UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

AND THE

VIRGINIA COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

AUGUST 1985

Prepared by:

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce

3300 Whitehaven Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20235

and

Commonwealth of Virginia's Council on the Environment
930 Ninth Street

The preparation of this publication was financed through the Office of Ocean
and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA. Cover Art courtesy of John M. Barber.

DESIGNATION:

TITLE:

ABSTRACT:

APPLICANT:

LEAD AGENCY:

CONTACT:

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Proposed Federal Approval of the Virginia Coastal
Resources Management Program

The Commonwealth of Virginia has submitted its
Coastal Resources Management Program to the
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
for approval. Approval would allow program
administrative grants to be awarded to the Common-
wealth and would require that Federal actions be
consistent with the program. This document
includes a copy of the program which is a
comprehensive management program for coastal
land and water use activities. It consists of
numerous policies on diverse management issues
which are administered under existing Commonwealth
laws and is the culmination of several years of
program development. Virginia's coastal management
program either promotes the beneficial use of coastal
resources, prevents their impairment, or deals with
major activities that substantially affect numerous
resources. The program will enhance decision-making
processes used for determining the appropriateness
of actions in the coastal area.