Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
Board
Department of Environmental Quality

General Notice
Availability Of The 2020 Fish Tissue Monitoring Data
Date Posted: 12/28/2021
Expiration Date: 2/16/2022
Submitted to Registrar for publication: NO
No comment forum defined for this notice.

PURPOSE OF NOTICE:  The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) announces the availability of the 2020 Fish Tissue monitoring data. 

BACKGROUND:  The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducts routine studies of fish tissue and sediment samples in state waters to assess the human health risks for individuals who may consume fish from state waters and to identify impaired aquatic ecosystems.  Results are made available to the public each year on the agency’s website. 

In 2020, DEQ collected fish tissue samples from sites located in the watersheds of the Dan and Roanoke Rivers, Shenandoah River, Tennessee River (Cinch, Powell, and Holston), Chesapeake Bay mainstem and tributaries (Mobjack and Pocomoke Rivers), tidal Rappahannock River, and the Maury River. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls and a suite of 17 metals, including mercury.

2020 monitoring results are available on the agency’s website at the following link: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/monitoring/fish-tissue-monitoring.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) uses the data generated by DEQ’s fish tissue monitoring program to determine the need for fish consumption advisories.  More information on VDH fish consumption advisories is available here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/public-health-toxicology/fish-consumption-advisory/ .

CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Questions on DEQ’s fish tissue monitoring program can be directed to Rick Browder at Richard.Browder@deq.virginia.gov , or Gabriel Darkwah at Gabriel.Darkwah@deq.virginia.gov .  Additional information is also available on the VADEQ Water Quality Monitoring website at the following location https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/monitoring


Contact Information
Name / Title: Richard Browder 
Address: 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, 23218
Email Address: richard.browder@deq.virginia.gov
Telephone: (804)698-4134    FAX: ()-    TDD: ()-