Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
 Electronic Access 
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - Watershed Cleanup Plan for Select Tributaries of the James River

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 1/26/2021  6:00 pm
Type Electronic Only 
Electronic Access To register for this virtual meeting and to receive access information, sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3098877176945529101
Link to Electronic Record https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/2648044425722218243  
Board Website http://www.deq.virginia.gov 
Agenda document agency has not posted
Minutes document minutes not taken
Disability Friendly? Yes       Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes
Purpose of the meeting
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and its contractors, 3E Consulting and James Madison University, are developing a Watershed Cleanup Plan, which consists of two parts, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and an Implementation Plan (IP), to address benthic impairments in select tributaries of the James River. These tributaries are listed on the §303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report as impaired due to violations of Virginia's water quality standards for aquatic life use. This is an opportunity for local residents to learn about the condition of the tributaries, share information about the area, and become involved in the process of local water quality improvement. Meeting Description DEQ will hold a virtual public meeting to introduce the project, provide information on biological monitoring efforts and sources, accept volunteers to be part of a technical advisory committee, and review the next planning steps. Participation and input is strongly encouraged. A 30-day public comment period will follow the public meeting. Given the existing State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be held entirely virtually. A computer or a telephone are necessary to participate virtually. All meeting attendees are encouraged to access the meeting using a computer to view the meeting visuals. Attendees may also use a phone for audio and a computer for visual to avoid possible interruptions in computer audio. Although the use of a phone for audio only participation is possible, since the meeting will rely on visuals, audio only participation is discouraged. The URL to register for the virtual meeting is provided in this notice. Once registered for the meeting, registrants will receive an email with the URL and telephone information to participate in the meeting. If meeting attendees experience any interruption in the meeting broadcast, they should call the technical support line that is also provided at the end of this notice. Description of Study Segments of Bailey Creek, Nuttree Branch, Oldtown Creek, Proctors Creek, Rohoic Creek, and Swift Creek in Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Prince George Counties, and the Cities of Petersburg and Hopewell have been listed as impaired for failing to support the standards for aquatic life use due to an altered benthic community. This standard is intended to protect the aquatic life designated use, which states that all of the Commonwealth’s waterways will support a diverse and abundant population of aquatic life. This watershed cleanup plan will include a benthic stressor analysis to determine the most likely pollutant and sources responsible for the impairments. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia requires DEQ to develop TMDLs for pollutants responsible for each impaired water contained in Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL priority list and report. TMDLs are developed to identify the total amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, pollutant levels must be reduced to the TMDL amount. In tandem, an IP will be developed that will describe measurable goals, necessary corrective actions, associated costs/benefits, and the environmental impact of addressing the impairments as well as set a timeline for water quality restoration. The IP addresses the nonpoint source portion of the TMDL reductions needed. Through this watershed cleanup plan process, DEQ will collaborate with a technical advisory committee (TAC) made up of local stakeholders. All are welcome to participate in this committee, and TAC meetings are open to the public. How to Comment and Participate: This and future meetings are open to the public and all interested parties are welcome. If you have technical issues registering or difficulty signing on to the meeting, please contact Jennifer Palmore at (804) 527-5058 or jennifer.palmore@deq.virginia.gov. In the event that the Governor's State of Emergency is lifted, the meeting will be held on the same date and time at: Department of Environmental Quality, Piedmont Regional Office, 4949A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Written comments will be accepted from January 27, 2021 through February 26, 2021. These comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the comments. It is important to have public input throughout the TMDL development process. Among many possible benefits, this input helps to ensure that the final pollution reductions are reasonable, realistic and reflect local insight. For more information or to submit written comments, please contact the staff person listed below. Notice appears in the January 4, 2021 Virginia Register.
Meeting Scope
 
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
 
Discuss particular regulations / chapters

Contact Information
Name / Title: Jen Rogers 
Address: DEQ - Piedmont Regional Office
4949A Cox Road
Glen Allen, 23060
Email Address: Jennifer.rogers@DEQ.Virginia.gov
Telephone: (804)527-5174    FAX: (804)698-4178    TDD: ()-