Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-840. Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (amending 9VAC25-840-100).

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15:52 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 29, 2021.

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 401 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, the amendment changes the name of the position of Secretary of Natural Resources to Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

9VAC25-840-100. State agency projects.

A. All state agency land-disturbing activities that are not exempt and that have commenced without an approved erosion and sediment control plan shall immediately cease until the state agency has submitted annual standards and specifications for its conduct of land-disturbing activities which has been reviewed and approved by the department as being consistent with the Act and this chapter, or an erosion and sediment control plan has been submitted to and approved by the department. A formal "Notice of Plan Requirement" will be sent to the state agency under whose purview the project lies since that agency is responsible for compliance with the Act and this chapter.

B. Where inspections by department personnel reveal deficiencies in carrying out an approved plan, the person responsible for carrying out the plan, as well as the state agency responsible, will be issued a notice to comply with specific actions and the deadlines that shall be met. Failure to meet the prescribed deadlines can result in the issuance of a stop work order for all land-disturbing activities on the project at the discretion of the department. The stop work order will be lifted once the required erosion and sediment control measures are in place and inspected by department staff.

C. Whenever the Commonwealth or any of its agencies fails to comply within the time provided in an appropriate final order, the director of the department may petition for compliance as follows: For violations in the Natural and Historic Resources Secretariat, to the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; for violations in other secretariats, to the appropriate Secretary; for violations in other state agencies, to the head of such agency. Where the petition does not achieve timely compliance, the director shall bring the matter to the Governor for resolution. The board or the department may also pursue enforcement as provided by § 62.1-44.15:63 of the Act.

D. Where compliance will require the appropriation of funds, the director shall cooperate with the appropriate agency head in seeking such an appropriation; where the director determines that an emergency exists, he shall petition the Governor for funds from the Civil Contingency Fund or other appropriate source.