Illegal Net Fishing on the Shenandoah

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From the “This Really Sucks, No — REALLY Sucks — Department,” Virginia conservation enforcement officers fined ten people illegally using nets to catch huge amounts of fish from the Shenandoah river. Read the article in the link, it’s troubling, sad and infuriating all at once. One of the spots where this occurred, Watermelon Park, is apparently going to do something about stopping the illegal fishing.

A once thriving river with fish kills over the past few years and from which you are advised NOT to eat fish due to PCB and mercury contamination, the Shenandoah needs some love, damn it. The following groups are trying to help, give them your support:

The Shenandoah Riverkeeper

Earthkorps

Friends of the Shenandoah River

Defense Department Cuts Will Weigh on Virginia

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The Post reports on the spending cuts proposed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and how Northern Virginia and the Norfolk/Virginia Beach areas will be particularly affected. Not only will the Joint Forces Command be affected (read closed) but many government contracting jobs will likely be gone. Northern Virginia gets 70 percent of the $35 billion in defense contracts annually.

Politicians from both sides are coming out against these cuts. The small government Republicans are especially vocal. Politics and money, I’m not sure which drives the which sometimes.

Prince William County’s Deal with the Devil

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The 117,000 acre “Rural Crescent” of Prince William county, an area in the western part of the county set aside in the 1990s as open space, is having a chunk chipped out by development. By a 5-3 vote, the county board of supervisors has approved a 295 unit development by Brookfield homes near Vint Hill and Nokesville roads.

The decision by the Prince William Board of Supervisors seems to be largely about money for roads in the county. As Supervisor W.S Convington puts it, “Traditional funding sources for roads are just dead, so it is requiring us to do these partnerships. This will help fix the safety problem there, which is my main concern.”

The county’s school board was opposed to the development, claiming it would burden the schools in the area. The fear now is that more schools will need to be built, thus more additional development and higher taxes in this area.

Over time, this is how we erode our principles and plans. An expedient solution to funding roads development is taken in a deal-with-the-devil, and our once sound plans of preserving open space are put on the table once again.

Allegheny Energy Re-Files for PATH Power Line in VA-WV-MD

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The previously rejected and withdrawn power line that was planned for Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland is being re-proposed by Allegheny Energy. The PATH power line would affect the Appalachian Trail and a swath of land across Loudoun county, Virginia. The first steps include an environmental impact statement, aka “EIS,” by the National Park Service, US Forest Service and the Corps of Engineers.

The National Park Service has scheduled public hearings next week for the following times and locations:

  • Monday, July 19, at the Quality Inn Conference Center in Harpers Ferry, WV
  • Tuesday, July 20, 4 – 8pm, at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville
  • Wednesday, July 21, at Tuscarora High School in Frederick, MD
  • Thursday, July 22, at Tucker County High School in Hambleton, WV.

See also the Sugarloaf Conservancy, Calhoun Powerline and Citizens Against Kemptown Electric Substation.

From the NoToPATH website:

PURCELLVILLE —- EIS Public Input Meeting! July 20 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. – The National Park Service, US Forest Service and the Corps of Engineers are now planning their joint environmental impact statement (EIS) on the PATH project. A public scoping meeting will be held on July 20th in Purcellville to help establish the scope of analysis and range of alternatives that this EIS will cover. This EIS is likely to be the only federal EIS on PATH unless FERC obtains jurisdiction. This is therefore our only opportunity to ensure that federal agencies analyze all of PATH’s “significant impacts on the quality of the human environment” and all reasonable alternatives to PATH, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Not surprisingly, however, these federal agencies prefer to address only the impacts and alternatives affecting their federal lands or (in the case of the Corps) the navigable waters under their jurisdiction. By essentially disregarding all the impacts and alternatives of concern to Loudoun citizens and our Board of Supervisors such limited scope disregards the purpose of the EIS and the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act and, we believe, the relevant case law.
Time: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Loudoun Valley High School Auditorium, 340 North Maple Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia.

Metro Gonna Make You Pay

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The Post is reporting that the WMATA/Metro board is close to an agreement on fare increases. As we have noted once or twice or thrice before about the looming Metro fare increases, Metro is going to make you pay to make up for its $189 million budget shortfall, which is partly due to reductions in funding by state and local governments who regularly contribute to fund the system.

