Regional Water Supply Plans Are On Their Way! Read more
	NEW WetCAT Interface and Layers Read More
	Clarification for Data Center Air Permits Now Available Read More
	Registration is Open for the 2025 Virginia Brownfields Symposium! Read More
	New Land Subsidence Monitoring Equipment Now Active! Read more
	Get Involved with DEQ's Comprehensive Climate Action Plan Read more
	Where to Find Information for Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Tier II Reporting Requirements Read more
	Now Live! DEQ 2025 Water Monitoring Plan Read more
	Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia Read more
	Register Today for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit Read more

Regional Water Supply Plans Are On Their Way!

DEQ will hold kickoff meetings through April 7 to start the new regional water supply planning process. Amendments to the Local and Regional Water Supply Planning regulation now require this regional water supply planning approach through 26 Regional Planning Units, which are groupings of localities by watershed/river basin. By October 2029, these planning units will develop and submit Regional Water Supply Plans, which will include information on water sources, uses, demand projections, drought responses, water supply risks, and proposed strategies to address them. This regional water supply approach will help communities to better respond to challenges such as droughts or disruptions faced by drinking water providers.

In 2030, DEQ plans to issue its first fully regional State Water Resources Plan, after analyzing and modeling surface and groundwater resources submitted in these regional plans, water withdrawal reporting, and surface and groundwater permits.

Learn more about this process at an upcoming meeting near you.

NEW WetCAT Interface and Layers

DEQ’s Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) has some exciting new features! The tool, which provides geographical information about wetland types, water quality, and trends, now includes the following:

• Automated form generation for mitigation and site selection
• Incorporation of the Virginia Floristic Quality Assessment calculator
• Calibrated wetland stressors with surrounding landcover and wetland condition
• Information on the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed, including the portion in North Carolina
• Newly adopted coastal barrier maps based on changes to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA)

The newly adopted maps add 294,000 acres to the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), which will protect habitats and enhance coastal resilience in Virginia and beyond. Additionally, the maps remove from CBRS nearly 1,400 acres—including approximately 955 structures—correcting previous mapping errors that affected property owners. Structures removed from CBRS are now eligible for federal flood insurance and other federal programs. All structures that are on the ground in the newly added areas within one year of the law’s passage will remain eligible for all federal programs through a grandfathering provision.

Click the following link to learn more about WetCAT. The CBRS mapping can be found in the “Other Layers” section of WetCAT.

Clarification for Data Center Air Permits Now Available

In order to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, data centers employ emergency generators (commonly referred to as emergency gen-sets) to keep the data servers running when the power grid goes down. Data centers not only construct enough back-up generation to prevent the facility from going off-line, but they usually maintain redundant systems (i.e., back-ups to the back-ups). Most of these emergency generators operate using diesel fuel.  

In the context of generators, "emergency" is defined differently in the federal and Virginia air pollution regulations. Both definitions allow such generators to run in a true emergency (i.e., an unexpected power failure). The federal regulations also allow "emergency" generators to operate for non-emergency reasons for up to 50 hours a year. This additional 50 hours is not permitted under the Virginia definition of "emergency." The two air permit clarification documents (Clarification 2025-01 Emergency Generator Air Permit Guidelines and Clarification 2025-02 Data Center Air Permit Guidelines) offer more insight into how DEQ approaches permitting these units. These clarifications are not intended to describe a definitive approach to every situation since air permits are issued on a case-by-case basis, but DEQ's goal is to provide helpful information in understanding the air permitting of these units.

The third document, Clarification 2025-03 Construct Prior to a Permit, offers clarification on how much construction can take place prior to receiving an air permit. There are construction activities that may take place, however, any construction work directly related to an area of a facility that will contain equipment or processes that emit air pollution is not allowed. Further questions regarding what is or isn't allowed should be directed to the regional air compliance manager responsible for the area where the facility will be located.

Registration is Open for the 2025 Virginia Brownfields Symposium!

Join us for this year's one-day-only Virginia Brownfields Symposium in Hopewell on April 24. Register here!

This year's theme is Measuring Success in Brownfields and is intended to be an opportunity to highlight progress, share challenges and accomplishments, and recognize the hard work and diligence of Virginia's Brownfields champions.

Join our team as we visit an array of unique local sites featured in Hopewell's Brownfield Redevelopment Plan during the morning mobile workshop. In the afternoon, share insights and learn from experts at the John Randolph Foundation. Then continue to network with fellow professionals dedicated to revitalizing our communities at the evening reception while overlooking scenic views of the Appomattox and James Rivers at The Boathouse Restaurant at City Point.

DEQ is committed to promoting brownfields redevelopment in Hopewell and throughout the Commonwealth. Just recently, it was announced that five localities were recipients of Site Remediation Grants totaling $1.3 million from the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund (VBAF), a program in which DEQ continues to collaborate with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). VBAF also awards Site Assessment and Planning grants of up to $50,000 throughout the year.  

In December 2024, a new DEQ-funded extensometer was completed near West Point and is now taking real-time measurements of land subsidence. The land subsidence data from the West Point Extensometer (56J 49) is published online and available to the public. In cooperation with DEQ, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates four extensometers near Franklin, Suffolk, Nansemond, and now West Point. The West Point extensometer represents an important expansion of Virginia's ability to monitor vertical land motion, including land subsidence that may contribute to relative sea-level rise in coastal areas.

