VWWAA July/August 2022 Newsletter

July/August 2022
Newsletter
Check out all our latest updates

Promoting and defending the interests of Virginia's water and waste authorities

DEQ Seeks Comment onStormwater Guidance Documents 
The Department of Environmental Quality has two stormwater initiatives underway: (i) to streamline its plan review for Construction Stormwater Plans and Erosion and Sediment Control Plans and (ii) to revise its Stormwater Management and Erosion & Sediment Control Design Guide.
 
Both Guidance Memos are currently available for review on DEQ’s website at:
https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/stormwater
 

DEQ Developing Online Permit-Tracking Tool 
DEQ is creating a new permit-tracking tool – the “Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Platform” (PEEP) – that will allow those who have submitted various applications to track permits and better engage with permit managers or plan reviewers. DEQ’s goal is to improve transparency and ensure timely decisions. More to come on when PEEP will be active.
 

Youngkin AdministrationDrafting New Statewide Energy Plan 
Water and wastewater treatment facilities are major users of energy. Utilities have a stake in how Virginia generates, transmits, and distributes energy as well how the state promotes energy conservation.
 
State law requires all new governors to develop a new statewide energy plan by October 1 in their first year in office. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration is now working on a new “2022 Virginia Energy Plan.”
 
The governor has set three principal themes for the plan: competitive rates; reliable and responsible delivery of energy; and rural economic development.
 
The Virginia Department of Energy (aka, “Virginia Energy”) recently announced a 42-day comment forum (July 21 through September 1), where citizens, businesses, local governments, public service authorities, and others can provide input on what the new statewide energy plan should include.
 
Public comment for the 2022 Virginia Energy Plan can be provided through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall portal at https://townhall.virginia.gov//l/comments.cfm?GeneralNoticeid=2442

DEQ RAP Underway on Water Auditing, Leak Detection Regs 
The 2021 General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1291, requiring that any permit application for surface water or groundwater withdrawals include a water auditing plan and a leak detection repair plan. The legislation also directed the State Water Control Board to establish regulations.

VDH PFAS Sampling Study Update 
The Virginia Department of Health continues its statutorily required PFAS sampling and studies. The agency conducted Phase 1 samplings in Summer 2021, focusing on 45 public waterworks at 63 sampling locations. VDH detected in 15 samples at least one PFAS constituent.
 
VDH is now in Phase 2, sampling at approximately 400 waterworks and some 440 locations. This work remains in progress.
 
VDH’s proposed PFAS stakeholder group for Phase 2 sampling will include waterworks owners/operators, environmental organizations and citizen groups, chemical manufacturers, treatment technology experts, health and toxicology experts, water economists, and the general public.
 
For more information, see VDH’s PFAS webpage.      

EPA Releases Guidance onLead and Copper Rule Service Line Inventory 
EPA released Guidance on August 4 for “Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory,” which is to help water systems develop inventories that will be necessary for EPA reporting and oversight.
 
The Guidance includes best practices for developing inventories, templates for water systems and others, case studies on developing inventories, and information on prioritizing developing inventories in disadvantaged communities.
 
For Guidance document, click here.

EPA to Hold Lead Service LineWebinar on August 10 
EPA will host a LSL webinar on August 10 (2:00 – 3:00 pm ET) to provide an overview of EPA’s “Guidance for Development and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory” and on available LSL funding via the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
 
To register for the August 10 webinar, click here.
 