Environmental Timeline

August 2014

Project scope presented at regulatory agency partnering meeting to discuss potential for wetland and stream impacts due to stream relocation.

December 2015

United States Army Corps of Engineers (ASACE) and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) verified the limits of jurisdictional Waters of the US (WOUS) within the study area and discussed permitting scenarios and mitigation strategies for the project. USACE and VDEQ requested additional analyses of design measures to avoid and minimize impacts to existing forested wetlands, resulting mostly from stormwater facility locations and Colvin Run relocation.

February 2016

Staff from VDOT, USACE, DEQ, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fairfax County Park Authority met to discuss Colvin Run natural-channel design options. Five conceptual options (three natural-channel designs and two straightened channel designs) were presented.

November 2016

VDOT completed WOUS Delineation for the Project. Eight options for the stream relocation were analyzed prior to the location and design public hearing held Nov. 15, 2016. At the public hearing, the conceptual stream relocation option with the greatest footprint was shown on the display boards, understanding that refinements would occur during final design.

March 2017

Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD) for WOUS obtained from USACE, confirming the limits of streams and wetlands, and the designation of the resources.

March 2017

VDOT met with USACE, and DEQ, USEPA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for an environmental update, including preliminary analysis of eight conceptual stream designs for the relocation of Colvin Run.

April 2017

USACE letter that a preliminary LEDPA had not yet been identified, given options considered to-date, and requesting additional evaluations and design refinements.

June 2017

Field meeting with USACE, DEQ and EPA to discuss design options and recommendations for further avoidance and minimization.

Summer 2017

A total of 15 stream relocations options were evaluated on the basis of construction cost, environmental impacts, and practicability (e.g., constructability, maintenance, etc.). The option selected (10c) as the LEDPA, while not least expensive, represented the best balance between limiting impacts and practicable cost. The Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR), pages 12-16, prepared by VDOT in support of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document (an Environmental Assessment) outlines the stream relocation options that were evaluated in detail.

November 2017

VDOT received a letter from USACE that Colvin Run Relocation Option 10C may be the Preliminary LEDPA, since it substantially reduced impacts to existing adjacent forested wetlands.

July 2018

Design-build contract awarded to Shirley-Dewberry with Option 10C in the Request for Proposal (RFP) Concept Plans. Shirley-Dewberry is the permittee and responsible for acquiring water quality permits.

December 2019

Shirley-Dewberry submitted request to USACE to revise the PJD.

April 2019

Shirley-Dewberry submitted joint permit application (JPA), Colvin Run Relocation Option 10C with minor design refinements, to the USACE, DEQ and Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). Design refinements eliminated the need to relocate the 54-inch pressurized water main and further reduced the impacts to forested wetlands. USACE posted its 30-day public for review and comments on the JPA for issuance of Dept. of Army Individual Permit.

May 7 and May 14, 2019

Public information meetings held. Refined Colvin Run Relocation Option 10C presented.

July 2019

VRMC published its 15-day public notice in the Fairfax Times for review and comments on the JPA for issuance of VMRC Standard Permit.

August 2019

USACE authorized their permit conditioned upon VDEQ permit. VDEQ published its 30-day public notice for review and comment on the JPA for issuance of their Virginia Water Protection (VWP) WP3 Individual Permit.

September 2019

VDEQ’s 30-day notice expired on Sept. 16. VMRC held a public meeting on Sept. 24 to hear comments on the permit application. VMRC voted unanimously to authorize the permit.

October 2019

VDEQ and USACE authorized their respective permits. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) issued their final permit for signature.