Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Water Control Board intends to consider amending the following regulations: 9VAC25-196, General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for Noncontact Cooling Water Discharges. The purpose of the proposed action is to amend and reissue the existing general permit, which expires on March 1, 2013. The general permit regulation governs point source discharges of 50,000 gallons per day or less of noncontact cooling water and cooling equipment blowdown to surface waters.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.

Public Comment Deadline: April 13, 2011.

Agency Contact: George E. Cosby, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4067, FAX (804) 698-4032, or email george.cosby@deq.virginia.gov.