STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Revisions to the 2017 Computer Science Standards of Learning
The Virginia Board of Education will hold public hearings on the proposed revised Computer Sciences Standards of Learning. The Standards of Learning identify the essential content, processes, and skills for grade levels and subject courses.
The most current information about the revision process, as well as public hearing dates and locations, is available at Review and Revision of the 2017 Computer Science Standards of Learning.
For additional information about the proposed revised Computer Science Standards of Learning, contact Keisha Tennessee by email at vdoe.computerscience@doe.virginia.gov.
Contact Information: Keisha Tennessee, Computer Science Coordinator, Department of Education, 101 North 14th Street, 25th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 750-8161, or email vdoe.computerscience@doe.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment for a Cleanup Study of the Roanoke River, Tinker Creek, and Wolf Creek in the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will introduce the community to the process used in Virginia to improve stream water quality and invite the public to participate in the study by attending community engagement meetings or through a total maximum daily load (TMDL) advisory group (TAG). DEQ will also present results from a benthic stressor analysis, a preliminary study to determine probable causes for the impairment to aquatic life.
Cleanup study location: The cleanup study addresses the following impaired stream segments. The study area totals 19.53 river miles in the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County and includes three watersheds: Roanoke River (from Niagara Dam downstream to the mouth of Back Creek), Tinker Creek (from the confluence of Buffalo Creek downstream to the Roanoke River), and Wolf Creek.
TAG: DEQ invites public comment on the establishment of a TAG to assist in development of this cleanup study. A TAG is a standing group of interested parties established by the department for the purpose of advising the department during development of the cleanup study. Any member of the public may attend and observe proceedings. However, only group members who have been invited by the department to serve on the TAG may actively participate in the group's discussions. Persons requesting the department use a TAG and those interested in participating should notify the DEQ contact person by the end of the comment period and provide their name, address, telephone number, email address, and organization being represented (if any). If DEQ convenes a TAG, all individuals who wish to participate on the TAG will be considered on a case-by-case basis. TAG members will be expected to attend all TAG meetings. Notification of the composition of the panel will be sent to all individuals who request participation.
If DEQ receives no requests to establish a TAG, the department will not establish a standing group but will still solicit public feedback by conducting community engagement meetings during cleanup study development. At these community meetings, which are open to the public and at which any person may participate, DEQ will present its progress on the cleanup study and solicit feedback from those present.
Public meeting: The first public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at Department of Environmental Quality, Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153, Training Room on April 10, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on April 17, 2024, at the same time and location.
Public comment period: April 10, 2024, to May 10, 2024.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization represented (if any), mailing address, and telephone number of the commenter or requestor.
For public comments, document requests, and additional information, contact the DEQ staff member listed.
Contact Information: Aerin Doughty, Department of Environmental Quality, Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153, telephone (540) 988-3684, or email aerin.doughty@deq.virginia.gov.
Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment for a Cleanup Study of Greendale Creek and Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch in Washington County
Purpose of notice: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup study, also known as a total maximum daily load (TMDL) report, for Greendale Creek and Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch in Washington County. These streams are listed as impaired waters and require a cleanup study since monitoring data indicates that the waters do not meet Virginia's water quality standards for aquatic life (benthic macroinvertebrates). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and § 62.1-44.19:7 C of the State Water Control Law requires DEQ to develop cleanup studies to address pollutants responsible for causing waters to be on Virginia's § 303(d) list of impaired waters. A component of a cleanup study is the wasteload allocation (WLA); therefore, this notice is provided pursuant to § 2.2-4006 A 14 of the Administrative Process Act for any future adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation (9VAC25-720) after completion of the study. The adoption of the WLA may require new or additional requirements for entities holding a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit in the Greendale Creek or Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch watersheds.
At the meeting, DEQ will introduce the community to the process used in Virginia to improve stream water quality and invite the public to participate in the study by attending community engagement meetings or through a TMDL advisory group (TAG). The meeting will consist of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
The cleanup study addresses the following impaired stream segments: Greendale Creek is in Washington County and flows approximately 5.03 miles in length. The creek begins at its headwaters and continues to the confluence of the North Fork of the Holston River. The Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch is in Washington County and flows approximately 0.85 miles in length. The tributary begins at its headwaters and continues to its confluence with Fleenor Branch.
TAG: DEQ invites public comment on the establishment of a TAG to assist in development of this cleanup study. A TAG is a standing group of interested parties established by the department for the purpose of advising the department during development of the cleanup study. Any member of the public may attend and observe proceedings. However, only group members who have been invited by the department to serve on the TAG may actively participate in the group's discussions. Persons requesting the department use a TAG and those interested in participating should notify the DEQ contact person by the end of the comment period and provide their name, address, telephone number, email address, and organization being represented (if any). If DEQ convenes a TAG, all individuals who wish to participate on the TAG will be considered on a case-by-case basis. TAG members will be expected to attend all TAG meetings. Notification of the composition of the panel will be sent to all individuals who request participation.
If DEQ receives no requests to establish a TAG, the department will not establish a standing group but will still solicit public feedback by conducting community engagement meetings during cleanup study development. At these community meetings, which are open to the public and at which any person may participate, DEQ will present its progress on the cleanup study and solicit feedback from those present.
Public meeting: The first public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at Greendale Elementary School, 13092 Mcguffie Road, Abingdon, VA 24210. The meeting will be held on April 2, 2024, at 6 p.m. Please follow the signage that will be located at the front entrance. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on April 9, 2024, at the same time and location.
