COMMISSION ACTIONS October 26, 2021

** APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

1. MINUTES of previous meeting.

2. PERMITS (Projects over $500,000.00 with no objections and with staff recommendation for approval).

3. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS.

4. CLOSED MEETING FOR CONSULTATION WITH, OR BRIEFING BY, COUNSEL.

5. LICENSE STATUS REVIEW: THE COMMISSION HEARD 1 CASES OF LICENSE STATUS REVIEWS.

6. THOMAS BARTON, #21-1238 Requests authorization to install and backfill 58 linear feet of replacement vinyl bulkhead a maximum of one-foot channelward of the existing bulkhead serving 37458 Bayside Drive adjacent to Chincoteague Bay in the Captain's Cove subdivision in Accomack County. This proposal requires a coastal primary sand dunes and beaches permit. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY.

7. AARON T. WEST, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2018-066 Requests authorization to lease approximately 16 acres within Doctors Creek in Mathews County. The application is protested by a number of nearby highland property owners. THE COMMISSION APPROVED AS SUBMITTED 8-0-1.

8. RICHARD H. RAY and GREGORY S. OSTEEN, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2019-033 Request authorization to lease approximately 4.50 acres in Nassawadox Creek in Northampton County. The application is protested by a local waterman. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION REQUEST AS SUBMITTED 7-2.

9. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Daniel Holland addressed the Commission on adjusting the recreational 5-crab pot season. He explained how crabs do not become plentiful in his area of the Nansemond River until late August or early September. As such, he asked to move the season opening from June 1 to June 15, and the season closing from September 15 to September 30. Mr. Holland also asked about representation on the Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) from his area. The Commissioner first agreed that Mr. Holland could be a good asset for CMAC, and said he would speak to Mr. Pat Geer, Chief of Fisheries, about the addition. The Commissioner then cited poor stock assessment results of crabs in the bay, and said the season change would need to be vetted through the results of the yearly crab report. He said staff would revisit the request next year. Mr. Tom Lilly addressed the Commission about Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. He brought a letter signed by the Maryland Legislative Sportmen's Caucus requesting Virginia take immediate action to either delay the start of the menhaden commercial season to allow fish to transit the Bay or restrict the factory fishing at least 3 nm offshore into federal waters. Mr. Lilly cautioned the Commission against "factory fishing" and attributed menhaden population loss to the reduction fishery. The Commissioner reminded Mr. Lilly that the current stock assessment determined menhaden are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Mr. Lilly disagreed. The Commissioner reiterated that a Bay specific stock assessment would be helpful in determining how exactly the populations are doing locally. Mr. Lilly disagreed and mentioned no further research was needed, but area and time closures are necessary.

10. RECOMMENDATION Recommendations on funding requests from the Recreational and Commercial Fisheries License Funds. THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE FUNDING PROJECTS A THROUGH K, FOR EXPENDITURES TOTALING $392,476, FROM THE RECREATIONAL LICENSE FUND (VSRFDF). STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS FUNDING $158,372 FROM THE MARINE FISHING IMPROVEMENT FUND (MFIF) FOR SPLIT FUNDED PROJECTS, TWO SEGMENTS OF THE ANNUAL RIVER HERRING MONITORING PROJECT, AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUEST.

11. REQUEST FOR AN EMERGENCY AMENDMENT The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-620-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Summer Flounder," to modify the landing dates, possession limits, and landing limits for summer flounder commercially harvested offshore (federal waters) and landed in Virginia. The purpose of this amendment is to promote efficient utilization and economic stability for this resource. WITH COUNSEL ASSISTANCE, THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO POSTPONE THIS EMERGENCY REGULATION UNTIL DECEMBER 2021.

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A. NORFOLK NAVAL STATION, #21-0371 Requests authorization to place three (3) feet of sand and clay from on-site dredge material and two (2) feet of riprap as a contaminant cap over 144,300 square feet of the dredged side slopes of a petroleum, oils and lubricants (POL) contaminated area adjacent to Pier 11 South Berth at Naval Station Norfolk along the Elizabeth River in the City of Norfolk. Staff recommends approval including a special condition that turbidity curtains and oil booms shall be utilized during the duration of the work. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY.

B. LYON SHIPYARD, #21-0332 Requests authorization to remove existing piers and a railway and construct a travel lift system consisting of a 30-foot wide by 200-foot long open-pile pier, a 20-foot wide by 186-foot long open-pile pier, and two (2) mooring dolphins. Additionally, 46,000 cubic yards of State-owned submerged land will be mechanically dredged to -24 feet MLW in the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River adjacent to the facility located at 1818 Brown Avenue in the City of Norfolk. Per ยง28.2-1206B of the Code of Virginia, as a commercial facility providing services related to the shipping of domestic or foreign cargo, the project is exempt from payment of rents and royalties, except for the portion of the project which includes removal of bottom material. Staff recommends a one-time dredging royalty of $27,600.00 for the dredging of 46,000 cubic yards at a rate of $0.60 per cubic yard and a special condition that turbidity curtains shall be utilized during the removal of underwater piles and dredging. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY WITH ROYALTIES.

C. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, #12-0255 Requests authorization to modify their existing permit to increase the amount of sandy dredged material placement in the nearshore placement area west of the Uppards between the -5 and -8 foot mean low water contours from 5,000 cubic yards to 65,000 cubic yards. This dredged material will originate from the maintenance dredging of the Tangier Federal Channel in Accomack County. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY.

D. PACK BROTHERS HOSPITALITY, #21-1071 Requests authorization to construct and redevelop the marina at Fort Monroe to include a full marina replacement, a living shoreline, offshore floating concrete breakwaters, a bulkhead replacement no more than two feet channelward of the existing failing bulkhead, a marina building with an appurtenant pool and pool deck constructed on piles, and a 90-room hotel and adjacent promenade deck constructed on piles over State-owned submerged land at property (McNair Drive) adjacent to the James River in the City of Hampton. The proposed hotel facility will encroach upon 28,108 square feet of State-owned bottom and the new marina will encroach upon 67,055 square feet of State-owned bottom. Staff recommends approval including the following special condition that turbidity curtains shall be utilized during the removal of underwater piles, demolition of existing structures, and the driving of new concrete piles. The project is exempt from rents and royalties as the owner of the property is the Fort Monroe Authority, which is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE APPLICATION AS SUBMITTED WITH A VOTE TOTAL OF 8-1.

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A. MAGNUS ERIKSSON, #20-1194 Requests after-the-fact authorization to retain approximately 430 linear feet of a 12-foot wide base quarry stone riprap revetment installed channelward of an existing bulkhead prior to obtaining the necessary VMRC permit at property situated along Moran Creek, located at 335 Redwood Lane in Lancaster County. Staff recommends approval with triple permit fees of $900.00 assessed to the applicant, and a civil charge of $10,000.00 assessed to the agent/contractor, Delta Marine Construction, who prepared the application and installed the revetment. The applicant and contractor have agreed to the aforementioned fees in lieu of further enforcement action. COMMISSION APPROVED THE AFTER-THE-FACT REQUEST UNANIMOUSLY, CONCURRING WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.



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