TITLE 9. ENVIRONMENT
TITLE 9. ENVIRONMENT
STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD
Final Regulation
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The State Water Control Board is claiming an exemption from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 4 a of the Code of Virginia, which excludes regulations that are necessary to conform to changes in Virginia statutory law or the appropriation act where no agency discretion is involved. The board will receive, consider, and respond to petitions by any interested person at any time with respect to reconsideration or revision.
Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-880. General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (amending 9VAC25-880-1; repealing 9VAC25-880-100).
Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15:24 of the Code of Virginia
Effective Date: November 9, 2022.
Agency Contact: Andrew Hammond, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4101, FAX (804) 698-4178, or email andrew.hammond@deq.virginia.gov.
Summary:
Pursuant to Chapter 356 of the 2022 Acts of Assembly, the amendments conform the regulation to a statutorily change shifting authority to issue and enforce permits from the State Water Control Board to the Department of Environmental Quality.
9VAC25-880-1. Definitions.
The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (Article 2.3 (§ 62.1-44.15:24 et seq.) of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia), this chapter, and 9VAC25-870 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, except as otherwise specified in this section. Terms not defined in the Act, this chapter, or 9VAC25-870 shall have the meaning attributed to them in the federal Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) (CWA). For the purposes of this chapter:
"Board" means the State Water Control Board. When used outside the context of the promulgation of regulations, including regulations to establish general permits, "board" means the Department of Environmental Quality.
"Business day" means Monday through Friday excluding state holidays.
"Commencement of land disturbance" means the initial disturbance of soils associated with clearing, grading, or excavating activities or other construction activities (e.g., stockpiling of fill material).
"Construction site" means the land where any land-disturbing activity is physically located or conducted, including any adjacent land used or preserved in connection with the land-disturbing activity.
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Quality.
"Final stabilization" means that one of the following situations has occurred:
1. All soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed and a permanent vegetative cover has been established on denuded areas not otherwise permanently stabilized. Permanent vegetation shall not be considered established until a ground cover is achieved that is uniform (e.g., evenly distributed), mature enough to survive, and will inhibit erosion.
2. For individual lots in residential construction, final stabilization can occur by either:
a. The homebuilder completing final stabilization as specified in subdivision 1 of this definition; or
b. The homebuilder establishing temporary soil stabilization, including perimeter controls for an individual lot prior to occupation of the home by the homeowner, and providing written notification to the homeowner of the need for, and benefits of, final stabilization. The homebuilder shall maintain a copy of the written notification and a signed statement certifying that the information was provided to the homeowner in accordance with the stormwater pollution prevention plan recordkeeping requirements as specified in Part II G 6.
3. For construction projects on land used for agricultural purposes, final stabilization may be accomplished by returning the disturbed land to its preconstruction agricultural use. Areas disturbed that were not previously used for agricultural activities, such as buffer strips immediately adjacent to surface waters, and areas that are not being returned to their preconstruction agricultural use shall meet the final stabilization criteria specified in subdivision 1 or 2 of this definition.
"Immediately" means as soon as practicable, but no later than the end of the next business day, following the day when the land-disturbing activities have temporarily or permanently ceased. In the context of this general permit, "immediately" is used to define the deadline for initiating stabilization measures.
"Impaired waters" means surface waters identified as impaired on the 2016 § 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report.
"Infeasible" means not technologically possible or not economically practicable and achievable in light of best industry practices.
"Initiation of stabilization activities" means:
1. Prepping the soil for vegetative or nonvegetative stabilization;
2. Applying mulch or other nonvegetative product to the exposed area;
3. Seeding or planting the exposed area;
4. Starting any of the above activities on a portion of the area to be stabilized, but not on the entire area; or
5. Finalizing arrangements to have the stabilization product fully installed in compliance with the applicable deadline for completing stabilization.
This list is not exhaustive.
"Measurable storm event" means a rainfall event producing 0.25 inches of rain or greater over 24 hours.
"Stabilized" means land that has been treated to withstand normal exposure to natural forces without incurring erosion damage.
9VAC25-880-100. Delegation of authority. (Repealed.)
The director, or his designee, may perform any act of the board provided under this chapter, except as limited by § 62.1-44.14 of the Code of Virginia.
VA.R. Doc. No. R23-7280; Filed September 09, 2022