Vol. 27, No. 10 ● November 21, 2019
Merge Ahead: The Future of Virginia Erosion & Sediment Control and Stormwater Regulations
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) has been participating in Regulatory Advisory Panel (RAP) meetings regarding consolidation of the Commonwealth’s erosion & sediment control and stormwater regulations. This effort led by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality was directed by the 2016 General Assembly under the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act (VESMA). The panel first met in June 2019 and the process is slated to continue throughout 2020.
Streamlined regulations are in the works for 2020
The primary goal of the RAP is to bring these regulations together, clarifying any potential programmatic language, and eliminating redundancies. Please note that no technical changes are being proposed or being considered during this process.
The goal is to provide the State Water Control Board (SWCB) with the streamlined, unified draft regulations by Spring 2020. A 60-day public comment period will begin after the draft regulations are presented in a SWCB hearing, then comments will be addressed and final regulations presented to the SWCB. The regulations and related actions are available via Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.
WSSI will keep you informed on this process, as well as the 60-day public comment period, via Field Notes. In the meantime, Bryce Miller and Mike Wills can answer any questions about the process and how it may impact your projects.