Public comment period: April 2, 2024, to May 2, 2024.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization represented (if any), mailing address, and telephone number of the commenter or requestor.
For public comments, document requests, and additional information, contact the DEQ staff member listed.
Contact Information: Landon Jenkins, DEQ Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, telephone (276) 608-8643, or email landon.jenkins@deq.virginia.gov.
Public Comment Opportunity for Amendment of Water Quality Management Planning Regulation
Notice of action: The State Water Control Board is considering an amendment to the regulation on water quality management planning, in accordance with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) public participation procedures for water quality management planning. A regulation is a general rule that affects people's rights or conduct and is adopted by a state agency.
Purpose of notice: The board is seeking comments through DEQ on a proposed amendment to the state's Water Quality Management Planning Regulation (9VAC25-720) to adopt 10 total maximum daily load (TMDL) wasteload allocations.
Public comment period: March 25, 2024, to April 24, 2024.
Description of proposed action: DEQ staff will propose amendments to the state's Water Quality Management Planning Regulation for the James River Basin (9VAC25-720-60 A) and the Rappahannock River Basin (9VAC25-720-70 A). Statutory authority for promulgating these amendments can be found in subdivision 10 of § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Staff intends to recommend that the board adopt 10 TMDL wasteload allocations as part of the state's Water Quality Management Planning Regulation in accordance with §§ 2.2-4006 A 4 c and B of the Code of Virginia.
The 10 TMDL wasteload allocations were developed in accordance with federal regulations (40 CFR 130.7) and are exempt from the provisions of Article II of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The wasteload allocations were subject to the TMDL public participation process contained in DEQ's public participation procedures for water quality management planning. The public comment process provides the affected stakeholders an opportunity for public appeal of the TMDLs.
As of July 1, 2014, TMDL wasteload allocations can receive State Water Control Board approval prior to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval due to exceptions outlined in § 2.2-4006 A 14 of the Code of Virginia. EPA has preliminarily reviewed the two TMDL reports in this public notice for required TMDL elements; however, they remain in draft form awaiting State Water Control Board approval.
Affected waterbodies and localities for the 10 new TDML wasteload allocations:
James River Basin (9VAC25-720-60 A): TMDL report is titled "Benthic TMDL Development for Bailey Creek, Nuttree Branch, Oldtown Creek, Proctors Creek, Rohoic Creek, and Swift Creek Watersheds Located in Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Prince George Counties and Cities of Hopewell, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg." This TMDL report proposes sediment reductions for Bailey Creek, Nuttree Branch, Oldtown Creek, Proctors Creek, Rohoic Creek, and Swift Creek and provides sediment wasteload allocation of 424,000 pounds per year, 303,000 pounds per year, 253,000 pounds per year, 573,000 pounds per year, 377,000 pounds per year, and 2,870,000 pounds per year, respectively. This TMDL report also proposes phosphorous reductions for Oldtown Creek, Rohoic Creek, and Swift Creek and provides phosphorus wasteload allocation of 404 pounds per year, 426 pounds per year, and 3,145 pounds per year, respectively.
Rappahannock River Basin (9VAC25-720-70 A): TMDL report is titled "Total Maximum Daily Load Development for Mountain Run, Culpeper County, Virginia." This TMDL report proposes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) reductions for Mountain Run and provides a PCB wasteload allocation of 2,775 milligrams per year.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. All written comments must include the full name, address, and telephone number of the person commenting.
How a decision is made: After comments have been considered, the board will make the final decision. Citizens who submit statements during the comment period may address the board members during the board meeting at which a final decision is made on the proposal.
To review documents: The TMDL reports and the proposed regulatory amendments are available on the DEQ website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/draft-tmdls and by contacting the DEQ representative listed. The electronic copies are in PDF format and may be read online or downloaded.
For public comments, document requests, and additional information, contact the DEQ staff member listed.
Contact Information: Anthony Cario, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 814-7774, or email anthony.cario@deq.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Opportunity to Review Virginia Medical Assistance Eligibility Manual Draft
A draft transmittal of DMAS-29, the Virginia Medical Assistance Eligibility Manual, is available at https://dmas.virginia.gov/for-applicants/eligibility-guidance/transmittals/.
Contact Information: Emily McClellan, Regulatory Manager, Division of Policy and Research, Department of Medical Assistance Services, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-4300, FAX (804) 786-1680, or email emily.mclellan@dmas.virginia.gov.
VIRGINIA CODE COMMISSION
Notice to State Agencies
Contact Information: Mailing Address: Virginia Code Commission, General Assembly Building, 201 North Ninth Street, Fourth Floor, Richmond, VA 23219; Telephone: (804) 698-1810; Email: varegs@dls.virginia.gov.
Meeting Notices: Section 2.2-3707 C of the Code of Virginia requires state agencies to post meeting notices on their websites and on the Commonwealth Calendar at https://commonwealthcalendar.virginia.gov.
Cumulative Table of Virginia Administrative Code Sections Adopted, Amended, or Repealed: A table listing regulation sections that have been amended, added, or repealed in the Virginia Register of Regulations since the regulations were originally published or last supplemented in the print version of the Virginia Administrative Code is available at http://register.dls.virginia.gov/documents/cumultab.pdf.
Filing Material for Publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations: Agencies use the Regulation Information System (RIS) to file regulations and related items for publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations. The Registrar's office works closely with the Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) to coordinate the system with the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. RIS and Town Hall complement and enhance one another by sharing pertinent regulatory information.