Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 01, 2013
Contact:
Public hearings on state construction stormwater permit to be held May 13-20
RICHMOND -- Public hearings to receive comments on proposed stormwater regulations related to construction activities across the state will be held in the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Roanoke areas May 13, 16 and - 20. The public comment period is open and will remain so through 5 p.m. June 7.
The hearings are being held by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board to address changes to the general permit for discharges of stormwater from construction activities to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Commonly known as the construction general permit, it is issued every five years under the federal Clean Water Act and the Virginia Stormwater Management Act. The current permit became effective July 1, 2009 and expires June 30, 2014.
Changes to the new permit include a general reorganizing and modifying of language to simplify the permit. It includes 2010 federal Environmental Protection Agency effluent limitation guidelines, which control pollutant discharges from construction sites. The new permit addresses stormwater discharges to impaired waters, including those waters within watersheds that have a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), and to exceptional or healthy waters. The new permit also modifies conditions related to stormwater pollution prevention plans required of permittees prior to beginning construction activities.
Public hearings will start at 10 a.m. Dates and locations are as follows:
May 13 - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Piedmont Office, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
May 16 - Spotsylvania County Government Complex, 9104 Courthouse Road, 1st Floor, Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553.
May 20 - Roanoke County Government Offices, 5204 Bernard Drive, 4th Floor, Roanoke, Virginia 24018.
Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. June 7 to be considered. All comments should include the name, address or e-mail address of the commenter. Comments should be submitted to the Regulatory Coordinator, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, Virginia 23219. They can be faxed to (804) 786-6141 or submitted electronically on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall by selecting "comment period" at:http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewStage.cfm?stageid=6516.
For more information on the construction general permit go
to the DCR website at www.dcr.virginia.gov
and click on "policy, regulations and public comments" then "construction
general permit."
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