The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) seek written comments from interested persons on the draft Phase II watershed implementation plan (WIP) for the Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) to address the water quality impairment in Virginia's tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.  These tidal waters were identified as impaired due to a violation of Virginia's general water quality standard for nutrients and dissolved oxygen.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a federal TMDL for the 92 tidal segments of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries and embayments that are listed as impaired or segments that deliver pollutant loads to segments listed as impaired under § 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to excess nutrients and sediments.  The Chesapeake Bay Phase I WIP was approved by EPA on December 29, 2010 and is available at http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl. 

 

In accordance with EPA expectations, the jurisdictions' Phase II watershed implementation plans (WIP) are to identify local and federal partners, how the State will work with these partners to raise awareness as to the level of effort necessary to address the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, and what role those partners can play in reducing pollutants at the local level.  EPA also expects the WIP to explain how jurisdictions will work with federal agencies and how progress by local partners will be tracked.  The overall purpose is to initiate a set of actions at the local, state, and federal level that will accomplish the allocations goals identified in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL.  A copy of Virginia's draft Phase II WIP is available at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/vabaytmdl/index.shtml.  Supporting documentation is also available at this address.

 

The public comment period for Virginia's Phase II WIP development will begin on April 1, 2012 and end on May 31, 2012.  Comments or questions on the draft Phase II WIP should be sent to vabaytmdl@dcr.virginia.gov.  Written comments and inquires should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the comments.  For additional questions contact (i) James Davis-Martin, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 900 E. Main St., 8^th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-1795, email james.davis-martin@dcr.virginia.gov or (ii) Russ Baxter, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 698-4382, email russ.baxter@deq.virginia.gov.