Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
TMDL Public Meeting - James River & Tributaries (Henrico, Prince George, Charles City, and Surry Counties)
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 6/26/2013 2:00 pm |
| Location | Charles City Government School Board Administration Building Auditorium
10900 Courthouse Road Charles City, VA 23030 |
| 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 PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is announcing a draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study to restore water quality and the initiation of the Implementation Plan (IP) for waterbodies mentioned above. MEETING DESCRIPTION: Public meetings provide an opportunity for the public to share their knowledge of the watershed and learn about pollution affecting community waters. Meetings will feature a summary of information from the draft TMDL, including watershed land use, water quality monitoring, suspected sources of bacteria, and the reduction of source bacteria required to meet water quality standards. It will feature an introduction to Implementation Planning (IP) for the watershed. Those attending the meeting are invited to ask questions, contribute their knowledge of the watershed, and participate in the working groups as part of the IP phase. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: Virginia agencies have been working to identify sources of bacteria in the James River and it’s tributaries. The impaired lengths are: Crewes Channel in Henrico, 3.19 mile length; Western Run in Henrico, 1.85 mile length; West Run in Charles City, 1.86 mile length; Wards Creek in Prince George, 8.47 mile length; Upper Chippokes Creek in Prince George/Surry, 5.61 mile length; and James River (mainstem) in Prince George, Charles City & Surry, 3.76 sq. miles. These streams are impaired for failure to meet the Primary Contact (Recreational or Swimming) designated use, due to high concentrations of bacteria. The study reports on the sources of bacteria and recommends total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs, for 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, bacterial levels need to be reduced to the TMDL amount. The draft TMDL report will be available at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLDevelopment/DraftTMDLReports.aspx approximately one week prior to the meeting for review. The Implementation Planning (IP) phase utilizes the source information and reductions identified in the TMDL to devise one scenario of watershed measures, or Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs can be implemented throughout the watershed in order to meet the TMDL bacteria reduction goals. The IP phase requires the participation of watershed stakeholders at “working group” meetings to evaluate BMPs for the watershed. A steering committee, made up of working group members, is designated to guide the process. HOW A DECISION IS MADE: After the public meeting and all public comments have been considered and addressed, DEQ will submit the final TMDL report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Control Board for approval. When the IP is complete following working group & steering committee meetings and a final public meeting and comment period, the document will be sent to the State Water Control Board for approval. The comment period will begin on 6/27/2013 and will end on 7/29/2013. Notice of this meeting appears in the June 17, 2013 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: | Margaret Smigo / TMDL Coordinator |
| Address: |
DEQ - Piedmont Regional Office 4949A Cox Road Glen Allen, 23060 |
| Email Address: | Margaret.Smigo@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (804)527-5124 FAX: (804)527-5106 TDD: ()- |