On behalf of the Board, the Department is presenting its draft Guidelines for the new Stormwater Local Assistance Fund for public review and comment. A public meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14th in the Department of Environmental Quality's 2nd Floor Conference Room, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.  The public review and comment period will end on September 18, 2013.

In order to reduce non-point source pollution from stormwater runoff, the Virginia General Assembly included Item 360 in Chapter 860 of the Acts of Assembly (the Commonwealth’s 2013-2014 Budget) which created and set forth specific parameters for the administration of the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF). With the consolidation of water quality programs with the State Water Control Board (SWCB) through HB 2048 (2013) and SB 1279 (2013), administration of the SLAF resides with the SWCB and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).  

The legislation directed the Board to issue guidelines for the distribution of moneys from the Fund and required the process for development of guidelines to include (a) a 60-day public comment period on the draft guidelines; (b) written responses to all comments received; and (c) notice of the availability of draft guidelines and final guidelines to all who request such notice. The draft guidelines are now available for public review and comment at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/programs/water/cleanwaterFinancingAssistance.aspx .

 Questions and comments should be directed to the contact person below.