DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Public Comment Opportunity - Study on the Economic and Environmental Impacts of Eliminating Waste Coal Piles in Southwest Virginia
Per Senate Joint Resolution 258 from the 2023 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Energy is conducting a study on the economic and environmental impacts of eliminating waste coal piles in Southwest Virginia. The department will be examining various use case scenarios ranging from capping all existing waste coal piles in place to combusting all the material at the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center or other approved facilities. Each scenario considered by the department shall contain an analysis of the direct and indirect economic and environmental benefits of that scenario.
The department will be taking public comments on the study and the issue of waste coal piles in Southwest Virginia through October 27, 2023. Commenters may submit comments at https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/comments.cfm?GeneralNoticeid=2677.
Public comment will also be accepted on October 2, 2023, at 6 p.m. at 139 Highland Drive, Room 115, Lebanon, VA 24266. The public meeting for the coal mine methane evaluation that Virginia Department of Energy is conducting pursuant to Chapter 495 of the 2023 Acts of Assembly will also be taking place at this event.
Contact Information Larry Corkey, Energy and Regulatory Program Manager, Virginia Department of Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219-3402, telephone (804) 692-3239, or email larry.corkey@energy.virginia.gov.
Public Comment Opportunity - Evaluating Policy Options to Encourage the Capture and Beneficial Use of Coal Mine Methane
Per Chapter 495 of the 2023 Acts of Assembly, the Virginia Department of Energy is evaluating policy options to encourage the capture and beneficial use of coal mine methane. The evaluation will consider the environmental benefits and economic development potential of the capture and use of coal mine methane. The evaluation will include an analysis of federal and state policies, including tax incentives, and programs that incentivize the capture and beneficial use of coal mine methane, impediments to coal mine methane qualifying for carbon offset markets, and the extent to which such policies may result in a net reduction in methane emissions.
The department will be taking public comments on the study and the issue of coal mine methane capture through October 27, 2023. Those interested may submit comments at https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/comments.cfm?GeneralNoticeid=2678.
Public comment will also be accepted in person on October 2, 2023, at 6 p.m. at 139 Highland Drive, Room 115, Lebanon, VA 24266. The public meeting on the waste coal pile study that Virginia Department of Energy is conducting pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 258 will also be taking place at this event.
Contact Information Larry Corkey, Energy and Regulatory Program Manager, Virginia Department of Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219-3402, telephone (804) 692-3239, or email larry.corkey@energy.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Blue Rock Solar LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy Project (Solar) Permit by Rule - Buckingham County
Blue Rock Solar LLC has provided the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) a notice of intent to submit the necessary documents for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (solar) located in southeastern Buckingham County and southwestern Cumberland County. The project name is Blue Rock Solar; the DEQ project number is RE0000298.
The project location is south of Stage Coach Road (Route 636) and east of South James Madison Highway (Route 15); the project is centered at Latitude 37.3742327, Longitude -78.4501708. The proposed project will have a maximum generating capacity of 100 megawatts alternating current across approximately 1,127 acres. The project includes the utilization of approximately 237,000 photovoltaic solar modules affixed to a single-axis tracking system. The project developer is RWE Clean Energy.
Contact Information: Amber Foster, Small Renewable Energy Permit By Rule Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 774-8474, or email amber.foster@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for HR Bristol LLC
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for HR Bristol LLC for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations at 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Virginia. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact listed or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. The DEQ contact will accept comments by email or postal mail from October 23, 2023, through November 22, 2023.
Contact Information: Jonathan Chapman, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, or email jonathan.chapman@deq.virginia.gov.
Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment for a Cleanup Plan for Moores and Mill Creeks in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup plan for impaired waters, also known as an implementation plan, for Moores and Mill Creeks in Rockbridge County, Virginia. These streams are listed as impaired since monitoring data indicates that the waters do not meet Virginia's water quality standards for aquatic life (benthics). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and § 62.1-44.19:7 C of the Code of Virginia requires DEQ to develop cleanup studies to address pollutants responsible for causing waters to be on Virginia's § 303(d) list of impaired waters. Once a cleanup study is developed, § 62.1-44.19:7 of the Code of Virginia outlines the requirements needed in a cleanup plan to address the pollutants contained in the study.
A cleanup plan has been completed for the Moores and Mill Creek watersheds that identifies corrective actions needed to improve water quality and discusses the associated costs and environmental benefits of the actions. A summary of the plan will be presented at the meeting. Citizens are invited to provide comment on the plan and will learn how they can be part of implementing the plan to improve water quality in the watershed. Community engagement meetings to assist in development of this cleanup plan were convened on November 17, 2022, and May 31, 2023.
Cleanup plan location: The cleanup plan addresses the following impaired stream segments: Moores Creek is located in northern Rockbridge County, with its headwaters just below the Augusta and Rockbridge County line. The impaired segment begins at the headwaters in Raphine and continues nine miles south to the confluence with South River. Mill Creek is located in Rockbridge County above the City of Lexington. The impaired segment is 9.14 miles in length. It begins at the headwaters of the stream south of Fairfield and continues to the confluence with the Maury River above Lexington.
Public meeting: 150 South Main Street, Rockbridge County Administration Building, Board of Supervisors Meeting Room in Lexington, Virginia, on October 30, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on November 3, 2023, at the same time and location.
Public comment period: October 30, 2023, to November 29, 2023.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization represented (if any), mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of the commenter or requester.
Contact agency staff listed for public comments, document requests, and additional information. The public may review the cleanup plan at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/implementation/implementation-plans-under-development.
Contact Information: Nesha McRae, Department of Environmental Quality, Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, P.O. Box 3000, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, telephone (540) 217-7173, or email nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov.
BOARD OF PHARMACY
Rescission of Request for Applications for Pharmaceutical Processors - Health Service Area I
On September 26, 2023, the Board of Pharmacy voted to rescind RFA No. PHR-2020-01 entitled Pharmaceutical Processors-Health Service Area I. This RFA was originally issued on September 25, 2020. The RFA for Health Service Area I will be conducted by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which assumes control of the Medical Cannabis Program on January 1, 2024.
Contact Information: Caroline Juran, RPh, Executive Director, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4456, FAX (804) 527-4472, or email caroline.juran@dhp.virginia.gov.
VIRGINIA CODE COMMISSION
Notice to State Agencies
Contact Information: Mailing Address: Virginia Code Commission, General Assembly Building, 201 North Ninth Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219; Telephone: (804) 698-1810; Email: varegs@dls.virginia.gov.
Meeting Notices: Section 2.2-3707 C of the Code of Virginia requires state agencies to post meeting notices on their websites and on the Commonwealth Calendar at https://commonwealthcalendar.virginia.gov.
Cumulative Table of Virginia Administrative Code Sections Adopted, Amended, or Repealed: A table listing regulation sections that have been amended, added, or repealed in the Virginia Register of Regulations since the regulations were originally published or last supplemented in the print version of the Virginia Administrative Code is available at http://register.dls.virginia.gov/documents/cumultab.pdf.
Filing Material for Publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations: Agencies use the Regulation Information System (RIS) to file regulations and related items for publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations. The Registrar's office works closely with the Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) to coordinate the system with the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. RIS and Town Hall complement and enhance one another by sharing pertinent regulatory information.