Guidance Document Change: The Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook provides information on stormwater management, including erosion and sediment control, in Virginia and includes guidance to implement water quality and water quantity criteria in the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation, 9VAC25-875 (VESM Regulation), effective July 1, 2024. Version 1.1 of the Handbook makes technical corrections and updates to Version 1.0 (effective April 27, 2024).
A full list of revisions is available under the “Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, Version 1.1” banner on the DEQ website at: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/stormwater/stormwater-construction/handbooks
The Handbook replaces the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Third Edition, 1992 (to be rescinded July 1, 2025) and the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, First Edition, 1999 (to be rescinded July 1, 2025).
To allow time for the regulated community and other stakeholders to transition to the Handbook, DEQ will accept applications, plans, specifications, and other submissions developed using the Handbook and Virginia Runoff Reduction Method (VRRM) 4.1 beginning on July 1, 2024, concurrent with the effective date of the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation, 9VAC25-875. Where DEQ serves as the VSMP authority, any stormwater management plan submitted and deemed complete (9VAC25-875-110) before July 1, 2025, may use either specifications in the existing manuals, handbooks, and guidance listed above or the Handbook and VRRM 4.1.
After July 1, 2025, when modifications are submitted to approved plans that were developed without using the Handbook and VRRM 4.1, if the land-use assumptions upon which the stormwater management facility was designed and implemented change (e.g., increase in impervious cover), then the areas which result in an increase in nutrient loading should comply with the Handbook and VRRM 4.1.
Because Version 1.1 of the Handbook is limited to updates and technical corrections and does not include any changes to the BMP specifications, going from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1 is not expected to impact plans that have been submitted or are in progress based on Version 1.0.
Commenter:
Molly Thomson
Figure P-SUP-08-1
