Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
 
Board
Department of Environmental Quality
 
chapter
Public Participation Guidelines [9 VAC 15 ‑ 11]
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8/17/21  4:12 pm
Commenter: Lorraine Fleck

Improve Virginia DEQ Public Engagement Process
 

To bring about environmental fairness and justice, the voices of marginalized communities across the commonwealth need to be heard, valued, and prioritized in all decision-making processes. The regulation needs to require public hearings on permits in the directly impacted communities early in the process, with both in person and hybrid opportunities, and at times when full time workers can attend. It should also require more advance notice of when public hearings will be held. The people who are most affected and who have historically been ignored need to finally have a voice. 

CommentID: 99772