PEEP Phase I is Complete! | |
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The Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Platform (PEEP) Phase I is now complete. Phase I included the development of PEEP and the associated rollout of DEQ's nine major permitting programs. 113 approval types are now available in PEEP. As programs are added, applications received after that date are tracked. Below are the dates for which each of the programs were PEEP'd:
- Virginia Water Protection Permit Program - Aug. 1, 2022
- Wetland and Stream Channel Mitigation Banking - Feb. 27, 2023
- Air Permitting - March 20, 2023
- Nutrient Banking - May 23, 2023
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permitting - June 2, 2023
- Stormwater & Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Review - June 30, 2023
- Virginia Pollution Abatement Permitting - June 2, 2023
- Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - May 2, 2023
- Renewable Energy Permitting - July 14, 2023
DEQ provided more information about PEEP on the webpage including:
- Defining the request and permit types tracked, definitions, acronyms, and description of the notification system driven by the platform.
- Identifying programs in or planned to be in PEEP with a downloadable list.
- A tutorial video and user manual that walks users through how to use PEEP – detailing the various filtering and search functions, and how to view and interpret the details of a specific request being tracked by PEEP.
During Phase II, DEQ will add Solid Waste and Groundwater Permitting to PEEP and improve their associated databases. In addition, DEQ will be adding the ability for the public to download PEEP data. Phase III will focus on assessing how to use PEEP in non-permitting aspects of DEQ, such as in Enforcement, Water Quality Grants, and Compliance programs. If we determine that these, or other programs at DEQ could benefit – then we will evaluate the cost to expand PEEP into such areas and incorporate them as resources allow.
Stay tuned and check out the PEEP webpage for more information.
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Automated Stormwater Construction General Permits Now Live | |
The stormwater automation process is live! The process eliminates delays between DEQ's receipt of complete Stormwater Construction General Permits (CGP) applications submitted by Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) authorities and permit issuance. VSMP authorities can now use the Stormwater Construction General Permit System to input information concerning new developments to obtain daily automated CGP coverage. For projects which require DEQ to obtain a permit fee, the CGP coverage will automatically be issued within 24 hours of payment by DEQ. For more information about this process visit Vol 2. No. 6 of DEQ News or contact Rebeccah Rochet (804-801-2950), Zack Robinson (804-774-9278), or send an email to ConstructionGP@DEQ.Virginia.gov. | |
DEQ Funds Further Reductions in Bay Pollutants | |
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On June 29, DEQ awarded a Pay for Demonstrated Performance Grant to the Virginia Nutrient Credit Exchange to facilitate further nutrient reduction by publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities. The grant will reduce nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay by almost 130,000 pounds in 2023. This program will help 14 publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities reduce nutrient pollution beyond what is required by their discharge permits and provides additional assurance that the Commonwealth will meet nitrogen and phosphorus reduction goals.
The program offsets a portion of the capital and operational cost associated with the purchase of nutrient reduction credits without disproportionately increasing costs incurred by ratepayers. This innovative solution minimizes regulatory oversight, while also minimizing the overall cost to the regulated community. DEQ hopes to expand the program to additional publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities to further reduce nutrient discharges in the Chesapeake Bay in subsequent years.
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Standardized Monitoring Report Template for Mitigation Credits | |
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DEQ and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District (Corps) have released the Virginia 2023 Monitoring Report Template. This monitoring report template standardizes basic informational needs, allowing DEQ and the Corps to review monitoring reports more quickly and efficiently, and release mitigation credits sooner. All mitigation banks and In-Lieu Fee mitigation site monitoring reports submitted to DEQ and the Corps for consideration after April 12, 2023, must use the 2023 Monitoring Report Template. The template can be found in the "Mitigation Monitoring" tab.
The template may also be used for Permittee Responsible Mitigation sites. Please discuss this option with your DEQ VWP Project Manager. For more info, contact Sarah Woodford (DEQ) at 804-659-2672 or Jeanne Richardson (Corps) at 434-459-8160.
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2023 VEEP Sustainability Partners Announced | |
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We're excited to announce this year's Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) Sustainability Partners! The VEEP Sustainability Partners track is designed to encourage large organizations, in both the public and private sectors across Virginia, to make environmental sustainability part of their culture through leadership, innovation, and continual improvement. Organizations must demonstrate this commitment through measurable and verifiable conservation efforts, leading to direct and indirect improvements in energy usage, water usage, waste generation, and other environmental benefits. Welcome to our new Sustainability Partners:
- Alexandria Renew Enterprises (Alexandria Renew Enterprises Outreach Center pictured)
- City of Charlottesville
- Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program
- Henrico County Energy Management
- Prince William County Government
- Prince William County Public Service Authority
- Raytheon Intelligence & Space
- U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee (Fort Gregg-Adams)
- Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
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Customer Service Improvements for WQIF Grants | |
The Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) program now provides an estimate on the completion schedule for each grant. Beginning this month, WQIF grant applicants can check the expected completion timeframe for their application evaluation on DEQ's Clean Water Financing and Assistance Program (CWFAP) website, updates will be provided on a monthly basis. This tool will be expanded to include other CWFAP grant programs in the coming weeks. | |
NASA DEVELOP Program Students Monitor Algae with DEQ | |
DEQ's Office of Ecology staff recently took interns from NASA's DEVELOP Program to Lake Anna to test algae levels and contributing factors to algal blooms using satellite data throughout the watershed. We want to give special thanks to our captains, who are also on the team of volunteer water quality monitors with the Lake Anna Civic Association. They sample the lake on a weekly basis throughout the summer for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, bacteria, and algae.
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Elizabeth River Project Interns Join DEQ for Water Monitoring | |
DEQ was happy to host four interns from the Elizabeth River Project on a monitoring run with our Tidewater Regional Office. Interns worked with DEQ staff to conduct water monitoring tests and learned about the importance of water monitoring to maintain the health of the Elizabeth River and all of Virginia's water bodies.
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Public Participation Opportunites | |
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Visit the DEQ website for comment opportunities on pending enforcement orders and permit actions. The following regulatory actions are available for public comment:
- Proposed reissuance of Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity, 9VAC25-151 (comment by 7/21)
- Proposed reissuance of Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Nonmetallic Mineral Mining, 9VAC25-190 (comment by 7/21)
- Proposed amendment to Local and Regional Water Supply Planning, 9VAC25-780 (comment by 7/21)
In addition, there are numerous DEQ meetings and general comment periods where you can stay up to date on topics of interest:
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Are you committed to protecting human health and the environment? Apply for a job at DEQ. Current openings include:
- Training Specialist (Richmond)
- Permitting Ombudsman (Richmond; closes July 28)
- Water Monitoring Specialist (Salem; closes July 28)
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