What We Do
The Secretary of Natural Resources advises the Governor on natural resources issues and works to advance the Governor's top environmental priorities. The Secretary oversees six agencies that protect and restore the Commonwealth’s natural and historic resources. The Secretary's office and all of the natural resources agencies work together to uphold the provisions of Article XI of the Virginia Constitution:
To the end that the people have clean air, pure water, and the use and enjoyment for recreation of adequate public lands, waters, and other natural resources, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to conserve, develop, and utilize its natural resources, its public lands, and its historical sites and buildings.
Further, it shall be the Commonwealth's policy to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for
the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.
In his January 19, 2012 Directive, Governor McDonnell established the Uranium Working Group to provide a scientific policy analysis to help assess whether the moratorium on uranium mining in the Commonwealth should be lifted, and if so, how best to do so. The group is comprised of staff from the Department of Environmental Quality; the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia Department of Health. The Directive sets out eighteen tasks for the UWG to complete, including the creation of a draft statutory and conceptual regulatory framework.
Virginia's Drought Status —
The Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan establishes thirteen drought evaluation regions across the Commonwealth. The plan identifies four drought indicators for each drought evaluation region: precipitation deficits, streamflows, ground water levels and reservoir levels. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality uses these indicators along with information from the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force to make a declaration of a drought stage for each region.
Click on the link below to view the latest drought status throughout the State of Virginia.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Drought Status
