Deeds Backs Runoff Standards, Suggests Improvements For Smart Growth

Press Release

Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor, announced his support Tuesday for improved anti-pollution standards for stormwater regulations. In a letter to Governor Tim Kaine sent on Friday. Deeds also pushed for changes that would minimize sprawl and keep costs low for businesses and homebuyers.

Sen. Deeds' letter to Governor Kaine supported the Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) goals of reducing pollution, but suggested commonsense changes to the regulations that would help avoid unintended consequences such as sprawl and stale zoning and mitigate the economic impact on homebuyers. DCR's proposal would reduce phosphorous runoff to 0.28 lbs/acre/year, a standard that is crucial to allowing the Commonwealth to meet its goals for pollution reduction in the Chesapeake Bay.

"These new standards are expected to result in significant reductions in phosphorous pollution—a key indicator of overall nutrient pollution in the Bay," Deeds wrote. "My concerns derive not from the standards—which I believe must be kept fully intact for us to achieve meaningful progress on Bay cleanup. Rather, I am concerned that the regulations as written might unintentionally contribute to sprawl and, in some cases, result in stale zoning."

Sen. Deeds has a record of building consensus around key environmental issues. In 1996, Sen. Deeds was the chief sponsor of the Agricultural Stewardship Act, which empowered state officials to help farmers address water quality issues without over burdensome regulations. The Richmond Times-Dispatch praised Deeds for, "finding common ground between farmers and environmentalists."

In 1999, Deeds sponsored a land preservation tax credit program that has helped Virginia conserve 500,000 acres.

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