| Action Summary | (NOTE: Effective date of amendments to section 140 and 170 is October 21, 2019 - notice of effective date to be published in Virginia Register of Regulations in Volume 36, Issue 6 on November 11, 2019. EPA approved amendments by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on October 19, 2019. Changes to the water quality standards are amendments to update the ammonia criteria for the protection of freshwater aquatic life as well as implementation issues and impacts to regulated dischargers, revisions to bacteria criteria for human health protection in recreation waters, revisions to cadmium criteria for the protection of aquatic life; and, amendments to update 94 human health criteria. This proposal is a continuation of the triennial review of the water quality standards which was the subject of a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on August 12, 2013 (Volume 29, Issue 25). The State Water Control Board, at its meeting on January 14, 2016, adopted amendments to the water quality standards but decided to postpone the adoption of the amendments included in this proposal in response to public comments and concerns and provide the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) an opportunity to gather additional information, utilize the most current information and further consult with interested stakeholders on options to address public comments and concerns on these amendments. DEQ reconvened the regulatory advisory panel and after four meetings presented amendments to the Board at their December 2016 meeting and received authorization for public comment on the amendments. (For details of the prior action see http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewAction.cfm?actionid=4017). |
| Chapters Affected | Only affects this chapter. |
| Executive Branch Review | This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process. |
| RIS Project | Yes [002148] |
| New Periodic Review | This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review. |
| Name / Title: | David Whitehurst |
| Address: |
1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400 P.O. Box 1105 Richmond, VA 23218 |
| Email Address: | david.whitehurst@deq.virginia.gov |
| Phone: | (804)774-9180 FAX: ()- TDD: ()- |