FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    
    
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The State Conservation Committee (SCC) is seeking public comment on two proposed legislative rules stemming from the passage of Senate Bill 264 during the 2022 legislative session.

The 30-day comment period on 63-CSR-1, and 63-CSR-4 begins Monday, May 16, and concludes on Thursday, June 16, at 4 p.m. As part of the comment period, the agency will hold public hearings on both proposals on Thursday, May 19, at the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s conference room, 1550 Earl L. Core Road, Morgantown, WV.

A hearing for 63-CSR-1 will begin at 11 a.m. The hearing on 63-CSR-4 will begin at 1 p.m. Participants may appear in person or online.

Proposed rule 63-CSR-1 amends an existing rule and incorporates changes relating to the election of West Virginia’s 114 conservation district supervisors. The rule details candidacy qualifications and procedures districts must follow when there are no candidates filing for the office, or when a vacancy occurs. The proposal also makes minor modifications to the process for spending watershed improvement funds.

The proposed rule 63-CSR-4 is a new rule relating to accounting and auditing procedures West Virginia’s 14 conservation districts must follow.

Copies of either rule may be obtained from the Secretary of State’s Office by using the following:
 
•    63CSR1 link
•    63CSR4 link

Governor Jim Justice signed SB264 in March. The bill makes several changes to West Virginia’s Conservation District law and authorized the SCC, and its administrative office, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, to amend or draft new rules to facilitate the legislative action.

Comments to both rules may be submitted to: Belinda Withrow, 1900 Kanawha Blvd, East, 25305, or bwithrow@wvca.us. Please write “Proposed Rule 63-01 or Proposed Rule 63-4” and the number in the subject line of the email comment.  

The mission of the SCC and the West Virginia Conservation Agency is to provide for the protection and conservation of West Virginia’s soil, land, water and related resources for the health, safety, and general welfare of the state’s citizens.