Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
chapter
Water Quality Standards [9 VAC 25 ‑ 260]
Action:
Chlorophyll a Criteria for the Tidal James River [Effective Date - January 9, 2020]
Action 3522
 
General Information
Action Summary [EPA Approved January 6, 2020. Effective date notice filed with the Virginia Register of Regulation on January 9, 2020.] The purpose of this rulemaking is to consider amending site specific numeric chlorophyll criteria for the tidal James River. The intent of this rulemaking is to protect designated and beneficial uses of the tidal James River by amending or adopting regulations that are technically correct, reasonable, and necessary. These standards will be used in setting Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit limits and for evaluating the waters of the Commonwealth for inclusion in the Clean Water Act 305(b) report and on the 303(d) list. Amending the chlorophyll criteria for the tidal James River may result in amending that portion of the December 2010 Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load allocations for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in the James River basin. This rulemaking is warranted given the addition of new information related to algal communities and their relationship to designated and beneficial use. The goals of the new or amended regulation will be to ensure protection of designated and beneficial uses of the tidal James River through the best science and regulatory approaches.
Chapters Affected Only affects this chapter.
Executive Branch Review This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process.
RIS Project Yes  [002932]
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
5955 NOIRA Stage complete. Comment period ended 10/12/2011.
8399 Proposed Stage complete. Comment period ended 03/22/2019.
8678 Final Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 01/09/2020.
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: Tish Robertson 
Address: 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
Email Address: tish.robertson@deq.virginia.gov
Phone: (804)698-4309    FAX: (804)698-4116    TDD: ()-