Erosion & Sediment Control (ESC)

Brief History

In 1971, the Governor's Council on the Environment created a task force to study the issue of sedimentation across the state. That same year the task force completed its report which verified the existence of statewide sedimentation problems and recommended that a statewide program be developed to address erosion and sedimentation. The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (VESCL) was adopted by the General Assembly in 1973 as an addendum to the Soil and Water Conservation District Law. The new law required the Commission to establish statewide criteria, standards, and guidelines for the effective control of soil erosion, sediment deposition, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated land-disturbing activities that must be met in any Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP). These actions were all in an effort to prevent the unreasonable degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources of the Commonwealth. The 1973 law required all Counties and Cities in Virginia to adopt a local ESC program, in response Patrick County adopted its Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance on September 1, 1973. The VESCL has been modified and amended several times since 1973 and each time in response Patrick County has modified and amended its ordinance as well, with the latest amendment being enacted on March 27, 2006.

Mission

Patrick County's Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance has been in existence for over 40 years and it continues to fulfill its stated purpose which is to prevent the degradation of properties, stream channels, waters, and other natural resources of the County of Patrick by establishing requirements for the control of soil erosion, sediment deposition and nonagricultural runoff by establishing procedures whereby these requirements shall be administered and enforced.

Action 

The Patrick County ESC Office accomplishes the purpose of the County's ESC Ordinance by effectively issuing Land-Disturbing Permits for any non-exempt land-disturbing activity that results in land-disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more, requiring that an erosion and sediment control (ESC) plan be approved by the ESC Office prior to issuance of any permits, implementing a systematic program for onsite inspection to ensure that the ESC measures on the approved plan are carried out, and pursuing enforcement actions when the approved plan is not carried out or when non-exempt land-disturbing activities are taking place without an approved plan.