Great Intentions Not Great For Parks

According to VAFP President Johnny Finch, if House Bill 2172 is enacted, it would establish procedures for non-utility electrical generation facilities to interconnect with the transmission grid by new electrical power lines. While the idea of helping create jobs and making Virginia more energy efficient is a great thing, VAFP is concerned that this legislation could be interpreted to allow the use of state park lands for access to the transmission grid, thereby impacting the natural beauty, wildlife, and other aspects of the parks.

The Land and Water Conservation Act (LWCA) gives protection to public recreational lands by prohibiting the building of non-recreational facilities on such lands, including state park. Based on VAFP's understanding of LWCA, Virginia state parks have this protection and in order to allow the building of any non-recreational facilities on state park lands a conversion of use process would have to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior. Conversions would also require that any land lost from outdoor recreation or park use be replaced by land of equal recreational value and of at least equal dollar value.

In an effort to further safeguard our state parks from adverse impacts that may already be restricted by the LWCA, VAFP will recommend to Virginia state legislators that HB 2172 be amended to make it clear that parks covered by LWCA are not included among the public lands included in the bill, thereby protecting Virginia's state parks and any local park that has received an LWCA grant. VAFP asks that you give their recommendation your serious consideration. If you find yourself in agreement, please contact your state legislator (see legislative directory) to make your feelings known.

Download PDF of Letter-to-Governor-re-HB-2172.pdf