SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF VIRGINIA'S MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

In 1996, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia amended the State statutes governing localities’ comprehensive planning to include mineral resources among the key considerations in planning for future growth (Code of Virginia §15.2-2224). Shortly thereafter, the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources (DGMR) responded with a proactive program to deliver geologic and mineral resources information to over 130 county, municipal, and regional planning authorities. With the help of new tools for creating and managing digital spatial data, DGMR launched a web-based distribution portal in 2008 to help meet the update schedules of the planning offices that typically review their comprehensive plan documents for needed changes every five years (http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DMR3/compplanning.shtml).

The primary purpose of the web portal is to ensure timely access to current information on mineral production statistics, mineral value, industry employment, geologic map coverage, and location of geologic resources in the planning jurisdictional areas. The portal also allows access to digital data that can be readily integrated into reports and planning documents. The web site has proven successful, yet the challenge of limited staff and budget resources has slowed the progress of developing materials for all localities.

Based on encouraging responses from a recent survey of regional and county planning offices, DGMR plans to initiate a higher level of direct technical support to planning commissions to meet their comprehensive planning needs. This service will be offered through cooperative agreements or other types of partnerships with planning offices, and will include the preparation of documents and mineral resources maps, in-depth analysis of the availability and future demand for mineral resources, support for water supply planning, and characterization of and planning for public safety and environmental concerns (e.g. locations of abandoned mines), geologic hazards (e.g. areas prone to landslides), and ground water protection (e.g. locations of sinkholes, abandoned water-filled quarries, etc.).