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Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Marine Resources Commission
 
Board
Marine Resources Commission
 
chapter
Wetlands Mitigation -- Compensation Policy [4 VAC 20 ‑ 390]
 
Guidance Documents
Chapter Information
Description Virginia, as a Chesapeake Bay Program partner, has committed to achieving a no-net loss of existing wetlands acreage and function in regulatory programs. In addition, the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan recognizes the importance of tidal wetlands as natural flood buffers. Despite this, the pressures to use or develop tidal wetlands along Virginia's shoreline have continued. While losses are controlled by existing permit programs, some impacts to tidal wetlands from development activity are unavoidable. Research has demonstrated that certain wetlands can be established in areas where wetlands are not presently found, wetlands that were previously lost or degraded can be reestablished, and wetland functions in existing wetlands can be improved. As such, compensatory mitigation for permitted wetland losses is viewed as a means of offsetting impacts of necessary projects. The commission encourages, where appropriate, compensatory mitigation for all permitted tidal wetland impacts, provided all other mitigative measures have been considered to avoid and minimize any impact.
State Authority § 28.2-201
Federal Authority None entered
Text of Regulation Link to Virginia Administrative Code
Goals of Regulation None entered
Meetings

Contact Information
Name / Title: Zachary Widgeon  / Director of Communications
Address: 380 Fenwick Road
Building 96
Fort Monroe, VA 23651
Email Address: Zachary.Widgeon@mrc.virginia.gov
Telephone: (757)414-0713    FAX: (757)247-2002    TDD: ()-
Current Actions
Action Title Latest Stage Status
None

Past Actions
Action Title Latest Stage Status
Compliance with the mandate of Chapter 334 of the 2023 Acts of the Virginia General Assembly (HB 1950).
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 02/01/2025.

Periodic Reviews
Last Activity Status
11/29/2022 Filed Pending