Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT – CLEANUP STUDY- for Appomattox River Tributaries
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 1/14/2026 5:30 pm |
| Type | Physical Location Only |
| Location | Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, 1303 W 3rd St, Farmville, VA 23901. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held January 21, 2026 at the same time and location. |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document |
Meeting Agenda
12/8/2025
(131k)
|
| Purpose of the meeting PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup study, also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load report (TMDL), for Appomattox River Tributaries: Big Guinea Creek, Briery Creek, Bush River, Crane Creek, Harris Creek, Horsepen Creek, Nibbs Creek, Sandy River, and Winticomack Creek, located in Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, and Prince Edward Counties. These streams are listed as impaired waters and require a cleanup study since monitoring data indicates that the waters do not meet Virginia’s water quality standards for Aquatic Life (Benthics). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the State Water Control Law requires DEQ to develop cleanup studies to address pollutants responsible for causing waters to be on Virginia’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. A component of a cleanup study is the Waste Load Allocation (WLA); therefore, this notice is provided pursuant to §2.2-4006.A.14 of the Administrative Process Act for any future adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation (9VAC25-720) after completion of the study. The adoption of the WLA may require new or additional requirements for entities holding a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit in these watersheds. At the meeting, DEQ will introduce the community to the process used in Virginia to improve stream water quality and invite the public to participate in the study by attending community engagement meetings or through a TMDL Advisory Group (TAG). DEQ will provide information on the watersheds of interest, the TMDL process, the stressor analysis, and the next steps in the study. CLEANUP STUDY LOCATION: The cleanup study addresses the following impaired stream segments: The Big Guinea Creek segment, including Horsepen Creek (JA18), is in Cumberland County and is 8.73 miles from its headwaters to the confluence with the Appomattox River. The Horsepen Creek segment is 3.99 miles from its headwaters to Big Guinea Creek. The Briery Creek segment, located in Prince Edward County, is 10.48 miles from Briery Creek Lake Dam to its confluence with Bush River. The Bush River segment, including Rice Creek, is in Prince Edward County and is 11.49 miles from its headwaters to Mountain Creek. The Rice Creek segment is 4.59 miles from its headwaters to Bush River. The Crane Creek segment, located in Appomattox County, is 5.19 miles from its headwaters to the confluence with Vaughns Creek. The Harris Creek segment, located in Cumberland County, is 6.53 miles from its headwaters to the confluence with the Appomattox River. The Horsepen (JA05) Creek segment, located in Cumberland County, is 4.01 miles from its headwaters to the confluence with the Appomattox River. The Sandy River segment, including North Branch Sandy River, is in Prince Edward County and is 4.08 miles from the backwaters of Sandy River Reservoir to the Prince Edward Lake Dam. The North Branch Sandy River segment is 2.40 miles from its headwaters to the confluence with Acorn Creek. The South Branch Nibbs Creek segment, located in Amelia County, is 5.87 miles from its headwaters to the confluence of North and South branches. The Winticomack Creek segment, located in Amelia County, is 4.07 miles from the confluence with Long Branch to the mouth at the Appomattox River. TMDL ADVISORY GROUP (TAG): DEQ invites public comment on the establishment of a TAG to assist in development of this cleanup study. A TAG is a standing group of interested parties established by the department for the purpose of advising the department during developing of the cleanup study. Any member of the public may attend and observe proceedings. However, only group members who have been invited by the department to serve on the TAG may actively participate in the group’s discussions. Persons requesting the department use a TAG and those interested in participating should notify the DEQ contact person by the end of the comment period and provide their name, address, phone number, email address, and their organization (if any). If DEQ convenes a TAG, all individuals who wish to participate on the TAG will be considered on a case-by-case basis. TAG members will be expected to attend all TAG meetings. Notification of the composition of the panel will be sent to all individuals who requested participation. If DEQ receives no requests to establish a TAG, the department will not establish a standing group but will still solicit public feedback by conducting community engagement meetings during cleanup study development. At these community meetings, which are open to the public and any person may participate, DEQ will present its progress on the cleanup study and solicit feedback from those present. PUBLIC MEETING: The first public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, 1303 W 3rd St, Farmville, VA 23901 on January 14, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held January 21, 2026 at the same time and location stated above. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: January 14, 2026 to February 13, 2026. HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization they represent (if any), mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester. CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Denise Moyer; DEQ-PRO, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA, 23060; Phone: (804) 712-9538; E-mail: Denise.Moyer@deq.virginia.gov. | |
| Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
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| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Title: | Denise Moyer |
| Address: |
DEQ-PRO 4949-A Cox Road Glen Allen, 23060 |
| Email Address: | Denise.Moyer@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (804)712-9538 FAX: ()- TDD: ()- |
| Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, such as sign language interpreters and/or real-time captioning services, are available upon request. Please send accommodation requests to the meeting contact as early as possible but no later than seven business days before the date of the meeting. | |