Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 14, 2012
Contact:
Draft stormwater regulations for small urban stormwater systems available for review
RICHMOND -- Draft stormwater regulations affecting approximately 90 cities, towns, public colleges and universities, highway projects and other state and federal facilities are currently available for public review and comment through Jan. 4, 2013. The general permit for small or Phase II municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s) must be approved by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. The U.S. Clean Water Act and the Virginia Stormwater Management Act call for this general permit to be issued every five years. The current permit was issued in July 2008 and will expire July 1, 2013.
MS4s are conveyances, including road drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels and storm drains designed to collect and convey stormwater. Phase II MS4s are located in Virginia's urbanized areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau's latest decennial census. They include storm sewer systems operated by cities, counties, towns, federal facilities such as military bases, Veteran's Affairs hospitals and research facilities, Department of Defense facilities and parkways, and state facilities such as VDOT, community colleges and public universities.
Changes to the new five-year general permit will include adherence to new stormwater management standards adopted in 2011 and meeting standards or plans for local impaired waters known as total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs. These would include TMDLs for numerous impaired stream segments across the state and the Chesapeake Bay TMDL for nutrients and sediment.
Three public hearings will be held around the state to address the draft regulations.
Dec. 3, Richmond: Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Hearing Room, 2901 Hermitage Road 23320. 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 5, Roanoke: Roanoke City Council Chambers, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue Southwest 24011. 10 a.m.
Dec. 7: Fredericksburg: Spotsylvania County Public School Administrative Board Room, 8020 River Stone Drive 22407. 1:30 p.m.
To review the proposed Phase II MS4 general permit, go to the DCR website.
To comment online go to the town hall site and click on the "proposed" stage and select "comment period" at: http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewaction.cfm?actionid=3634 . Or you can send your written comments to The Regulatory Coordinator, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, Virginia 23219; or fax them to the coordinator at (804) 786-6141 or e-mail regcord@dcr.virginia.gov.
-30-