By Wesley P. Hester
Media General News Service

The state’s Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies have no objections to a proposed law-enforcement shooting range in Powhatan County.

But the DEQ’s review, filed Tuesday, does label the project “not routine” because of fierce opposition from Powhatan residents and county leaders, along with objections from across the James River in Goochland County.

The report’s conclusion was that there were no “environmental, historic, agricultural or transportation concerns” and no “adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated.”

It also notes, however, that many concerns voiced by area residents and county leaders such as noise are beyond the scope of the study and the jurisdiction of state agencies.

Other issues raised by the public, and noted in the report, include public safety, devaluation of surrounding properties and historical degradation of the area.

A letter from attorney Brian L. Buniva on behalf of two Powhatan residents is also referenced. The letter includes a report from Balzer & Associates Inc. indicating, among other things, that a 0.30-degree margin of error in scope calibration could send a bullet flying over the range toward Goochland.

“Naturally, we are sorely disappointed in the recommendation for this to proceed,” said county resident Mary Clay Smith, who lives 1,400 feet from the proposed range in a home built in the late 1700s. “There are serious issues with safety and noise, and we are still unprotected.”

Ultimately, the final decision rests with state Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas.

“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from citizens, and I’m certainly going to take that into account,” Hicks-Thomas said yesterday. She said a decision should come within two weeks.

The project is being led by state police. Even if the range is approved, the question of how it would be funded is unresolved. Late last month, the FBI pulled out of the 18-acre project off Old River Trail, taking with it $1.3 million of $1.9 million in funding set aside for the project.

“We continue to explore other alternatives, and part of that exploration will be looking into the matter of funding sources,” said state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

If built, the range would consist of four outdoor shooting ranges totaling 81 firing lanes, along with a range tower, a “live fire” building and other associated structures to be used by state police, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

In the report, the DEQ recommends that the range be designed to contain lead and mitigate negative scenic impacts along Old River Trail. An archeological and historic architectural study is also recommended.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or wheser@timesdispatch.com.