So what are we looking at for possible Metro system fare increases and service cuts? Let’s see:

  • An increase in the lowest peak fare from $1.65 to $1.90
  • An increase in the maximum peak fare from $4.50 to $5.00
  • An increase in the lowest bus fare from $1.25 to $1.50
  • An increase in the weekly bus pass from $11 to $15
  • No eight car trains during rush hour
  • No Yellow Line between Mount Vernon Square and Fort Totten
  • No Yellow Line between King Street and DC late nights and weekends
  • Longer waits for trains and buses
  • 30-minute waits for trains at night
  • Many bus routes eliminated or shortened
  • Train stations opening later — 30 minutes on weekdays, an hour on weekends
  • Train stations closing earlier on weekends — as early as midnight instead of 3am
  • Buses starting later in the morning and ending earlier in the evening
  • Many bus routes eliminated at night or on weekends
  • Closing some rail station entrances and even some stations entirely evenings and weekends.

See the Post’s fare calculator to see how this could affect your commuting costs.

Fairfax Planning Commission Meets Tonight on Tysons Corner

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The Fairfax County Planning Commission will vote on the Tysons Corner land-use plan tonight at 8:15 pm, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22030. At stake is the twenty to forty year plan (20 – 40 years!) for development of Tysons Corner, the twelfth largest employment center in the United States, and home to 17,000 residents and 105,000 workers.

In light of developers getting skittish about possible limits on development of Tysons, and given the vision of the Tysons Land Use Task Force of a small city “built for people, not cars,” and “a livable and vibrant urban center where people live, work, play, shop, worship, and even retire,” this sounds like big changes are coming. How much of a fight remains with developers will become apparent over the next several weeks.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting tonight. The next hearing is scheduled for June 22, with a final vote on the plan expected sometime this summer.

Drill Baby Drill, Not in Virginia

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On the heels of the BP/Transocean/Halliburton disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, everyone except the true die hards are rethinking deep water oil exploration. We have also noted this shift in support for exploratory drilling off Virginia’s coast. Virginia’s governor Bob McDonnell had been making oil and gas exploration off the coast of the Commonwealth a key part of his economic plan. How quickly things can change.

The Department of Defense has now weighed in with its view of opening up the three million acres off the coast of Virginia to oil and gas drilling. In short, the DoD says drilling of Virginia’s coast is “incompatible with military operations and training.” The Norfolk naval base is the largest in the world. Weaving aircraft carriers around oil rigs in deep water is probably not on the Navy’s list of fun things to do.

McDonnell’s spokesman Tucker Martin doesn’t seem dissuaded. “We are confident that offshore energy production and the United States military can coexist in Virginia without any disruption or unwanted intrusion upon either.” Maybe Mr. Martin should “review the full report,” which he said he has not yet done.

The Tysons Corner Construction Zone

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Construction on Metro’s Silver Line extension to Dulles airport is well underway in Tysons Corner. The article in this past weekend’s Washington Post highlights the effect this project is having on businesses along Route 7.  Some businesses have seen a 15 to 20 percent drop in business since crews began tearing up the place to bury utility lines and perform other prep work for the rail system. During the next three years, things are going to be even more of a mess. Construction will begin on the elevated tracks that will run down the median of Route 7. Even during normal rush hour commutes before construction began, Tysons Corner was never an easy drive.

This is just the start of the pain coming for the planned transformation of Tysons Corner into massive suburban megalopolis.

With plans to greatly expand development in Tysons, traffic will not be reduced once Metro access is brought in. Along with more business and residential development, the beltway’s HOT lanes will funnel more traffic onto Route 123 and Route 7. Metro will simply give the transportation infrastructure a chance to keep up with the next big increase in people heading to and from Tysons Corner.

This is not going to get better even after Metro is in place.

Virginia Traffic, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Worse

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HOT lanes and Metro construction are going to make driving in Northern Virginia, especially around Tyson’s Corner, much worse in the next year or so. Route 7, route 123 and the beltway will have major surgery at various spots, bridges will be built and demolished, ramps will be constructed and Metro station rail lines are going in. “Planners are predicting that many of these drivers will find delays of 10 to 20 minutes — or sometimes longer — in 2010.”

Going west on route 7 in Tyson’s Corner from the Tyson’s I mall to the Dulles toll road during the Friday rush, for example, already can take 1/2 hour. Get ready for more delays.

