Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
Public Informational Meeting - Elizabeth River & James River and Tributaries Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Water Quality Study Update

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 3/14/2014  10:30 am
Location Kitzinger Community Room
James City County Library
7770 Croaker Road
Norge, VA
**In case of inclement weather, please contact Jennifer Howell at (757) 518-2111 for meeting status.** 
Board Website http://www.deq.virginia.gov 
Agenda document agency has not posted
Minutes document minutes not taken
Disability Friendly? Yes       Deaf interpreter available upon request? Yes
Purpose of the meeting
Meetings are to provide an update on progress since initial public meetings were held in 2010 and 2011. A formal comment period will not be offered at this time; however, the public is encouraged to contact DEQ with questions or concerns. DEQ expects to complete the study next year, at which time a draft study will be made available and public comments will be accepted on the document. STUDY BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality initiated a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study for the tidal James River, Elizabeth River, and selected tributaries for Polychlorinated Biphenyl’s (PCBs) at public meetings in late 2010 and early 2011. PCBs were first detected in fish-tissue samples collected at monitoring stations in the tidal James River and Elizabeth River watersheds in the early 2000s. PCBs were historically used as coolants and lubricants, particularly in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment, because of their high heat capacity. The U.S. prohibited production of PCBs in the late 1970s because it was found that they accumulate and persist in the environment, especially within the fatty tissue of animals, and evidence showed that PCBs can be harmful to human health. For information about PCBs and potential health impacts, please visit the VDH Frequently Asked Questions for PCBs or the EPA PCB website. For the handouts and presentations provided at the initial DEQ public meetings, please visit the DEQ TMDL website: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/PCBTMDLs.aspx The waterways impaired for fish consumption due to the concentration of PCBs are: Appomattox River (to Lake Chesdin Dam), Poythress Run, Bailey Creek (to Route 630), Chickahominy River (to Walkers Dam), Skiffes Creek (to Skiffes Creek Dam), Pagan River (and tributary Jones Creek), Chuckatuck Creek, Nansemond River (and tributaries Bennett Creek and Star Creek), Hampton River, Willoughby Bay and the Elizabeth R. system (Western, Eastern, and Southern Branches and Lafayette R.) and tributaries St. Julian Creek, Deep Creek, and Broad Creek. The study will report on sources of PCB contamination and recommend total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs, for the impaired waters. A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, pollutant levels have to be reduced to the TMDL amount. The meetings will discuss the study in the middle-to-lower James River and tributaries, along with the Elizabeth River and tributaries. The area of the James River from the fall line to the Charles City Co. and Surry Co. extents will be discussed at separate meetings..
Meeting Scope
 
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
 
Discuss particular regulations / chapters

Contact Information
Name / Title: Jennifer Howell  / TMDL Regional Coordinator
Address: DEQ - Tidewater Regional Office
5636 Southern Blvd
Virginia Beach, 23462
Email Address: Jennifer.Howell@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (757)518-2111    FAX: (757)518-2009    TDD: ()-