The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has completed a reevaluation of its current 2:1 trading ratio for nutrient allocations acquired pursuant to subdivision B 1 b of § 62.1-44.19:15 of the Code of Virginia and is seeking comment on the Nutrient Credit Trading Ratio Study Report. The reevaluation was performed as required by an enactment clause in Senate Bill 77 (2012) and House Bill 176 (2012). DEQ formed a stakeholders committee and received input from interested parties.  The 2:1 trading ratio was reevaluated giving full consideration to similar trading ratios established by §§ 62.1-44.15:35 and 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia and trading programs in other Chesapeake Bay watershed states. Comments on this report will be accepted from December 29, 2014 through March 16, 2015 and should be sent to the DEQ representative named below. The document is available on the Department’s website at:

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/NutrientTrading/TradingRatioStudy.aspx.

The DEQ accepts written comments by hand-delivery, e-mail, fax and postal mail. All written comments must include the full name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ before midnight on the last day of the comment period. For additional information, please contact the DEQ representative named below.