To make matters worse, the area will see an influx of workers in the coming years and Tyson’s in particular is going to see considerable development of new office and residential space. Even more traffic will be created as Department of Defense base realignment and closures funnel thousands of workers into more areas completely dependent on cars for transit. In fact, almost anywhere you look in Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties is going to be swamped with significantly more traffic in the next ten years.

From the first Post article above, here are some alternatives for getting around:

Tysons Express/Prince William: Fifty-five-seat coaches make four morning and four evening trips each weekday between Woodbridge and Tysons. The buses have individual lighting and free Wi-Fi. Half-price fares until early July: $2.40 per ride with SmarTrip or $3 with cash. Go to http://PRTCtransit.org or call 703-730-6664.

Tysons Express/Loudoun: Starting June 21, the Loudoun version of the express will provide seven morning and seven afternoon trips between Leesburg and Broadlands South and Tysons. Fares will be $3 per ride with SmarTrip or $3.50 per ride cash. For more information, e-mail rideshare@loudoun.gov or call 703-771-5665.

Tysons Connector: Two shuttle bus routes operate every 10 minutes around Tysons between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Go to http://fairfaxconnector.com or call 703-339-7200.

Metrobus/Fairfax Connector: There are plenty of regular bus routes throughout Tysons Corner, including Fairfax Connector routes 401, 425, 427 and 574 and Metrobus routes 2C, 2T, 3T, 5A, 15K, 15L, 15M, 23A, 23C, 24T, 28A, 28B and 28T. Connections to other regional transit routes are available at the West Falls Church Metro station and the Tysons Westpark Transit Station. Go to http://wmata.com or http://fairfaxcounty.gov/connector.

VanStart Program: A Megaprojects program helps get vanpools on the road while drivers recruit passengers to fill vacant sets. The program provides financial assistance to cover the expense of the vacant seats on new vanpools for up to a year. Available only while funds last. E-mail employersolutions@vamegaprojects.com or call 877-959-5222.

Employer Solutions Team: This office works with individual employers on transportation solutions tailored to their employees, including various financial incentives to get commuters out of their cars. Contact Janice Fortunato at 571-263-9209 or Marques Silva at 571-337-3115 or go to http://vamegaprojects.com/employer-solutions.

Telework!VA: This program offers advice on arrangements and financial subsidies that make it easier for employees to work from home or from telework centers. Call 866-469-1010 or visit http://teleworkva.org.

Commuter Connections: This network of commuter assistance programs for employers and employees encourages carpooling and vanpooling. Call 800-745-RIDE or go to http://commuterconnections.org.

Some in Virginia Reconsider Oil Drilling

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Virginia officials are reconsidering support for offshore oil and gas drilling after the recent rig explosion and spill in the Gulf of Mexico last month. Officials who previously endorsed drilling off Virginia’s coast are now stepping back and are right to worry.

Despite twenty year old estimates of enough oil to supply the entire U.S. for six days and enough natural gas for a month, and more recent indications that there is “far more,” we need to keep some far more important things in mind. First, even many times the twenty year old estimates still amounts to very little oil, and not enough to contribute to lessening our dependence on foreign reserves that dwarf our own. More importantly, the risks of even a single failure at a well resulting in a spill are incredible.

How risky is deep water drilling? Consider this:

The BP rig that collapsed in the Gulf of Mexico in April caused concern when it had to that point leaked possibly a few million gallons of oil. To give an idea of how little oil that is, one Olympic sized swimming pool holds about 500,000 gallons of water. So if four million gallons was leaked into the Gulf, that’s roughly eight swimming pools worth of oil. The Gulf of Mexico contains about 642 trillion gallons of water. So that’s about .0000006% of the total volume, a relatively tiny amount. Of course, the well is still leaking and it could be much worse, but will likely still be far less than many fractions of fractions of a percent of the volume of water its fouling.

That just a few swimming pools worth of oil spilled into the sea can cause massive damage to fisheries, beaches and the rest of the environment shows how toxic a substance crude oil is. Considering all the ocean-based oil rigs out there, if just one of them leaks what is a pretty small amount of oil it will (not “might”) ruin large parts of its surrounding area for years and maybe permanently.

Just some catastrophic stuff to keep in mind next time you yell, “Drill, baby, drill.”