The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing a series of informal listening sessions on a proposed plan by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut carbon emisisons (greenhouse gases) from existing power plants that generate electricity from fossil fuels.  These new EPA rules may have a significant impact on the Commonwealth.  Implementing them in the best way for Virginia will require the integrated efforts of DEQ, other state agencies involved in power generation, the regulated community, and the public.  Therefore, prior to taking any formal action, DEQ is seeking general input from the public on the best way for the Commonwealth to implement EPA's plan as currently proposed.

Public listening sessions:  DEQ will meet with the public to informally discuss EPA's proposed carbon reduction plan as follows:

Snyder Auditorium, Wytheville Community College, 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, Virginia from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2014.

Meeting Room, John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria, Virginia from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2014.

Auditorium, Virginia Beach Public Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Virginia, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2014.

Administration Board Room, Henrico County Government Center, 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, Virginia, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2014.

Proposal information:  EPA issued proposed emissions guidelines for the control of carbon dioxide (CO2) from existing power plants (79 FR 34830) and for modified and reconstructed power plants (79 FR 34960) on June 18, 2014.  The EPA comment period for these proposals is currently open, and will close on October 16, 2014.  You may attend an EPA public hearing, or provide written comments to EPA in a variety of ways-just follow the detailed information provided by EPA on the first page of the preamble to the proposal.

You can also learn more about proposal details at EPA's website (http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards), where they have posted the proposals, technical analyses, and other supporting information.

DEQ has established a web page to convey information about Virginia's actions for meeting the federal requirements:  http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Air/GreenhouseGasPlan.aspx.  This page will be updated periodically as new information and opportunities for public comment become available.

How to comment to DEQ:  In addition to attending a DEQ listening session, you may also email written comments to ghg@deq.virginia.gov, send a fax (804-698-4510), or send postal mail to the Air Division, Department of Environmental Quality, PO Box 1105, Richmond VA 23218 from July 17, 2014 to August 15, 2014.  Please provide your full name, address and telephone number.  Note that there is no formal DEQ proposal available for comment at this time.  Also note that DEQ is gathering input from the public to help inform DEQ's review of EPA's proposed rule.  If you wish to provide comments to EPA on EPA's proposed rule, you must submit those comments directly to EPA (see EPA's website at http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards).