have a stormwater management plan? Have you seen the article in today's The Warren Sentinal about water contamination problems at their county's intermodal facility? http://www.shenandoah.com/stories/?headlineID=10721&sourceID=68

"A bigger concern is, for instance a good example is downstream of Sysco," said Orndorff. "Sysco discharges water from their basin and it flows along a natural channel, underneath Toray Drive , flows under the Port and ends up at the storm water basin at the Inland Port. Along that stretch, there's multiple places where there's openings in the channel that connect to the groundwater, so that's where the ongoing concern is, in terms of places for contamination to end up."...

* Water from Family Dollar Distribution Warehouse discharges into the Nineveh swale, and eventually makes its way to Nineveh Spring and Crooked Run.
* Water from Sysco, Ferguson , Interbake Foods, Toray and the Virginia Inland Port mostly discharges into the Cedarville Swale and all the dye traces released at these points eventually ended up in McKay Spring.
* Water from DuPont discharges in the Cedarville Swale and ends up in Crooked Run.

3. Do county officials know that a stormwater management plan gives our county a greater measure of legal control over the construction of facilities such as the inland port? Perhaps a new industrial facility with rivers on both sides should have such a plan - what do you think?

"When a locality adopts a storm water management plan, state law enables them to require more strict storm water management measures. The storm management law says that if counties adopt a storm management plan, they're allowed to require a lot of things that are otherwise only recommendations. Under the current way that Warren County is set up, [the facilities] just have to comply with erosion and sediment control - minimum standards. [With a storm water management plan in place] the county becomes, in essence, an agent of the state, in terms of regulating storm water management."

- Wil Orndorff of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

Your county Board of Supervisors can provide the answer to this question.

IS THIS GOING TO BE THE END OF SPECIAL REGS FISHERIES IN ROANOKE COUNTY?