DEQ NEWS

January 16, 2024

Vol.3, No.1

Sign Up Today for Wetlands Permitting Training

DEQ is excited to announce that we will be hosting a series of educational webinars on Virginia Water Protection (VWP) permitting for consultants, NGOs, staff, and those interested in broadening their knowledge of the VWP permitting program. This training is designed to improve understanding of the wetland permit application requirements. The goals of this series are to reduce incomplete application submittals, assist those interested in learning the nuances of the permit application process and to subsequently speed up permit processing times. Recordings of the sessions will be automatically email to registered participants. Register for each session using the links below:

Introducing the Permit & Compliance Manual - Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.

• Instructor: Sydney von Wilson (DEQ Wetland and Stream Protection)
• This webinar will explore the VWP Manual. We will examine the manual's chapter lists/sections and accompanying checklists. Participants will gain valuable insight into the practical use of the manual, specifically its vital role in the review and issuance process of VWP permit applications. Discover reasons behind adhering to the manual, emphasizing efficiency gains such as time savings and cost reduction, ultimately expediting the DEQ review process.

Fundamental Concepts - Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

• Instructor: Jeff Hannah (DEQ Wetland and Stream Protection)
• This webinar will explore fundamental principles of managing and administering the VWP program. We'll discuss core concepts such as 401, 404, joint permit applications (JPA), general permits (GP), individual permits (IP), Exclusions, and we'll highlight how to learn more by knowing where to look in the VWP Manual and other DEQ resources.

Types of Permits - March 26 at 1:30 p.m.

• Instructor: Sydney von Wilson
• Develop a clear understanding of the criteria and considerations for selecting between VWP GPs or IPs in wetland management and gain insight into the factors that influence the choice between these permit types.

JPA & Thoughtful Design - April 18 at 1 p.m.

• Instructor: Justin Curtis (Aqualaw)
• Understand the JPA submission process and the requirements, and how to address essential considerations in a VWP permit application such as addressing purpose and need, alternatives analysis, and using thoughtful design to improve speed of issuance.

Specific Conditions - April 30 at 1 p.m.

• Instructor: Justin Curtis
• Learn how to tailor your VWP permit application to address specific issues, such as alternatives analyses and market studies.

Compensatory Mitigation - May 21 at 1 p.m.

• Instructor: Sarah Woodford (DEQ Wetland and Stream Protection)
• This webinar will discuss compensation for VWP permits, including calculating your compensation requirement, the types of compensation available in Virginia, the preference for each type of compensation mandated by state regulations, and when preservation may be applicable and appropriate. We will explore the definitions of in-kind, primary and secondary service areas, and ecologically and environmentally preferable and practicable compensation options, and how they affect the compensation options available to an applicant or permittee.

Virginia Drought Conditions Update

DEQ, in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has lifted the drought watch advisory for 49 counties throughout the Commonwealth. Although recent rains have helped alleviate deficits in soil moisture, stream flows, and groundwater levels, 15 counties remain under a drought watch advisory, and seven counties remain in a drought warning advisory.

DEQ is working with local governments, public water works, and water users in the affected areas to ensure that conservation and drought response plans and ordinances are followed. All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitor drought conditions, and detect and repair leaks.

In order to help Virginia localities meet the July 1 requirements of the consolidated stormwater and erosion and sediment control law, DEQ has prepared a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) Model Ordinance and a Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) Model Ordinance. The VESMP model ordinance incorporates requirements in the combined Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act (VESMA) and the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management (VESM) regulation. The VESCP model ordinance addresses legal and regulatory requirements for localities not administering a VESMP. Local ordinances for the administration of these programs will need to be updated to reflect both the new law and regulations. These model ordinances are also available on DEQ's website. For questions, please contact Rebeccah Rochet (804-801-2950).

Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) Virginia Unified Risk Assessment Model (VURAM) User Training

Join DEQ staff for a technical presentation on an introduction to risk assessment and how to use VURAM on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. Kyle Newman will present an introduction to conceptual site models, sampling plans, and statistical data analysis. April Ni'Mary will provide a detailed review of setting up and running screening level and quantitative risk assessments in VURAM.

Additional general updates on VRP will be provided, including details on the 2024 Brownfields Conference. Participants who attend the entire session can gain 2.5 contact hours and be eligible to win a registration for the conference.

Register for VURAM User Training here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the webinar.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Community Meetings

DEQ will host a final series of community meetings as part of a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DEQ hosted five in-person community meetings in December, a statewide virtual meeting, and now is extending the invitation to residents in the Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia regions for additional in-person meetings. At this meeting, DEQ will solicit ideas for measures that could rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia. The feedback gathered will enable DEQ to develop a short-term priority action plan that includes projects that would then compete for part of a $4.3 billion implementation fund. 

DEQ will host community meetings from 6-8 p.m. as follows: 

• Mon., Jan. 22, 2023 – DEQ Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Rd., Glen Allen 
• Tues. Jan. 23, 2023 – DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge
• Thurs. Jan. 25, 2023 – DEQ Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Blvd., Virginia Beach 

DEQ has also developed an online survey to learn about Virginians’ emission reduction priorities. Please complete this survey on priority actions by Jan. 31. 

DEQ Receives Recognition for Regulatory Reductions

Recently, DEQ was presented with a recognition award from the Governor's Office of Regulatory Management for surpassing a 10% reduction in regulatory requirements. DEQ is meeting the Governor's regulatory reduction goals by repealing obsolete regulations and guidance documents. This provides increased clarity for the public and regulated community. These reductions were made possible by a collaborative effort of all of DEQ's programs and divisions. Pictured below are staff from DEQ's Policy Division with the award.

