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The Hazel River is Ix'ing considered
for a “Tier HI" - “Exceptional River" status. On the surface, this looks like a noble issue to prevent new or increased discharges into this “designated" river. We are all for that, right?
However, looking into all of the ramifications of E.RA. intervention. Department of Interior management and overall government control of our land, it becomes a serious issue to all riparian landowners and landowners in general.
There is a need for dialogue on this issue. It is barreling through Richmond at freight train speed. It started by petition in 1993. with a Rixeyville sponsor, who lives one mile away from the Hazel River and owns no property on the river. Suddenly the petition has been resurrected.
Few landowners in Rappahannock County are aware of this topic. The County received a letter from Richmond on Dec. 7, 2001, posted two Public Notices and held one public hearing on Feb. 4. 2002, attended by four people.
Mr. Robert T. Dennis, a critic of the opposition and a proponent of‘.‘Tier IIP designation was not in attendance.
No one had taken the time to read the 143 pages provided by the County Administrator. Fortunately, -John McCarthy and the Board of Supervisors saw the vague and nebulous implication of this “Tier III" designation.
The State, by its own public statement, indicates that this “Tier III" designation "may entail additional impacts", maintaining that “endangered species" and “wetland” studies have not been researched yet. That is a “Pandoras Box" for riparian landowners.
We need to ask the State several questions. What is a point source discharge? How does this effect my farm operation? Will I lose my right to manage mv riparian property? Is there a possibility that my property could become a candidate for public access? These are just a few of the items that need clarification.
Folks, this issue will lx1 decided by a Citizen Board in Richmond at their March 28,
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