Richmond, VA - The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will eliminate 14 jobs and consolidate operations to compensate for a $1.2 million budget shortfall.

DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said Tuesday that federal money the agency receives for environmental programs was cut, as well as funding from two state sources.

Three of the jobs being eliminated are in upper management. Five positions are vacant, and eight employees are eligible for retirement. The other employee will be offered another agency job.

DEQ will combine some operations and eliminate a program that helped small businesses meet state air regulatory requirements. It also will merge the staffs that draft air, water and waste regulations.