TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
Initial Agency Notice
Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1270. Pertaining to Atlantic Menhaden.
Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Chesapeake Legal Alliance and Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioners request that the Marine Resources Commission (i) impose an immediate moratorium on reduction fishing for menhaden within the Chesapeake Bay or reduce all purse seine fishing within the Chesapeake Bay to 10% of the current total allowable landings, thereby preserving the bait-fishery, to remain in place until completion and peer review of the ongoing Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission single-species and ecological reference point benchmark stock assessments; (ii) limit purse seine fishing in state waters to no more than 25% of Virginia's current total allowable landings (approximately 39,000 metric tons of the 156,600 metric tons allotted to the reduction fishery), with the remaining harvest to be taken outside of Virginia waters (i.e., federal waters). This limit should remain in force until appropriate estimates of menhaden seasonal stocks within the Chesapeake Bay and a clear understanding of the effects of their removals are available; (iii) create a permanent one-nautical-mile purse seine exclusion zone along Virginia's entire shoreline to minimize localized depletion, user conflicts, habitat damage, and bycatch; (iv) formally request funds from the General Assembly to expand the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Research Planning proposal to study the impacts of reduction fishing on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, with at least 50% of costs to be covered by the industry; and (v) require comprehensive monitoring and public reporting of the reduction fishery, including electronic reporting and vessel monitoring.
Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on January 13, 2025. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment, which opens January 13, 2025, and closes February 3, 2025. Following receipt of comments on the petition, the Marine Resources Commission will review the petition.
Public Comment Deadline: February 3, 2025.
Agency Contact: Zachary Widgeon, Director of Communications, Marine Resources Commission, 380 Fenwick Road, Building 96, Fort Monroe, VA 23651, telephone (757) 414-0713, or email zachary.widgeon@mrc.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR25-24; Filed December 20, 2024, 2:52 p.m.
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TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
BOARD OF DENTISTRY
Agency Decision
Title of Regulation: 18VAC60-30. Regulations Governing the Practice of Dental Assistants.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: American Medical Technologists.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Dentistry amend 18VAC60-30-80 to recognize the Dental Assisting Radiography Exam given by American Medical Technologists as a qualifying pathway for certification to place or expose dental x-ray film.
Agency Decision: Request denied.
Statement of Reason for Decision: At its December 13, 2024, meeting, the Board of Dentistry voted to take no action on the petition and refer the issue to the regulatory committee for further study and review.
Agency Contact: Jamie Sacksteder, Executive Director, Board of Dentistry, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4581, or email jamie.sacksteder@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR25-07; Filed September 17, 2024, 1:09 p.m.
BOARD OF LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATORS
Initial Agency Notice
Title of Regulation: 18VAC95-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing Home Administrators.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Ashley Pressman.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators amend 18VAC95-20-380 to allow overseers of training facilities to serve as preceptors even if the potential preceptor has not served as the administrator of record for a minimum of two of the past three years prior to registration.
Agency Plan for Disposition of Request: The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on January 13, 2025. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall at www.townhall.virginia.gov to receive public comment, which opens January 13, 2025, and closes February 12, 2025. The board will consider the petition and all comments in support or opposition at the next meeting after the close of public comment. Currently that meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2025. The petitioner will be notified of the board's decision after that meeting.
Public Comment Deadline: February 12, 2025.
Agency Contact: Corie Tillman Wolf, Executive Director, Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4595, or email corie.wolf@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR25-22; Filed December 14, 2024, 3:40 p.m.
BOARD OF SOCIAL WORK
Agency Decision
Title of Regulation: 18VAC140-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Name of Petitioner: Alexander Lagos Choquecahua.
Nature of Petitioner's Request: The petitioner requests that the Board of Social Work amend 18VAC140-20-50 A to permit a supervisee who has received approval to obtain supervision hours but has not begun supervision to pause the four-year timeframe to obtain supervision until the supervisee is ready to begin earning supervision hours.
Agency Decision: Request denied.
Statement of Reason for Decision: During its December 20, 2024, meeting, the Board of Social Work voted to deny the petition for rulemaking and send the issue to the regulatory committee for further study and review. The board is interested in this topic and wants to consider the scope of potential amendments broadly to allow for other changes to be made as necessary.
Agency Contact: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Social Work, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4441, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
VA.R. Doc. No. PFR25-14; Filed October 15, 2024, 3:22 p.m.