PETITIONS FOR RULEMAKING
Vol. 30 Iss. 14 - March 10, 2014

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS AND ENERGY

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 4VAC25-150. Virginia Gas and Oil Regulation.

Statutory Authority: §§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Virginia Oil and Gas Association.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: The membership of the Virginia Oil and Gas Association (Association) petitions the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to amend the Virginia Gas and Oil Regulation to add a requirement that all companies participate in Frac Focus. Frac Focus is a website developed by the Groundwater Protection Council. This will ensure that all chemicals used for fracing by Virginia's natural gas and oil industries will be fully disclosed and available to the public. The Association believes DMME has the authority under 4VAC25-150 to open the regulation for this limited purpose and this purpose only. Therefore, the Association petitions this new regulation under § 2.2-4007 of the Code of Virginia. This initiative is intended to alleviate public concern that they are not aware of chemicals utilized in the fracing process. Even though this industry has been safely utilizing the fracing process for over 50 years, the Association wants to be totally transparent.

Agency Decision. Request granted.

Statement of Reason for Decision: DMME will incorporate this petition for rulemaking into its pending Notice of Intended Regulatory Action for the Virginia Gas and Oil Regulation (4VAC25-150).

Agency Contact: Michael Skiffington, Program Support Manager, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 692-3212, or email michael.skiffington@dmme.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R14-06; Filed February 17, 2014, 2:50 p.m.

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TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF COUNSELING

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC115-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Jacqueline Biggs.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend qualifications for supervisors of residents to include art therapists.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: In accordance with Virginia law, the petition will be filed with the Register of Regulations and published on March 10, 2014, with comment requested until April 9, 2014. It will also be placed on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall and available for comments to be posted electronically. At its first meeting following the close of the comment period, scheduled for May 9, 2014, the board will consider the request to amend regulations and all comments received and decide whether to initiate rulemaking.

Public Comment Deadline: April 9, 2014.

Agency Contact: Catherine Chappell, Executive Director, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, or email catherine.chappell@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R14-17; Filed February 5, 2014, 1:02 p.m.

BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Initial Agency Notice

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Diana Stuebing.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To increase the minimum requirement for continuing education for veterinary technicians from six hours a year to eight hours a year for each annual renewal.

Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition will be published on March 10, 2014, in the Register of Regulations and also posted on the Virginia Regulatory Townhall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment ending April 9, 2014. Following receipt of all comments on the petition to amend regulations, the board will decide whether to make any changes to the regulatory language. This matter will be on the board's agenda for its meeting schedule for June 11, 2014.

Public Comment Deadline: April 9, 2014.

Agency Contact: Elaine Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R14-18; Filed February 18, 2014, 1:20 p.m.