State reviews reveal regional programs lacking

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation this past summer completed a five-year, locality-by-locality review of erosion and sedimentation programs. Most local programs statewide did not pass their reviews, including all but one locality in the Lynchburg area, where major changes were ordered to key parts of the programs.

Some highlights:

Lynchburg

The state review, completed earlier this year, was critical on multiple levels, including not maintaining proper inspection records. Plans reviewed by city staff met minimum state standards less than half the time.

State inspectors also noted that, of the 10 sites they visited, erosion and sediment controls were installed correctly on four sites.

A number of sites had violations not recognized by city inspectors, and other sites had ongoing violations that were not addressed with increasing levels of enforcement action. The city was commended for requiring soil tests.

Bedford County

While 50 percent of plans reviewed in Bedford County met state standards and guidelines, the biggest problems in the erosion control program involved inspection and enforcement. Inspection frequency averaged less than once a month. The state requires that inspections occur at least every two weeks.

If violations continued to occur, advanced enforcement actions like stop-work orders or fines were used less than 50 percent of the time.

Reviewed sites had little to no inspection records. It took a year for the program to meet state standards.

Campbell County

Campbell County lost points on its review, which was completed earlier this year, for an outdated erosion and sediment control ordinance and for a failure by inspectors to document violations in writing.

Only 50 percent of county-reviewed plans met state standards. Inspection frequency was once every three weeks, less than requiredby state law. The program was deemed compliant in September.

Amherst County

Amherst County’s program was among the last to be graded in the state and the only area program to pass its review.

Appomattox County

Appomattox County’s review was completed in 2007 and its only failure was the inspection program. Inspections occurred on average more than every four weeks and less than 50 percent of projects were inspected immediately after erosion controls were installed.

The county’s erosion control ordinance needed significant updating, which was approved in 2008 by the county’s board of supervisors.

Nelson County

Nelson County’s review, which was completed in 2007, found the program so insufficient that documents needed for the state to assess the program did not exist.

However, the county’s plan review process exceeded state standards.