The State Water Control Board (Board) is giving notice of its intent to provide Section 401 Water Quality Certification for activities authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nationwide Permits (NWP), and Norfolk District Regional Conditions, after considering public comment for a 30-day period starting March 16, 2007. These NWPs were published in Part II of the Federal Register on March 12, 2007, with an effective date of March 19, 2007. The Norfolk District Regional Conditions were public noticed on October 13, 2006. The Board can only issue final Section 401 Certification of a nationwide or regional USACE permit if the permit meets the requirements of the VWP regulation and after advertising and accepting public comment for 30 days on its intent to provide certification.

            The State Water Control Board will issue its final §401 Water Quality Certification for activities authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nationwide Permits (NWP), and Norfolk District Regional Conditions at the end of the 30 day comment period and after any comments received are considered. The details of the Board's preliminary decision are also available on the Department of Environmental Quality web site at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wetlands/pdf/PublicNotice-ProposedFinalCertification-March2007.pdf or by calling or emailing the contact person noted below. Written comments, including those by email, must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 16, 2007 and should be submitted to the contact person at the address given below. Only those comments received within this period will be considered by the Board. Written comments shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the writer, and shall contain a complete, concise statement of the factual basis for comments.

            The Department of Environmental Quality is also soliciting public comments on the consistency of the issuance of the Nationwide Permits with Virginia's Coastal Resources Management Program (VCP) pursuant to the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act is one of the Enforceable Programs of the VCP. The deadline for public comments on the Coastal Zone consistency notice is April 23, 2007.   For more information, contact Charles Ellis at (804) 698-4488, e-mail address: chellis@deq.virginia.gov.