The Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) at the College of William & Mary Law School, in conjunction with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, provides science-based legal and policy analysis of environmental and land use issues affecting the state's coastal resources and educates the Virginia policymaking, non-profit, legal and business communities about these subjects. More information about VCPC is available on the law school website.
Access to materials and videos from conferences and events hosted by the Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic are available in the repository's VCPC Events collection.
2022
Abandoned and Derelict Vessels in the Commonwealth: How to Improve Virginia's ADV Program, Anthony Cusato
Natural Carbon Sequestration in the Commonwealth, Carbon Sequestration Task Force; Virginia Coastal Policy Center, William & Mary Law School; and Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Report to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Protecting Terrapins with TEDs in Virginia: Lessons from Other States, Bridget Verrekia and Shelby Fuchs
2021
Flooding Their Mailbox: Recommendations for Notifying Residents of Changes to FEMA Flood Maps, Andrew Major and Alston Underwood
2020
An Emerging Containment of (Legal) Concern: PFAS Legal Issues at the State and Federal Level, Michael S. Heard Snow and Conor M. Jennings
Building Towards a Resilient Virginia: Using C-PACE Financing to Improve the Resiliency of Commercial Buildings, Jessica Kraus and Cesare Piermarini
Carbon Market Opportunities in Virginia: Eelgrass, Marshes, Soils, and Forests, Imani Y. Price
Closing Roads Due to Increased Flooding: Potential Liability Issues in Virginia, William Howieson and Michael Tentilucci
Let the Buyer Beware: A Comparison of Flood-Related Real Estate Disclosure Laws of Virginia and Other States, Emily Snyder and Clay Kulesza
Planning for a Managed Retreat: Moving in a New Direction, Caitlin Parry, Michael Heard Snow, and Ryan Franklin
Protecting Water Quality in Virginia: Recommendations to Combat Sea Level Rise and Increased Storm Events, Madhavi Kulkarni
Trash Talk: An Exploration of the Problem of Marine Debris and Some Virginia-Specific Solutions, Elizabeth Pindilli
2019
Balancing Act: Water Quality Protection and Flood Resilience, Samatha Becker
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material: Role of State Permitting Programs and Regulations, Samantha Becker and Sashenka Brauer
Dredged Material Ownership: Rights and Reuse, John Bobka and Beth Pindilli
Eelgrass in Virginia: Assessing Opportunities and Obstacles for Blue Carbon Credits, Michael Jordan and Imani Price
Federal Funding Programs: Benefit-Cost Analyses and Low to Moderate Income Communities, Kelsey McNeill and Alyssa Glass
Managed Retreat and the Life Estate: A Practical Path Forward for Coastal Communities, Sam Gross
Overcoming Impediments to Shellfish Aquaculture through Legal Research and Outreach: Case Studies, National Sea Grant College Program, Catherine Janasie, Amanda Nichols, Read Porter, Mitchell Ramic, Jordan Viana, Joseph Bingaman, Elizabeth Andrews, Angela King, Danielle Goshen, Shana Jones, Lisa Schiavinato, Catherine Courtier, and Danielle Goshen
Phase II MS4 Permit Requirements: A Survey of Public Education and Outreach & Public Involvement and Participation Efforts, Connor Jennings and Donnie Autry
Planning for the "New Normal": Using Build One Portsmouth to Address Flood Resilience, Alison Wrynn and Sarah Simonetti
Water Supply Management in Virginia: Lessons from the West Coast, Kristin McCarthy
2018
Building a Resilient Virginia, Anthony Cusato; Conor Jennings; Angela King; and Virginia Coastal Policy Center, William & Mary Law School
Post-Conference Report (VCPC's 6th Annual Conference, 2018)
Groundwater Injection Projects: Mitigating the Risk of Emerging Contaminants, Conor Jennings
Increasing Living Shoreline Implementation in Virginia: Legal and Policy Recommendations, Christopher Antoine
Onsite Sewage Systems: Background, Framework, and Solutions, Jamie Huffman, Sarah Simonetti, and R. Scott Herbert
Recurrent Flooding, Sea Level Rise, and the Relocation of At-Risk Communities: Case Studies from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Jeffrey Moore and Lauren Acker
Riparian Rights and Public Trust: Enforcement Authority, Reeana Keenen
Sea Level Rise and Recurrent Flooding: A Toolbox for Local Governments in Virginia, Victor Unnone and Jonathan Lubrano
The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act: Proposed Modifications to Improve Resilience to Sea Level Rise, Christopher Antoine
Vacant Housing Study: An Examination of Vacant and At-Risk Housing in the Middle Peninsula, Todd Scheid, Kean Devine, and Eric McCoy
Waterfront Property Rights: The Potential Impact of Government Projects, Emily Messer
Water Supply Planning in Virginia: The Future of Groundwater and Surface Water, Jonathon Lubrano and Jeffrey Moore
2017
Defending Our Coasts: Ensuring Military Readiness & Economic Viability as Waters Rise, Deborah Kornblut, Angela King, and Virginia Coastal Policy Center
Post-Conference Report (VCPC's 5th Annual Conference, 2017)
Report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Pursuant to House Bill 1774, Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency
Tourism Business Resilience for Coastal Virginia Assessment Report, Lindsay Usher, Michelle Covi, Juita-Elena Yusuf, Kaitlin Giles, Elizabeth Armistead Andrews, Angela King, Sashenka Brauer, and Rebecca Ribley
2016
Climate Change and the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load: Policy Priorities and Options, Joseph Kurt and Victor Unnone
Costs of Doing Nothing: Economic Consequences of Not Adapting to Sea Level Rise in the Hampton Roads Region, Greg Van Houtven; Brooks Depro; Daniel Lapidus; Justine Allpress; Benjamin Lord; and Virginia Coastal Policy Center, William & Mary Law School
Green Infrastructure in the Community Ratings System: A Proposed Path to National Flood Insurance Program Recognition, Kevin MacWhorter and Kathleen Zaratzian
Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow Proposal, Patrick Harner, Alexa Pecht, and Emily Tucker
Living with the Water - Too Much, and Too Little, Virginia Coastal Policy Center, William & Mary Law School
Post-Conference Report (VCPC's Annual Conference, 2016)
Money for Nothing: A Case Study on Leveraging Donated Property to Satisfy Federal Grant Match Requirements, Garrett Gee
The 2016 Stormwater Bill: An Analysis of Perceived and Real Problems with Proposed Solutions, Jonathon R. Lubrano, Elizabeth A. Andrews, and Roy A. Hoagland
Tools for a Resilient Virginia Coast: Designing a Successful TDR Program for Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, Jessica Lung and Michael Killius
Virginia Coastal Policy Center Brochure, William & Mary Law School
Working Waterfronts: On History, Conflicts, and Finding a Balance Case Studies of the Lynnhaven River, the Ware River, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Noah Trombly, Derek Van De Walle, and Chelsea Wilkins
2015
Go Green, Save Money: Lowering Flood Insurance Rates in Virginia with Stormwater Management and Open Space, Adele Young and Kristen Clark
Mapping Coastal Risks and Social Vulnerability: Current Tools and Legal Risks, Lisa Schiavinato and Heather Payne
Mapping Coastal Risks and Social Vulnerability: Principles and Considerations, Shana Jones
State and Local Liability for Failure to Adapt to and Protect Against Recurrent Flooding: Applying Farmers Insurance's Legal Framework to Virginia Circumstances, James M. Andris Jr.
The Use, Impact, and Ban of Coal Tar- Based Sealants, Hannah Needleman
VA Coastlines (End of 2014-2015 Term), Virginia Coastal Policy Center
Virginia Coastal Policy Center Brochure, William & Mary Law School
2014
Strengthening the VPA General Permit: Managing Animal Feeding Operations in Virginia to Meet State Law and the Bay TMDL, Rachel Cannon and Jason Kane
VCPC White Paper Number 11
Tidal Wetlands Protection in Virginia: Time for an Update, Pamela Kalinowski and Yvonne Baker
VCPC White Paper Number 13
2013
Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Legal and Policy Issues for Local Government, Chris Olcott and Erica Penn
Post-Conference Report (October 2, 2013)
Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: State and Local Areas of Action, Chris Olcott and Erica Penn
VCPC White Paper Number 10
Norfolk’s Flooding Adaptation Measures: Taking Lawful Precautions or ‘Takings’ Lawsuits?, Emilie A. Whitehurst
VCPC White Paper Number 7
Overview of a City’s Tort Liability Duties to Maintain and Protect Local Government Services from Sea Level Rise: Poquoson Case Study, Alex Horning
VCPC White Paper Number 3
Sea Level Rise, Stormwater Management, and the National Flood Insurance Program: How Norfolk’s Best Management Practices Can Lower Local Flood Insurance Rates, Anna Killius
VCPC White Paper Number 1
“Takings” Liability for Vacating Roads in Flood-Prone Areas: Poquoson Case Study, Kelci Block
VCPC White Paper Number 8
The Dillon Rule and Sea Level Rise: An Analysis of the Impact of the Dillon Rule on Potential Adaptation Measures the City of Poquoson May Implement, Lauren Gill
VCPC White Paper Number 9
The Dillon Rule & Norfolk Sea Level Rise: An Analysis of the Limited Impact of the Dillon Rule on Planning for Sea Level Rise in Norfolk, Mary-Carson B. Saunders
VCPC White Paper Number 5
The Virginia Supreme Court’s 2012 Livingston Case: Localities and the Risk of “Takings” Claims for Failure to Properly Maintain Flood Control Structures, Daniel Doty and Chris Olcott
VCPC White Paper Number 2
Tidal Turmoil: Environmental Justice and Sea Level Rise in Hampton Roads: Norfolk Case Study, Michael Boyer and Erica Penn
VCPC White Paper Number 6
Using Zoning Tools to Adapt to Sea Level Rise, Barb Marmet
VCPC White Paper Number 4
When the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Fails: A Suffolk Case Study, Scott Van Der Hyde and Mark Badanowski
VCPC White Paper Number 12