Purpose of notice: The State Water Control Board (Board) is announcing a public comment period to receive comments through the Department of Environmental Quality on the draft revision to its Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning.

Public Comment Period: July 28, 2014 to August 27, 2014.

Description: The document, Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning, has been revised to be consistent with changes to Virginia's Administrative Process Act (APA) during the 2014 General Assembly. The 2014 General Assembly added a provision to Virginia's Administrative Process Act (APA) granting an exemption for the State Water Control Board's adoption, amendment or repeal of waste load allocations (WLAs) into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation (WQMPR), 9VAC25-720. Therefore, the Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning has been modified to include the exemption requirements under §2.2-4006.A.14 of the APA and water quality actions resulting in adoption, amendment, or repeal of WLAs and procedures for Board approval have been revised to meet the exemption criteria. Additional revisions include changes for formatting and changes for clarification of procedures.

In accordance with the Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning, an opportunity for public comment for this revision is being noticed and appears in the July 28, 2014 Virginia Register. The draft revision to the Public Participation Procedures for Water Quality Management Planning may be found on DEQ’s website at the following link under the "Featured Topics" column: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL.aspx.

How to Comment: Anyone wishing to submit written comments may do so by mail, fax, or email to the contact person listed below. Comments must include the name and address of the commenter. In order to be considered, comments must be received by 11:59 pm on the last day of the public comment period.

How a decision is made: After comments have been considered, the Board will make the final decision. Citizens that submit statements during the comment period may address the board members during the board meeting at which a final decision is made on the revised document.