Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - Implementation Plan for the Buffalo, Cedar and Colliers Creek Watersheds (Rockbridge County)

 
Meeting Details
Date / Time 10/28/2014  6:00 pm
Location Natural Bridge Park and Historic Hotel
15 Appledore Lane
Natural Bridge, VA 
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? No
Purpose of the meeting
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a second and final public meeting on the development of and will seek written and oral comments from interested persons on a draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan for the Buffalo (North and South Forks), Cedar and Colliers Creek watersheds in Rockbridge County. These creeks were first listed as impaired on the Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report due to violations of the State’s water quality standard for bacteria in 2002 (Cedar Creek), 2004 (Buffalo Creek, mainstem), 2006 (Colliers Creek), 2010 (South Fork Buffalo Creek) and 2012 (North Fork Buffalo Creek). The creeks have remained on the 303(d) list for these impairments since then. In addition, Colliers Creek was listed as impaired due to water quality violations of the general aquatic life (benthic) standard in 2010. The impaired segments of the North and South Forks of the Buffalo and Colliers Creek extend from their headwaters down to their confluence with the mainstem of Buffalo Creek, 7.28, 13.24, and 13.77 miles, respectively. The impaired segment of Buffalo Creek extends 15.51 miles downstream to its confluence with the Maury River. The impaired segment of Cedar Creek extends 11.49 miles from the headwaters to its confluence with the James River. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia require DEQ to develop TMDLs for pollutants responsible for each impaired water contained in Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL Priority List and Report. In addition, Section 62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia requires the development of an implementation plan (IP) for approved TMDLs. The IP should provide measurable goals and the date of expected achievement of water quality objectives. The IP should also include the corrective actions needed and their associated costs, benefits, and environmental impacts. Bacteria TMDLs were completed by DEQ for all of the creeks, and a benthic TMDL addressing sediment was completed for Colliers Creek. The TMDLs were submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval on January 2, 2014. The TMDL report is available on the DEQ website at: www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLDevelopment/DraftTMDLReports.aspx. Development of the TMDL implementation plan began in May 2014. The meeting will include a community supper, sponsored by the Upper James Resource Conservation and Development Council. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to Nesha McRae by phone or email (contact information provided below). The implementation plan will be available on the DEQ website the day after the meeting for public comment: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLDevelopment/DraftTMDLReports.aspx. The public comment period for the Implementation Plan will end on November 27, 2014. Written comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the comments. Notice of this meeting appears in the October 20, 2014 Virginia Register.
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: Nesha McRae 
Address: 4411 Early Road
PO Box 3000
Harrisonburg, 22801
Email Address: nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (540)574-7850    FAX: (540)574-7878    TDD: ()-