Draft Permit Allows Wetland Filling For Potomac Yard Metro

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A draft water protection permit allowing the filling of wetlands for the Potomac Yard Metro project has been issued to the City of Alexandria by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Before the State Water Control Board can approve the draft permit, it must undergo a public comment period.

The Metro construction activity would permanently impact a 0.92 acre of palustrine forested wetland, an inland wetland dominated by trees. It would also affect a 0.64 acre of palustrine emergent wetland, an inland wetland dominated by mosses or lichens. The project temporarily impacts 1.10 acres of palustrine forested wetland and a 0.91 acre of palustrine emergent wetland.

Under Virginia law, the City of Alexandria must compensate for the filling of wetlands to ensure there is no net loss of existing wetland acreage. The water protection permit would require 4.96 wetland credits for the project's permanent impact to wetlands and 1.10 wetland credits for temporary impacts.

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The public can provide comments from June 14 to July 31. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will hold an information session about the permit on Tuesday, July 16, at 6 p.m. followed by a public hearing at 7 p.m. at the Oswald Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron Street.

Comments can be submitted by mail to Wynn Prusaczyk, VDEQ Northern Regional Office 13901 Crown Court Woodbridge, Virginia 22193, by phone to 703-583-3871 by fax to 703-583-3821 or by email to Wynn.Prusaczyk@deq.virginia.gov.

The State Water Control Board will make a decision on the permit once comments have been collected. The draft permit can be viewed here.