October 3, 2022

Vol.1, No. 9

DEQ Revising Stormwater Guidance in Response to Public Comments

On Aug. 1, DEQ published a public notice and comment period of two stormwater related guidance documents: Guidance Memo No. 22-2011, Streamlined Plan Review for Construction Stormwater Plans and Erosion and Sediment Control Plans, and Guidance Memo No. 22-2012, Stormwater Management and Erosion & Sediment Control Design Guide.

DEQ received a significant number of public comments on these documents. Many legitimate and thoughtful comments were received that suggest changes and/or edits. DEQ is working to incorporate a number of these suggestions and revise the guidance documents. However, in order to modify these documents and incorporate public comments, DEQ must first withdraw the original proposals. 

Virginia Regulatory Town Hall was updated Friday to reflect withdrawal of these guidance documents. This does not mean that DEQ intends to retract its guidance for streamlining plan review and providing a design guide. It simply means that DEQ is following the process to modify its proposals. Once changes to reflect the public comments received to date have been incorporated, DEQ will re-advertise the revised documents for another 30-day comment period.

Please contact Andrew Hammond at SWMguidance@deq.virginia.gov or 804-698-4101 if you have any questions.  

Registration Open for Virginia Citizens for Water Quality Summit

Registration is open for the Virginia Citizens for Water Quality Summit, which will be held on Oct. 22 at Randolph Macon College in Ashland.

The summit will provide opportunities to learn about mapping tools that can help build monitoring plans, data resources, updated bacteria standards, and of course, benthic macroinvertebrates. In the afternoon, groups will be able to connect with one another in round robin updates. If you would like to present about your group, please indicate that when you register. Registration closes Oct. 14.