DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
Public Comment Opportunity for the 2024 Virginia Outdoor Plan - Recreation for All
The Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) fulfills the Commonwealth's obligation to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act administered by the National Park Service. It is the statewide conservation and outdoor recreation plan (SCORP) for all levels of government and other recreation interests across the state. The contents of the VOP help guide funding prioritization and distribution in outdoor recreation planning. Successful VOP publication every five years provides the Commonwealth access to significant LWCF funding for outdoor public recreation across the state, including for local and regional parks. This drafted 2024 Virginia Outdoors Plan - Recreation for All (VOP 2024-2029) must be reviewed and approved by the National Park Service (NPS) to ensure it meets all the LWCF requirements for a SCORP. This 30-day public comment period is part of the NPS review process.
Public Comment Deadline: July 31, 2024.
Contact Information: Allison Tillett, Virginia Outdoors Program Coordinator, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 600 East Main Street, 24th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 238-8620, or email allison.tillett@dcr.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Proposed Enforcement Action for Residential Resources Limited Partnership - Charles City County
The Department of Environmental Quality proposes to issue a consent special order to Residential Resources Limited Partnership for alleged violation of the State Water Control Law at the Sign Post Estates wastewater treatment plant located in Charles City County, Virginia. A description of the proposed action is available at the DEQ contact listed or online at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-orders. DEQ will accept comments by email or postal mail from July 29, 2024, through August 28, 2024.
Contact Information: Matt Richardson, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality Piedmont Regional Office, 4949A Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060, telephone (804) 659-2696, or email matthew.richardson@deq.virginia.gov.
Proposed Enforcement Action for the Town of Wytheville
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for the Town of Wytheville for violations of the State Water Control Law and regulations at the Wytheville wastewater treatment plant in Wythe County, Virginia. 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 29, 2024, through August 28, 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.
Sedge Hill Solar LLC Notice of Intent for a Small Renewable Energy Project (Energy Storage) - Halifax County
Sedge Hill Solar LLC has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary documents for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project (energy storage) in Halifax County, Virginia, pursuant to 9VAC15-100. The project name is Sedge Hill Solar; the owner is Sedge Hill Solar LLC; and the project developer is Birch Creek Renewables. The DEQ project number is RE0000318.
The location of the project is near Chaffin Trail in Halifax County with a centroid of Latitude 36.7926780°, Longitude -78.9220490°. The proposed project will have a maximum rated capacity of 80 megawatts alternating current on approximately 812 disturbed acres. The project will include the utilization of approximately 224,800 photovoltaic panels.
Contact Information: Amber Foster, Renewable Energy Permit by Rule Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 774-8474, or email amber.foster@deq.virginia.gov.
High Bridge Solar LLC Notice of Intent for a Small Renewable Energy Project (Energy Storage) - Town of Farmville
High Bridge Solar LLC has provided the Department of Environmental Quality a notice of intent to submit the necessary documents for a permit by rule for a small renewable energy project in the Town of Farmville, Virginia, pursuant to 9VAC15-100. The project name is High Bridge Solar; the owner is High Bridge Solar LLC; and the project developer is Inovateus Solar. The DEQ project number is RE0000321.
The location of the project is near Cedar Avenue in the Town of Farmville with a centroid of Latitude 37.302096°, Longitude -78.374746°. The proposed project will have a maximum rated capacity of 12 megawatts alternating current on one parcel totaling 131 acres. The project will include the utilization of approximately 27,600 photovoltaic panels and will sit on a fixed tilt racking system.
Contact Information: Matthew Snow, Small Renewable Energy Permit by Rule Program Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 718-9569, or email matthew.a.snow@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 to the development of a draft cleanup study, also known as a total maximum daily (TDML) report, for Greendale Creek and Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch in Washington County.
Greendale Creek and the Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch are listed as impaired waters and require a cleanup study since monitoring data indicates that the waters do not meet Virginia's general water quality standard for aquatic life. 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 Code of Virginia 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.
A study has been completed for Greendale Creek and the Unnamed Tributary to Fleenor Branch to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. At the meeting, DEQ will present the results of the study and provide an overview of the draft report. Citizens are invited to provide comment on the study.
Cleanup Study Location: The cleanup study addresses the following impaired stream segments. Greendale Creek is in Washington County and flows approximately 5.03 miles in length. It 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. It begins at its headwaters and continues to its confluence with Fleenor Branch.
Public Meeting: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Southwest Regional Office, 355 Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA, August 13, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, at the same time and location.
Public Comment Period: August 13, 2024, to September 12, 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 addresses, and telephone numbers of the commenter or requester.
Contact Information: Landon Jenkins, Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, telephone (276) 608-8643, or email landon.jenkins@deq.virginia.gov.