DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Announces the Availability of the 2019 Fish Tissue Monitoring Data
Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announces the availability of the 2019 Fish Tissue monitoring data.
Description: DEQ conducts routine studies of fish tissue and sediment samples in state waters to assess the human health risks for individuals who may consume fish from state waters and to identify impaired aquatic ecosystems. Results are made available to the public each year on the agency's website.
In 2019, DEQ collected fish tissue samples from sites located in the York, Small Coastal and Chesapeake Bay, Potomac, James, and Roanoke River basins. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls and a suite of 17 metals, including mercury.
2019 monitoring results are available on the agency's website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-monitoring/fish-tissue-monitoring.
Additional information: The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) uses the data generated by DEQ's fish tissue monitoring program to determine the need for fish consumption advisories. More information on VDH fish consumption advisories is available at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/public-health-toxicology/fish-consumption-advisory/.
Contacts for more information: Questions on DEQ's fish tissue monitoring program can be directed to Rick Browder at telephone (804) 698-4134 or email richard.browder@deq.virginia.gov, or Gabriel Darkwah at telephone (804) 698-4127 or email gabriel.darkwah@deq.virginia.gov. Additional information is also available on the VADEQ Water Quality Monitoring website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-monitoring.
Turkey Solar LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy Project (Solar) - Goochland County
Turkey Solar LLC, has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary documentation for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (solar) in Goochland County. Turkey Solar LLC will be located approximately one and a half miles south of Gordonsville, near Jefferson Lane. Latitude and longitude coordinates are as follows: 38.113545, -78.191788. The estimated fenced-in project area will be 141 acres and the maximum generating capacity of the project in alternating current will be 14 megawatts. The solar facility will consist of approximately 59,000 photovoltaic modules which will be supported by five central inverters and transformers.
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.
Kangaroo Solar LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy Project (Solar) - Campbell County
Kangaroo Solar LLC, has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary document for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (solar) in Campbell County. Kangaroo Solar LLC will be located approximately five miles northwest of Nathalie and about half a mile south of Perth Road. Latitude and longitude coordinates are as follows: 37.005921, -78.984868. The estimated fenced-in project area will be 137 acres and the maximum generating capacity of the project in alternating current will be 14.5 megawatts. The solar facility will consist of approximately 57,000 photovoltaic modules which will be supported by five central inverters and transformers.
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.
Koala Solar LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy Project (Solar) - Campbell County
Koala Solar LLC, has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary documentation for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (solar) in Campbell County. Koala Solar LLC will be located approximately three and a half miles west of Brookneal and northwest of the intersection between Epsons Road and McIver Ferry Road. Latitude and longitude coordinates are as follows: 37.068832, -79.009631. The estimated fenced-in project area will be 131 acres and the maximum generating capacity of the project in alternating current will be 14.5 megawatts. The solar facility will consist of approximately 55,000 photovoltaic modules which will be supported by five central inverters and transformers.
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.
Naples Solar LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy Project (Solar) - Orange County
Naples Solar LLC, has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary document for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (solar) in Orange County. Naples Solar LLC will be located about four and a half miles northeast of Gordonsville, near Madison Run Road and Barrychris Lane. Latitude and longitude coordinates are as follows: 38.171017, -78.120886. The estimated fenced-in project area will be 126 acres and the maximum generating capacity of the project in alternating current will be 14 megawatts. The solar facility will consist of approximately 53,000 photovoltaic modules which will be supported by five central inverters and transformers.
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.
Request for Citizen Nomination of State Surface Waters for Inclusion in Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Annual Water Quality Monitoring Plan
In accordance with § 62.1-44.19:5 F of the Code of Virginia, Water Quality Monitoring Information and Restoration Act, any person may request that a specific body of water be included in Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) annual water quality monitoring plan. Such requests shall include, at a minimum (i) a geographical description of the water body recommended for monitoring; (ii) the reason the monitoring is requested; and (iii) any water quality data that the petitioner may have collected or compiled. Each request received by April 30 shall be reviewed when DEQ develops the annual water quality monitoring plan for the following calendar year. DEQ will respond in writing on its approval or denial of each nomination by August 31.
Please see the nominating form included as Attachment 1. Use of the nomination form is preferred; however, all nominations with the minimum of information as outlined above will be accepted for review.
Please note that the monitoring program covered by this process is directed at the surface waters of the state. Private ponds, privately owned lakes, and any other body of water not deemed to be "State Waters" are ineligible.
Nominations can be submitted to the contact person listed by email, postal mail, or hand delivered to the receptionist's desk at DEQ's central office at 1111 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia.
ATTACHMENT 1: REQUEST TO INCLUDE A WATER SEGMENT IN DEQ'S ANNUAL MONITORING PLAN
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Geographic description of the water body:
(1) Name of the water body or segment proposed for monitoring:
(2) Description of the upstream and downstream boundaries of the water body proposed for monitoring. Attach a map (preferably a photocopy of a 7.5 minute quad USGS topographic map) which delineates the boundaries:
(3) Reason for requesting that this water body be monitored:
(4) Attach any water quality data that you have collected or compiled. Include the name of the organization/entity that generated the data.
Mail to: Stuart Torbeck, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 1105, Suite 1400, Richmond, VA. 23218
FedEx to: Stuart Torbeck, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Email: charles.torbeck@deq.virginia.gov
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.
STATE WATER CONTROL BOARD
Notice of Public Comment - Draft 2022 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will release the draft 2022 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual on January 19, 2021, for public comment. Virginia's 2022 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual contains the assessment procedures and methods to be used for the development of Virginia's 2022 § 305(b)/ § 303(d) Integrated (i.e. combined Water Quality Assessment and Impaired Waters) Report. The assessment guidance seeks to address all key elements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2006 Assessment Guidance and subsequent updates current to December 2020, in addition to the assessment methodology for Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Standards established by EPA and adopted by Virginia (Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen, Water Clarity, and Chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries).
By the release date, a copy of the draft 2022 Water Quality Assessment Guidance Manual will be available for download from the DEQ Water Quality Assessment webpage at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-assessments/most-recent-year-wqa-guidance-manual.
Section 62.1-44.19:5 C of the Code of Virginia requires DEQ to develop and publish the procedures used for defining and determining impaired waters and provide for public comment on the procedures. The public is invited to submit written comments from January 19, 2021, through February 18, 2021. Comments should include the name, address, telephone number, and, if applicable, the e-mail address of each person or organization submitting comments. Comments and related correspondence should be addressed to Amanda Shaver (see contact information listed). Responses to comments received will be made collectively via a response document. The response document will be posted on the assessment webpage along with the final guidance manual.
Updates have been made to the guidance document since 2020. A complete list of significant guidance modifications are described in Part II of the manual. A public webinar to review these updates will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1154243528623510029 Webinar ID: 917-343-155.
DEQ accepts water quality data to be reviewed and evaluated for assessment purposes on a continual basis. However, in order to be used for the 2022 Integrated Report, all data must be submitted by March 5, 2021. DEQ will hold a public webinar for citizen monitoring groups to discuss strategies for submitting their data. Data submitted after this date will be reviewed in preparation of the 2024 Integrated Report.
Contact Information: Cindy Berndt, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4378, FAX (804) 698-4178.