An extensometer is a steel pipe with a bottom end anchored to bedrock at a specific depth, and a top end attached to instruments that measure the changing height of the land surface above the bedrock. In Virginia's Coastal Plain, this height corresponds to the thickness of the sands, silts, and clays that make up the Coastal Plain aquifer system. Aquifer-system thickness can change over time because of groundwater withdrawals, which reduce groundwater pressure and may cause compaction. Aquifer-system thickness can also increase in response to replenishment, such as the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) planned aquifer-recharge project known as the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow, or SWIFT.

HRSD provided the land for the West Point extensometer through an easement to DEQ. The importance of this work is underscored by the cooperation between, and the recognition and support of, multiple local, state, and federal agencies.

This installation is part of the ongoing expansion of DEQ's statewide network of groundwater observation wells that provides high-quality data about groundwater levels and groundwater quality across the Commonwealth. The first phase of this groundwater observation well expansion includes the installation of 20 bedrock wells and will be concluding soon. The second phase, which includes installation of up to 19 Coastal Plain wells will begin as early as March 2025. Together, these initiatives represent a major investment in groundwater-resource monitoring and a demonstration of the successful long-term partnership between USGS and DEQ.

DEQ is currently developing Virginia's 2025 Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) and wants to hear from you! Throughout February 2025, the DEQ CCAP team will be hosting in-person community listening sessions at each of DEQ’s regional offices in Virginia Beach, Woodbridge, Harrisonburg, Salem, and Abingdon. Join us from 6–8 p.m. to share your ideas and help identify climate pollution reduction strategies to be included in the plan. Although attending in-person provides the opportunity for direct engagement, DEQ is also providing a virtual option to listen in and ask questions. Your feedback matters – DEQ will compile and analyze all public input to better shape a plan that reflects the priorities of Virginia’s communities.

Find all meeting details on the CPRG Calendar, or visit the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) webpage for more information. Questions? Reach out to our team at CPRG@DEQ.Virginia.Gov.

It is that time of year for annual Tier II reporting for facilities that house hazardous substances over the reporting threshold. For a full informational guide and step-by-step walk-throughs of Tier II reporting please visit the DEQ Community Right-To-Know page. Here you will find a "Resources" menu filled with quick links to a walk-through webinar, Tier2 Submit how-to slides, and software links to guide you in your reporting process.  Further down on the Community Right-To-Know page, there is information on the deadlines and how to submit your report as well as contact information for more detailed questions you may have for our SARA Title II staff.  

Now Live! DEQ 2025 Water Monitoring Plan

DEQ has released the 2025 Water Quality Monitoring Plan, and requests nominations of water bodies for inclusion in the 2026 Monitoring plan.  Every year, we collect water samples for testing at more than 1,000 locations across the state.  The annual Water Quality Monitoring Plan shows where we’re monitoring, when we’re monitoring, and what we’re measuring.  The 2025 Monitoring Plan is now available on our water monitoring page and you can view an interactive map of the 2025 monitoring stations on our Environmental Data Mapper.  To nominate water bodies for monitoring in 2026, please follow the instructions on our nomination form.  If we can help answer any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at: citizenwater@deq.virginia.gov.

Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program at DEQ and Wetlands Watch are thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new resource, Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia. This comprehensive guide compiles adaptive strategies and case studies for the first time and is tailored for shoreline professionals seeking sustainable solutions to combat the challenges posed by rising sea levels and coastal hazards, such flooding and saltwater intrusion.

In addition to providing NOAA funds for this project, the Virginia CZM Program facilitated input from its networked partners and stakeholders to develop the guide, including the critical insight of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia’s shoreline permitting body. Virginia requires living shorelines as the default erosion control strategy for property owners. Programs including cost-sharing, grants, low-interest loans, and tax incentives are available from nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

Without intervention, the effects of sea level rise are predicted to result in significant loss of tidal wetlands in Virginia. Living shorelines create new or enhance existing wetlands along a shoreline and can offset Virginia’s predicted wetlands losses. Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia contains best practices for shoreline professionals to design living shorelines that will help protect tidal wetlands and shoreline property now and in the future.

For more information, contact Virginia CZM and Wetlands Watch staff: Will Isenberg, william.isenberg@deq.virginia.gov or Stacie McGraw, stacie.mcgraw@wetlandswatch.org

Register Today for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit

Join us for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit from March 18-20 at Norfolk Botanical Garden! The summit, co-hosted by Virginia CZM and Clean Virginia Waterways, will focus on solutions to measurably reduce plastic pollution from entering Virginia’s freshwater and tidal rivers, estuaries, wetlands, beaches, and ocean. The summit will include in-depth discussions of the strategies and actions in the 2021-2025 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan that address four major marine debris types:

· Goal 1: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Consumer Debris and Single-use Plastics

· Goal 2: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Derelict Fishing Gear

· Goal 3: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Microplastics and Microfibers

· Goal 4: Prevent and Mitigate the Contributions of Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

Marine debris has become one of the most widespread pollution problems in the world’s oceans and waterways, impacting wildlife, human health and safety, habitats, and economies. Since Virginia CZM began working on the issue of marine debris in 2013, the topic has been an increasing concern for Virginians. Concerns among local and state government officials have continued to increase. Marine debris coverage in the media has become more prevalent, and public awareness has been elevated.

For more information, contact Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or William.Isenberg@deq.virginia.gov