Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
State Water Control Board
chapter
Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation [9 VAC 25 ‑ 31]
Action is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Action:
2024 40 CFR Part 136 Reference Update/Methods Update Rule
Action 6591
 
General Information
Action Summary Various regulations of the State Water Control Board include references to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These regulatory amendments will bring references to 40 CFR Part 136 up to date with the requirements published in the July 1, 2024, update to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This action will update 25 Chapters, listed in the table on the preceding page, to incorporate EPA’s Methods Update Rule (MUR) amendments. (89 FR 27288, April 16, 2024, effective June 17, 2024.) The EPA finalized changes to its test procedures required by industries and municipalities when analyzing the chemical, physical, and biological properties of wastewater and other environmental samples for reporting under EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the EPA to promulgate these test procedures (analytical methods) for analysis of pollutants. The EPA anticipated that these changes would provide increased flexibility for the regulated community in meeting monitoring requirements while improving data quality. In addition, this update to the CWA methods incorporated technological advances in analytical technology. Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1342) authorizes states to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program under state law. The Commonwealth of Virginia received such authorization in 1975 under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. EPA and operates the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) program and Virginia ‘s regulations need to maintain consistency with the federal regulations.
Chapters Affected
  VAC Chapter Name Action Type
Primary 9 VAC 25-31 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation Amend Existing Regulation
Other chapters
  9 VAC 25 - 110 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Sewage Discharges Less Than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons Per Day Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 115 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Seafood Processing Facilities Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 120 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Discharges From Groundwater Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Dewatering Activities of Contaminated Sites, and Hydrostatic Tests Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 151 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 190 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Nonmetallic Mineral Mining Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 192 Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) Regulation and General Permit for Animal Feeding Operations and Animal Waste Management Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 193 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Concrete Products Facilities Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 194 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Vehicle Wash Facilities and Laundry Facilities Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 196 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Non-Contact Cooling Water Discharges of 50,000 Gallons Per Day or Less Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 210 Virginia Water Protection Permit Regulation Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 32 Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) Permit Regulation Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 610 Ground Water Withdrawal Regulations Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 630 Virginia Pollution Abatement Regulation and General Permit for Poultry Waste Management Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 660 Virginia Water Protection General Permit for Impacts Less Than One-Half Acre Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 670 Virginia Water Protection General Permit for Facilities and Activities of Utility and Public Service Companies Regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the State Corporation Commission and Other Utility Line Activities Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 680 Virginia Water Protection General Permit for Linear Transportation Projects Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 690 Virginia Water Protection General Permit for Impacts from Development and Certain Mining Activities Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 790 Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 800 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Discharges Resulting from the Application of Pesticides to Surface Waters Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 820 General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Watershed Permit Regulation for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Discharges and Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Virginia Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 860 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Potable Water Treatment Plants Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 875 Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 880 General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (formerly Part XIV, 4VAC50-60) Amend Existing Regulation
  9 VAC 25 - 890 Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) (formerly Part XV, 4VAC50-60) Amend Existing Regulation
Executive Branch Review This Action is exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act, but falls within the Executive Branch and will be reviewed by the Governor's Office.
RIS Project Yes  [7895]
Is Federal action a driving factor in this regulatory change? If so, please provide a specific reference to the law, regulation or court case.
EPA’s Methods Update Rule (MUR) amendments. (89 FR 27288, April 16, 2024, effective June 17, 2024.)
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
10493 Final Submitted to the Registrar and awaiting publication (11/18/2024).
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: William K. Norris 
Address: 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
Email Address: william.norris@deq.virginia.gov
Phone: (804)350-2743    FAX: ()-    TDD: ()-