SB 950 — Pipeline construction; DEQ review, upland construction
Last action — Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House of Delegates
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 19, 2018. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 7 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Provides that, for the construction of certain natural gas transmission pipelines greater than 36 inches inside diameter (Pipelines), the issuance of a Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP) and an additional water quality certification for upland conditions shall together constitute the certification required under § 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The bill requires the builder of a Pipeline to submit an application to the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) describing all activities that will occur in upland areas and authorizes the Department to request certain additional information from the applicant. The bill directs the Department to determine whether any activities not addressed by the VWPP are likely to result in a discharge to state waters with the potential to adversely impact water quality and then to develop an additional certification containing any additional conditions for activities in upland areas. The bill directs the Department to prepare a public notice of such draft certification conditions and to allow for public comment. The bill requires an individual VWPP for impacts to state waters for the construction of any Pipeline and requires that each wetland and stream crossing be considered as a single project, with an individual review of each proposed water body crossing with an upstream drainage area of five square miles or greater; however, the bill requires only one individual VWPP addressing all water body crossings for each Pipeline. The bill requires that any Pipeline be constructed in a manner that minimizes impacts to state waters and protects water quality to the maximum extent practicable, including by using certain best management practices. The bill directs the State Water Control Board to exempt the construction of Pipelines from its general permits for the activities of certain utilities and public service companies and to complete its review of any individual permit application related to the construction of any Pipeline within one year. The bill also prohibits an applicant from commencing a land-disturbing activity prior to approval by the Department of an erosion and sediment control plan and stormwater management plan. Finally, the bill authorizes the Department to assess certain administrative charges in order to cover its costs.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
44 added · 43 removedPlain-language change summary
The changes to Bill SB 950 involve clearer timelines for the permit review process related to delineated wetlands and natural gas transmission pipelines. The updated bill specifies that the Board must make a decision on permit applications within set timeframes, enhancing accountability and efficiency in the permitting process. This matters because it can help accelerate projects while ensuring that necessary environmental reviews are conducted in a timely manner, potentially reducing delays for developers and stakeholders.
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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 18106849DVIRGINIA SENATEACTS BILLOF NO.ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 62.1-44.15:20 and 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 an article numbered 2.6, consisting of sections numbered 62.1-44.15:80 through 62.1-44.15:84, relating to interstate natural gas pipelines;
950 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance on February 7, 2018) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Hanger) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 62.1-44.15:20 and 62.1-44.15:21 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 an article numbered 2.6, consisting of sections numbered 62.1-44.15:80 through 62.1-44.15:84, relating to interstate natural gas pipelines;
[S 950] Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
View plain text versions (3)
- Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB950ER) View text Current html February 28, 2018
- Committee Substitute Senate: Committee substitute printed 18106849D-S1 html February 07, 2018
- Senate: Presented and ordered printed 18104891D View text html January 19, 2018
Action History
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Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
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Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 6, 2018
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Signed by President
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Signed by Speaker
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Enrolled
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Passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
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Read third time
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Read second time
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Assigned ACNR sub: Subcommittee #4
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
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Read first time
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Placed on Calendar
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Passed by temporarily
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Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB950S1
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Committee substitute agreed to 18106849D-S1
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Reading of substitute waived
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Read second time
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Rereferred to Finance
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Presented and ordered printed 18104891D
Sponsors
- Jennifer L. McClellan · Cosponsor
- R. Creigh Deeds · Cosponsor
- Jennifer T. Wexton · Cosponsor
- Sam Rasoul · Cosponsor
- Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 143 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (4)
- Jennifer L. McClellan
- R. Creigh Deeds
- Jennifer T. Wexton
- Sam Rasoul
Not signed on (143)
143 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 143 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 98 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 98 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (98)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 950 do?
- Provides that, for the construction of certain natural gas transmission pipelines greater than 36 inches inside diameter (Pipelines), the issuance of a Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP) and an additional water quality certification for upland conditions shall together constitute the certification required under § 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The bill requires the builder of a Pipeline to submit an application to the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) describing all activities that will occur in upland areas and authorizes the Department to request certain additional information from the applicant. The bill directs the Department to determine whether any activities not addressed by the VWPP are likely to result in a discharge to state waters with the potential to adversely impact water quality and then to develop an additional certification containing any additional conditions for activities in upland areas. The bill directs the Department to prepare a public notice of such draft certification conditions and to allow for public comment. The bill requires an individual VWPP for impacts to state waters for the construction of any Pipeline and requires that each wetland and stream crossing be considered as a single project, with an individual review of each proposed water body crossing with an upstream drainage area of five square miles or greater; however, the bill requires only one individual VWPP addressing all water body crossings for each Pipeline. The bill requires that any Pipeline be constructed in a manner that minimizes impacts to state waters and protects water quality to the maximum extent practicable, including by using certain best management practices. The bill directs the State Water Control Board to exempt the construction of Pipelines from its general permits for the activities of certain utilities and public service companies and to complete its review of any individual permit application related to the construction of any Pipeline within one year. The bill also prohibits an applicant from commencing a land-disturbing activity prior to approval by the Department of an erosion and sediment control plan and stormwater management plan. Finally, the bill authorizes the Department to assess certain administrative charges in order to cover its costs.
- Who sponsors SB 950?
- SB 950 is sponsored by Jennifer L. McClellan, R. Creigh Deeds, Jennifer T. Wexton, Sam Rasoul, and Hanger, Emmett W., Jr..
- What is the current status of SB 950?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 19, 2018. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 950?
- Track SB 950 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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