DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
Public Comment Notice: Round 5 Community Flood Preparedness Fund Draft Manual
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is accepting public comments for the Round 5 Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) draft manual. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance regarding the policies, criteria, conditions, and procedures for determining project eligibility and awarding grants and loans from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to local governments per §§ 10.1-603.25 and10.1-603.29 of the Code of Virginia and as required by the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act.
The comment draft of the Round 5 Manual uses the text of the previous manual from round four, with minor updates to account for recent legislative changes. Given the success of this prior round, and general stakeholder understanding of how the CFPF functions under the Round 4 Manual, DCR believes that it will function as a useful baseline for interested parties to submit comments.
In addition to general feedback, DCR encourages stakeholders to provide comments on (i) definitions; (ii) eligible activities; (iii) periods of performance for the various activities supported by the CFPF, and in particular whether a five-year period of performance may be appropriate for capacity building, resilience plan implementation, and projects; (iv) match requirements and scoring; and (v) the availability of both short-term and long-term loans for projects.
After reviewing public comment and making any necessary and appropriate amendments, the official manual will be published to the DCR website. DCR intends to host at least one public meeting, which may be virtual, during the comment period to solicit feedback from interested parties.
Contact Information: Angela Davis, Division Director, Floodplain Management, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 600 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-6135, FAX (804) 786-6141, or email angela.davis@dcr.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Virginia Energy Receives $2.6 Million Gas and Oil Methane Mitigation Grant to Reduce Methane Emissions in Virginia
Big Stone Gap, VA - Methane emissions will be lower in Virginia thanks to a new program to plug natural gas wells that are considered marginal producers. The Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) received $2,643,702 for the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. Virginia Energy's Gas and Oil program will oversee the grant.
"This funding will help provide Virginia operators with funds to close these natural gas wells and reclaim the site," said Director of Gas and Oil Phil Skorupa. "We hope to plug several of these wells over the next few years, stopping the potential for methane entering the atmosphere."
The program is funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. DOE funding is designated for wells producing less than 90,000 cubic feet of gas daily. Operators will apply to Virginia Energy for the funding to plug or permanently seal wells. Once the well is plugged, the site will be reclaimed to prevent any potential environmental impacts.
The average well in Virginia produces around 30,000 cubic feet of natural gas each day. It costs $25,000 to $75,000 to plug a natural gas well, depending on well bore depth and producing formations.
Operators interested in applying for funding should visit the Virginia Energy website at https://www.energy.virginia.gov/. Plugging operations are expected to begin in late 2024. Methane emissions eliminated through this project will be reported on the Virginia Energy website.
Contact Information: Sarah Gilmer, Board and Permitting Specialist, Department of Energy, 2405 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 23219, telephone (276) 415-9700, FAX (276) 415-9671, TDD (800) 828-1120, or email sarah.gilmer@energy.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Wythe County Solar Project LLC Notice of Intent for Small Renewable Energy (Energy Storage) - Wythe County
Wythe County Solar Project LLC has provided the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) a notice of intent to submit the necessary documents for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (energy storage) in Wythe County pursuant to 9VAC15-100. The project name is Wythe BESS (DEQ project number RE0000316), the owner is Wythe County Solar Project LLC, and the project developer is RWE Clean Energy.
The location of the project is 0 Payne Town Road, Max Meadows, VA 24360, east of Interstate 77 and has a centroid of latitude 36.874274, longitude -80.825090. The project will have a maximum storage capacity of 52.2 megawatts alternating current on approximately 12 acres. As proposed, the project will include the utilization of approximately 64 battery cell module containers.
Contact Information: Amber Foster, Renewable Energy Permit by Rule Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 774-8474, or email amber.foster@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for Purdy Brothers Trucking, LLC
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for Purdy Brothers Trucking, LLC for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations in Smyth County. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact listed or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. The DEQ contact will accept comments by email or postal mail from July 15, 2024, through August 14, 2024.
Contact Information: Jonathan Chapman, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, or email jonathan.chapman@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for Rayaanik Inc.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for Rayaanik Inc. for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations in Southampton County. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact listed or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. The DEQ contact will accept comments by email or postal mail from July 15, 2024, through August 14, 2024.
Contact Information: Russell Deppe, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, 5636 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462, telephone (757) 647-8060, or email russell.deppe@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for Wythe County Solar Project LLC
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for Wythe County Solar Project LLC for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations in Wythe County. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact listed or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. The DEQ contact will accept comments by email or postal mail from July 15, 2024, through August 14, 2024.
Contact Information: Jonathan Chapman, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, or email jonathan.chapman@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for Gary Lewis
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for Gary Lewis for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations at the Empire Mobile Home Park sewage treatment plant in Scott County. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact listed or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. The DEQ contact will accept comments by email or postal mail from July 15, 2024, through August 14, 2024.
Contact Information: Jonathan Chapman, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, or email jonathan.chapman@deq.virginia.gov.
VIRGINIA CODE COMMISSION
Notice to State Agencies
Contact Information: Mailing Address: Virginia Code Commission, Pocahontas Building, 900 East Main Street, 8th 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