James Madison University (JMU) is the first university in the Commonwealth to earn a Virginia Pollinator-Smart Program Certification. The East Campus Hillside, located below King Hall, features the expanded solar array and native pollinator habitat that are included in the certification. Native species suggested by faculty were planted alongside shade tolerant plants that are particularly beneficial to pollinators as listed on the Solar Site Native Plant Finder tool on the Pollinator-Smart website. Bird houses, native bee-nest shelters, and educational signs are installed on the fence surrounding the array. A vegetation management plan was developed and submitted. The site is now not only fit to provide more solar energy to King Hall on campus, but also to provide a native pollinator habitat with the goal of establishing a long-term, environmentally sustainable, and educational landscape. Learn more from JMU's press release.

Two best management practices (BMPs) documents related to USS were recently released by Virginia Tech and the Chesapeake Bay Program's Scientific Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). Virginia Tech professors W. Lee Daniels and Ryan Stewart have prepared a summary position entitled "Soil-Site Management Protocols & Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Utility Scale Solar Site Development and Management in Virginia." This paper has been developed based upon their experience, research, and participation in DEQ's Stakeholders Advisory Group for HB206 and the upcoming 2024 Stormwater Handbook.

STAC has worked since 1984 to enhance scientific communication and outreach throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed as part of the Chesapeake Bay Program. In April 2023, STAC held a workshop to address how USS impact hydrology and water quality, determine BMPs and policies, and detect key gaps with research needed to better understand the implications of USS development in the Chesapeake Bay region. This workshop culminated in the recently published report titled "Best Management Practices to Minimize Impacts of Solar Farms on Landscape Hydrology and Water Quality." Use of these BMPs for USS in Virginia should better protect water quality in the Commonwealth.

DEQ conducts routine studies of fish tissue and bottom sediments in state waters to assess the human health risks for individuals who may consume fish, to identify impaired aquatic ecosystems, and to plan and track the progress of cleanup efforts. Results are made available to the public each year on DEQ's fish tissue monitoring webpage.

In 2022, DEQ collected fish tissue samples primarily from sites in the watersheds of the Potomac River, Albemarle Sound (including Great Dismal Swamp and Currituck Sound tributaries), and Big Sandy River, although samples were collected from all of Virginia's major river basins. In addition to routine statewide monitoring, DEQ also conducted a special fish tissue monitoring study in the Dan and Roanoke Rivers to evaluate the effects of coal ash in these river systems. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and a suite of 17 metals, including mercury. DEQ also collected bottom sediment samples from the Potomac River basin (32 samples), Albemarle Sound basin (four samples), and James River basin (one sample), which were analyzed for PCBs.

Congratulations to Alvie Edwards (left), DEQ's Director of Administration, as DEQ's first graduate from the new Governor's Commonwealth Leadership Academy, developed by the VCU Performance Management Group in collaboration with the Secretary of Administration and Virginia Department of Human Resources Management. The Governor's Cabinet selected state executive participants who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their leadership strengths and becoming change agents for Virginia's future. The purpose of this new leadership program is to equip new and long-term agency leaders with knowledge and resources to develop and maintain a high-performing workforce. Alvie used these skills to modernize the agency's IT network and infrastructure, optimize recruitment to fill at least 60 vacant positions, and prioritize innovation for initiatives like PEEP.

Virginia Green Travel Star Awards recognize the efforts of participants of Virginia Green, Virginia's greenest tourism businesses! There are awards for each sector of tourism, including festivals and events. Each year, Virginia Green recognizes 25+ businesses and individuals for their efforts to minimize the environmental impacts of their operations.

Applying for an award is easy and is due by Feb. 7. Awards will be presented at the 11th Annual Virginia Green Travel Conference and Awards Ceremony on April 18 at Pocahontas State Park.

Executive Order 17: Recognizing the Value of Recycling and Waste Reduction (EO 17), was issued by Governor Youngkin on April 7, 2022. EO 17 seeks to increase awareness of the importance of recycling, reducing food waste, and encouraging the use of post-consumer recycled materials in manufacturing.

EO 17 focuses on:

• Encouraging state agencies to increase participation in recycling
• Increasing recycling capacity at Virginia State Parks
• Making Virginia home to new clean technologies like post-consumer recycled product companies
• Reducing food waste

For more information on the implementation of Executive Order 17 see the Report on Food Waste Reduction Strategies and the Report on Opportunities for Attracting Post-Consumer Recycling Product Business Entities to the Commonwealth.

Public Participation Opportunities

Visit the DEQ website for comment opportunities on pending enforcement orders and permit actions. There are numerous DEQ meetings and general comment periods where you can stay up to date on topics of interest:

• Public Hearing on Draft Recycling Economic and Environmental Assessment Report; Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m. at DEQ Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Rd, Glen Allen (comment by Feb. 1)
• Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Subcommittee; Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. at DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge

Employment Opportunities

Are you committed to protecting human health and the environment? Apply for a job at DEQ. Current openings include:

• Water Compliance Manager (Richmond; closes Jan. 19)
• Petroleum Remediation Hydrogeologist (Abingdon; closes Jan. 19)
• Inspector (Henrico; closes Jan. 22)
• IT Project Manager (Richmond; closes Jan. 24)
• Land Application Permit Specialist (Richmond; closes Jan. 24)
• Deputy Director Clean Water Financing (Richmond; closes Jan. 25)

DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights. Title VI Coordinator Melanie Davenport is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws). If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:

Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; P.O. Box 1105; Richmond, VA 23218; (804) 698-4000 (phone); (800) 592-5482 (toll-free); Melanie.Davenport@deq.virginia.gov

If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a DEQ program or activity, you may contact the Title VI Coordinator identified above or visit our website at get-involved/about-us to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.