DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment for a Cleanup Plan for South Fork Rivanna River and Tributaries in Albemarle 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 report (TMDL) report, for the South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries in Albemarle County. These streams are listed as impaired since monitoring data does not meet Virginia's water quality standards for aquatic life (benthic impairment). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and § 62.1-44.19:7 C of the Code of Virginia require 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 adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation (9VAC25-720) after completion of the study. The adoption of an WLA may require new or additional requirements for entities holding a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit in these watersheds.

A study has been completed for the South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. At the public 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 South Fork Rivanna River cleanup study addresses the following impairments described, all of which are located in Albemarle County, Virginia.

TMDL community engagement meetings: TMDL community engagement meetings to assist in development of this cleanup study were convened on December 9, 2020, February 23, 2021, September 23, 2025, and November 18, 2025.

Public meeting: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Greenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Road, Crozet, VA 22932 on January 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on February 5, 2026, at the same time and location.

Public comment period: January 29, 2026, to March 2, 2026.

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 requester.

The public may review the cleanup study at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-under-development.

Contact Information: Nesha McRae, Department of Environmental Quality, Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, telephone (540) 217-7173, or email nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov.

Opportunity for Public Review of the 2024 Fish Tissue Monitoring Data

Purpose of notice: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announces the availability of the 2024 fish tissue monitoring data.

Background: DEQ conducts routine studies of fish tissue in state waters to (i) assess the human health risks for individuals who may consume fish, (ii) identify impaired aquatic ecosystems, and (iii) plan and track the progress of cleanup efforts. Results are made available to the public each year on DEQ's website. DEQ selects sampling stations for routine fish tissue monitoring based on input from the public and from partner agencies, such as the Department of Wildlife Resources and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, on popular fishing locations. Sites from each of Virginia's major river basins are sampled on a rotating basis so that each basin is sampled every three years, as resources allow.

In 2024, DEQ collected fish tissue samples primarily from sites in the watersheds of the Shenandoah, James, Roanoke, Dan, and Big Sandy Rivers. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a suite of 17 metals, including mercury, and a subset of samples were analyzed for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs).

2024 monitoring results for PCBs and mercury are available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/monitoring/fish-tissue-monitoring

2024 monitoring results for PFAs are available at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8f8b1ad32de44d4ebcfbb98669296877/

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 richard.browder@deq.virginia.gov, Gabriel Darkwah at gabriel.darkwah@deq.virginia.gov, or Andrew Kirk at andrew.kirk@deq.virginia.gov. Additional information is also available on the DEQ Water Quality Monitoring website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/monitoring.

Contact Information: Melissa Porterfield, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4238, or email melissa.porterfield@deq.virginia.gov.

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

Opportunity for Public Review and Public Comment - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 USC § 300f et seq.), Congress authorizes capitalization grants to the states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program (DWSRF). As part of the annual DWSRF grant application process, Virginia seeks meaningful public involvement through input, review, and comments. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water (ODW) prepared a draft intended use plan (IUP) that explains the goals of the program, funding priorities, how ODW intends to use the grant funds, and other important information submitted from the funding requests and set-aside suggestions.

VDH received several funding requests and set-aside suggestions following the January 2024 DWSRF funding solicitation announcement. The draft IUP and draft project lists are open for review and comment by the public for a period of 30 days and is available on the ODW website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/drinking-water-state-revolving-fund-program/.

A public meeting will not be held. Written comments and recommendations regarding the IUP will be accepted until February 5, 2026. VDH considers all public input and comments and will revise the IUP and project priority list as necessary. Please direct requests for information and written comments to the contact listed at the end of this notice.

More information is provided under Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/drinking-water-state-revolving-fund-program/.

Alternatively, more information may be found at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/14/VA-FY2025-IUP_final-7-3-2025.pdf and https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/14/Attachment-1-PPL-2025.pdf.

The IUP is subject to change depending on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's award allocations.

Contact Information: Anthony Hess, Division Director, Financial and Construction Assistance Programs, Virginia Department of Health, Attn: Theresa Hewlett, 109 Governor Street, Sixth Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 589- 0413, or email anthony.hess@vdh.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.