TITLE 9. ENVIRONMENT
Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-260. Water Quality Standards (amending 9VAC25-260-10, 9VAC25-260-20, 9VAC25-260-30, 9VAC25-260-50, 9VAC25-260-90, 9VAC25-260-140, 9VAC25-260-160, 9VAC25-260-170, 9VAC25-260-185, 9VAC25-260-187, 9VAC25-260-310, 9VAC25-260-350, 9VAC25-260-360, 9VAC25-260-380, 9VAC25-260-390, 9VAC25-260-400, 9VAC25-260-410, 9VAC25-260-415, 9VAC25-260-420, 9VAC25-260-430, 9VAC25-260-440, 9VAC25-260-450, 9VAC25-260-460, 9VAC25-260-470, 9VAC25-260-480, 9VAC25-260-490, 9VAC25-260-500, 9VAC25-260-510, 9VAC25-260-520, 9VAC25-260-530, 9VAC25-260-540; repealing 9VAC25-260-55, 9VAC25-260-290, 9VAC25-260-320).
Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; 33 USC § 1251 et seq. of the federal Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Part 131.
Effective Date: February 1, 2010.
On October 17, 2008, the State Water Control Board adopted revisions to the Water Quality Standards in 9VAC25-260-10, 9VAC25-260-20, 9VAC25-260-30, 9VAC25-260-50, 9VAC25-260-90, 9VAC25-260-140, 9VAC25-260-160, 9VAC25-260-170, 9VAC25-260-185, 9VAC25-260-187, 9VAC25-260-310, 9VAC25-260-350, 9VAC25-260-360, 9VAC25-260-380, 9VAC25-260-390, 9VAC25-260-400, 9VAC25-260-410, 9VAC25-260-415, 9VAC25-260-420, 9VAC25-260-430, 9VAC25-260-440, 9VAC25-260-450, 9VAC25-260-460, 9VAC25-260-470, 9VAC25-260-480, 9VAC25-260-490, 9VAC25-260-500, 9VAC25-260-510, 9VAC25-260-520, 9VAC25-260-530, and 9VAC25-260-540; and repealed 9VAC25-260-55, 9VAC25-260-290, and 9VAC25-260-320. These revisions relate to water quality criteria, use designations, antidegradation, and other policies related to water quality. The amendments were published in final form on February 16, 2009, Volume 25, Issue 12 of the Virginia Register to be effective upon filing notice of U.S. EPA approval with the Registrar of Regulations. The State Water Control Board has received a letter from Shawn M. Garvin, EPA Region III Regional Administrator, dated December 29, 2009, approving all of the amendments except for:
1. 9VAC25-260-310 ee, which established a special pH standard for Lake Curtis in Stafford County (also removes the ee designation in the river basin section at 9VAC25-260-390).
2. 9VAC25-260-310 ff, which established a special standard for dissolved manganese in John H. Kerr Reservoir at the Clarksville water supply intake 9 (also removes the ff designation in the river basin section at 9VAC25-260-450).
3. 9VAC25-260-310 hh, which established a special standard for maximum temperature for certain stockable trout waters, as it applies to three stream segments in the Roanoke River Basin at 9VAC25-260-450.
The effective date of the approved amendments is February 1, 2010. Copies are available online at http://www.deq.state.va.us/wqs; by calling toll free at 1-800-592-5482, ext. 4121, or local at 804-698-4121; by written request to David Whitehurst, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218; or by email request to david.whitehurst@deq.virginia.gov.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Based on EPA's letter the noted changes from the final published in 25:12 VA.R. 2133-2247 February 16, 2009, are as follows:
9VAC25-260-310, page 2172, column 2, change subsections "ee" and "ff," respectively, to read:
"ee. [ Lake Curtis in Stafford County has a pH standard of 5.5-9.6, which is protective of the aquatic life in this reservoir and is a result of the fertilization techniques used to manage the fishery Reserved ].
ff. [ John H. Kerr Reservoir at the Clarksville water supply intake has a dissolved manganese criterion of 50 µg/l to protect the acceptable taste, odor or aesthetic quality of the drinking water Reserved ]."
9VAC25-260-390, page 2175, SEC. 1a, CLASS III, SP. STDS., strike "ee"
9VAC25-260-450, page 2213, SEC. 1, CLASS III, SP. STDS., after "PWS" strike ", ff"
9VAC25-260-450, page 2219, SEC. 6d, CLASS vii, SP. STDS., strike "hh"
9VAC25-260-450, page 2219, SEC. 7, CLASS ***, after "pH-6.5-9.5" strike ", hh"
9VAC25-260-450, page 2220, SEC. 7a, CLASS ***, after "pH-6.5-9.5" strike ", hh"
Agency Contact: David C. Whitehurst, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 1105, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4121, FAX (804) 698-4116, or email david.whitehurst@deq.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. R06-344; Filed January 26, 2010, 1:56 p.m.