STATE BOARD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
Public Comment Opportunity for Seclusion and Restraint
Pursuant to Chapter 795 of the 2024 Acts of Assembly, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is hosting a workgroup on seclusion and restraint. A report will be made to the General Assembly. Chapter 795 of the 2024 Acts of Assembly directs DBHDS to promulgate additional regulations to allow for the use of evidence-based and recovery-oriented seclusion and restraint practices and alternative behavior management practices that may limit or replace the use of seclusion and restraint in hospitals, residential programs, and licensed facilities. "Seclusion" means the involuntary placement of an individual alone in an area secured by a door that is locked or held shut by a staff person, by physically blocking the door, or by any other physical or verbal means so that the individual cannot leave the area (12VAC35-115-30). "Restraint" means the use of a mechanical device, medication, physical intervention, or hands-on hold to prevent an individual from bodily moving to engage in a behavior that places the individual or others at imminent risk (12VAC35-115-30).
In developing such regulations, the workgroup shall (i) solicit input from experts in the field of behavioral health, persons with relevant lived experience with the Commonwealth's behavioral health system, and staff from both public and private providers; (ii) review any data and other information made available by DBHDS regarding seclusion and restraint, serious incidents, and complaints and investigations regarding the misuse of seclusion and restraint; (iii) review current regulations and training policies; (iv) examine practices used in other states, best practice recommendations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and evidence-based and trauma-informed practices recommended by other national experts; (v) identify practices and approaches that safely de-escalate persons in crisis and reduce or replace the use of seclusion and restraint; and (vi) identify staffing, training, and monitoring practices related to seclusion and restraint and that limit and ensure the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint.
Public comments may be submitted in writing for workgroup consideration through 5 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025. Workgroup meetings will also include a public comment period. Meeting information will be posted on the Commonwealth Calendar at https://commonwealthcalendar.virginia.gov/. Public input will help DBHDS improve regulations, training, and oversight to better support service recipients and providers.
Contact Information: Susan Puglisi, Regulatory Research Specialist, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Jefferson Building, 1220 Bank Street, Fourth Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 385-6549, FAX (804) 371-6638, TDD (804) 371-8977, or email susan.puglisi@dbhds.virginia.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Proposed Enforcement Action for DF Lunsford Construction LLC
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing an enforcement action for DF Lunsford Construction LLC for violations of State Water Control Law and regulations in Prince George County. The proposed order is available from the DEQ contact or at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/enforcement-actions. The DEQ contact will accept written comments from June 16, 2025, through July 16, 2025.
Contact Information: Gary Wooldridge, Enforcement Specialist, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, or email gary.wooldridge@deq.virginia.gov.
Public Comment Opportunity for Air Quality Plan
Notice of action: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a proposed second maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park (Page and Madison Counties) 1997 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) maintenance area. The plan shows that emission reductions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the area will continue such that air quality is expected to continue improving. The Commonwealth intends to submit the plan as a revision to the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act (42 USC § 7401 et seq.). The SIP is the plan developed by Virginia to fulfill its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act to attain and maintain the NAAQS promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Purpose of notice: DEQ is seeking comments on the maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park 1997 Ozone NAAQS maintenance area, which consists of portions of Page and Madison Counties located within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park.
Public comment period: June 16, 2025, to July 16, 2025.
Public hearing: A public hearing will be conducted if a request is made in writing to the contact listed at the end of this notice. To be considered, the request must include the full name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the hearing and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. Notice of the date, time, and location of any requested public hearing will be announced in a separate notice, and another 30-day comment period will be conducted.
Description of proposal: The proposal consists of the following:
1. An air quality maintenance plan for the Shenandoah National Park 1997 Ozone NAAQS maintenance area consisting of the portions of Page and Madison Counties located within Shenandoah National Park.
2. A comprehensive attainment year inventory of actual emissions from all sources of relevant ozone precursor pollutants (NOX and VOC) for the year 2022.
3. Air quality data from 2001 to 2024 showing that the area has been attaining the 1997 Ozone NAAQS since 2004 with a significant margin of safety.
4. Contingency measures in the unlikely situation where air quality monitors within the area record an exceedance of the 1997 Ozone NAAQS.
5. Assurance that the Commonwealth will continue to operate an ozone monitoring network in accordance with 40 CFR Part 58 within the area.
Federal information: This notice is being given to satisfy the public participation requirements of federal regulations (40 CFR 51.102). The proposal will be submitted as a revision to the Virginia SIP under § 110(a) of the federal Clean Air Act in accordance with 40 CFR 51.104. DEQ plans to submit all provisions of the proposal as a revision to the Commonwealth of Virginia SIP.
How to comment: DEQ accepts written comments by email and postal mail. To be considered, comments must include the full name, address, and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ by the last day of the comment period. Comments must be submitted to the contact listed at the end of this notice. All materials received are part of the public record.
To review the proposal: The proposal and any supporting documents are available on the DEQ Air Public Notices website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/permits/public-notices/air. The public may schedule an appointment to review the documents between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. of each business day until the close of the public comment period at the following DEQ locations:
1. Main Street Office, 1111 East Main Street, 22nd Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 584-0037;
2. Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, telephone (540) 574-7800; and
3. Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193, telephone (703) 583-3800.
Contact Information: Allyson Frantz, Environmental Specialist II, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 584-0037, or email allyson.b.frantz@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.