Shoreline Permit Simplification

A complex array of laws, regulations and procedures at several levels of government has contributed to substantial jurisdictional overlap, duplication of effort and inconsistency in the shoreline permit decision process, a process which has evolved over the past several decades. Passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 introduced several new Federal advisory agencies into the process and subsequent events greatly increased the geographic scope of Federal jurisdiction. Public dissatisfaction with inordinate delays experienced in the 1973-1976 time frame, led Virginia to develop streamlined procedures that have created the illusion of a "one-stop" permit process. This paper examines several alternatives for further streamlining, elimination of jurisdictional overlap and the maximum utilization of diminishing personnel resources.