Marine Resources Commission

 

GDForum ID: 2250

Description of Proposed Guidance Document Changes

Virginia's Subaqueous Guidelines require an update to maintain alignment with the recently passed SB 1074 and HB 2181 by the 2023 General Assembly (Va. Acts Chs. 258 and 259, codified as § 28.2-1203 A.9 of the Code of Virginia), which became effective from July 1, 2023. Additionally, this update will ensure consistency with the subsequent VMRC/DEQ Memorandum of Agreement. In this legislation, any activity conducted in nontidal waters provided that the person performing such activity obtains a Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWP) and complies with all requirements of the Virginia Water Resources and Wetlands Protection Program pursuant to Article 2.2 (§ 62.1-44.15:20 et seq.) of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1, is now not required to obtain a submerged lands encroachment permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). Additionally, in determining whether to issue a VWP, the Department of Environmental Quality shall be guided by the factors outlined in subsection A of § 28.2-1205. VMRC’s residual jurisdiction over non-tidal waters for encroachments over or under State-owned subaqueous lands may be reviewed in the VMRC/DEQ Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) Regarding Permitting in Non-tidal Waters. VMRC subsequently has drafted the necessary updates to its Subaqueous Guidelines in response to the new legislation and retention of its residual jurisdiction over activities impacting State-owned submerged lands in the Commonwealth’s non-tidal waters.

 

Guidance Document(s) for this Comment Forum

Document ID	Document Title	Document in Effect	Proposed Document
4586	Subaqueous Guidelines	Document	Proposed Document

 

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