Virginia DEQ
Home MenuDEQ News Vol. 3 No. 12
Dec. 3, 2024
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Interim Approach for Crediting Shoreline Stabilization Projects |
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Now available! Renewable Energy Development Atlas |
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Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Improves Application Efficiency |
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Introducing DEQ's New Data Center Air Permits Resource Page |
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Prepare for Upcoming Phase-Out of EPS Foam |
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Learn About DEQ's Pollution Prevention Programs |
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Don't Miss Out on Millions - Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Grant Deadline is Soon! |
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New Groundwater Monitoring Equipment Installed at Lake Anna State Park |
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Coming Soon! 2025 DEQ Petroleum Remediation Contracts |
DEQ Staff Elected to Officer Positions of National Organizations |
Interim Approach for Crediting Shoreline Stabilization Projects
Since late 2022, the Nonpoint Source Nutrient Trading Program has accepted shoreline stabilization projects for nutrient credit trading. The program certifies nutrient reductions that can be sold in an off-set market and uses the Chesapeake Bay Program’s “Recommendations of the Expert Panel to Define Removal Rates for Shoreline Management Projects” to generate credits. However, some credit calculation protocols provided in the report remain open for interpretation, and depending on the interpretation could greatly affect the number of nutrient reductions generated by each proposed project. To add consistency to the program, an interim approach has been created and implemented until final guidance is issued by a stakeholder workgroup. The interim approach will allow projects to be consistently evaluated and ensure that these projects are not delayed while final guidance is developed.
Now Available! Renewable Energy Development Atlas
REDA is intended to support the work of a wide range of professionals, including local and regional planners determining site suitability and long-term land use strategies, policymakers developing informed renewable energy policies, and researchers studying the environmental and land use impacts of renewable energy projects. It also serves as a valuable tool for developers planning new projects, or anyone with a general interest in the growth of renewable energy in Virginia.
Key features of REDA include full coverage of utility-scale renewable energy permits approved by both DEQ and SCC, precise georeferenced permit boundaries aligned with statewide parcel data, and ongoing updates as new permits are issued. If you’d like to explore the dataset, you can download REDA here, or view it via the DEQ Environmental Data Mapper.
Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Improves Application Efficiency
The Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) is making significant strides in funding projects to reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality. A new worksheet will ensure that all grant applicants receive initial agreements by April 2025. It also clarifies timelines, requirements, end dates, and is helping to proactively address issues before they arise. The worksheet will flag missing or ineligible items, reducing the risk of costly corrections later.
Introducing DEQ's New Data Center Air Permits Resource Page
As Virginia’s data center industry continues to grow, so has public interest in these facilities. To provide easier access to information about data centers in Virginia, DEQ launched a webpage that contains all issued air permits for these facilities. This user-friendly database is updated weekly. Whether you’re conducting research or you’re just interested in seeing an air permit for a specific data center, this page provides a convenient and reliable way to access the information users need.
Prepare for Upcoming Phase-Out of EPS Foam
Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS foam, is often used in food packaging and takeout containers. It is very lightweight, does not biodegrade, and is frequently seen as litter. In the water, animals can mistake toxic foam pieces for food. As a result of these issues, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation to phase out EPS foam use in food establishments such as restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias.
Many establishments are already switching to EPS-free packaging materials such as fiberboard and aluminum foil. All Virginia establishments will need to do so soon. By July 1, 2025, food establishments with 20 or more locations must stop using EPS containers, and by July 1, 2026, all remaining food establishments must comply.
For more information, visit DEQ’s foam free resources webpage or contact Denice Rynders at denice.rynders@deq.virginia.gov.
Learn About DEQ's Pollution Prevention Programs
As part of DEQ’s ongoing virtual education series, you’re invited to tune in to a webinar on DEQ’s pollution prevention programs on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Webinar participants will learn about the importance of pollution prevention, what DEQ Pollution Prevention Programs exist, learn how to ID Virginia Green businesses, find more pollution prevention resources, and learn how to help prevent pollution.
Register now for the upcoming webinar. The webinar will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube page. Sign up here to be notified of future webinars. This webinar is the fifth in DEQ's virtual education series. Previous topics have included water quality, air quality, a general DEQ overview, and a deep dive into tools and resources.
DEQ will award $20 million in grants in early 2025 to reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. To be eligible to apply for these “Pay-For- Outcomes” grants, you must register by Dec. 23 for a mandatory pre-application webinar on Jan. 6. Applications are due Feb. 3. More information about this grant program and registration instructions will be available on DEQ's NPS Pilot Program webpage.
Who can apply?
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- Anyone who can manage a grant over $100,000, implement a project to reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, and document the outcomes
As part of our efforts to accurately monitor groundwater and drought conditions, DEQ recently installed new real-time groundwater level monitoring equipment at Lake Anna State Park.
The new equipment will allow for continuous monitoring and real-time telemetry. The equipment includes a pressure transducer to measure the groundwater level in the well, as well as a solar power supply and equipment for data recording and transmission.
The system measures the groundwater level every 15 minutes and uploads the data every hour to USGS databases. Provisional data is available to the public immediately via the National Water Information System. DEQ staff will routinely analyze and certify data in accordance with USGS standards. Once the station has collected 10 years of continuous water-level data, it will become eligible for inclusion in the national Climate Response Network of monitoring wells that support study of the long-term relationship between precipitation and groundwater. CRN wells also provide key information to support drought monitoring in Virginia.
Coming Soon! 2025 DEQ Petroleum Remediation Contracts
Does your company provide environmental investigation, remediation, and emergency response services for petroleum spills and releases? If yes, your company can compete for a contract with DEQ. The DEQ Storage Tank Program manages multiple state-lead contracts for petroleum-related release investigation and cleanup work to include emergency responses. In early 2025, the program will issue a request for proposals that will lead to the award of multiple contracts. More information will be available this winter on DEQ’s Petroleum Tanks webpage and on Virginia’s procurement platform, eVA. For questions, please contact James Barnett at 804-659-1296 or james.barnett@deq.virginia.gov.
DEQ Staff Elected to Officer Positions of National Organizations
DEQ Land Division Director Kathryn Perszyk and DEQ Air and Renewable Energy Division Director Michael Dowd were recently elected to officer roles at the Association of State & Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) and the National Council on Electricity Policy (NCEP), respectively.
At its annual meeting, ASTSWMO elected Perszyk as Vice President of the ASTSWMO Board. Previously, Perszyk served a three-year term as the Materials Management Subcommittee Chair. Perszyk will sit on the ASTSWMO Board for an additional three years. The first year, she will serve the role of Vice President. The second year, she will serve as President of the board. In her final year, Perszyk will serve as immediate Past President. Due to her election, Virginia has been selected to host the Spring 2027 ASTSWMO Mid-Year Meeting. ASTSWMO’s mission is to enhance and promote effective State and Territorial waste management programs and to affect relevant national policies for waste and materials management, environmentally sustainable practices, and environmental restoration. ASTSWMO represents all 50 states, five territories, and Washington D.C.
Dowd is the first non-state public utility commissioner to be elected as Vice Chair for NCEP. NCEP is affiliated with National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). It serves as a forum for collaboration around grid-related issues at state, regional, and national levels and offers an opportunity for state electricity decisionmakers to examine new technologies, policies, regulations, and markets that impact state resources and the electric power system. NCEP includes over 200 representatives from public utility commissions, air and environmental regulatory agencies, state energy offices, governors’ staffs, state legislatures, and consumer advocates. Congratulations to both Kathryn Perszyk and Michael Dowd!