Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Environmental Quality

State Water Control Board

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The Handbook replaces the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Third Edition, 1992 (to be rescinded July 1, 2025) and the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, First Edition, 1999 (to be rescinded July 1, 2025).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.

Previous Comment Next Comment Back to List of Comments

8/14/24 4:10 pm

Commenter: Jerry Stonefield

Grandfathering and Time Limits provisions still incorrect

Section 5.2.2.1. The changes shown in SW Handbook version 1.1 do not accurately reflect the Grandfathering and Time Limits for Applicability of Approved Design Criteria provisions (not interchangeable terms). Local state projects that had an OBLIGATION of local, state or federal funding prior to 7/1/12 still must have commenced construction prior to the end of ONE permit cycle (not two cycles) as per 9VAC25-875-490.C (480.B does not apply to GRANDFATHERED projects). Projects where there governmental BONDING or PUBLIC DEBT FINANCING had been issued before 7/1/12 do not have a deadline to COMMENCE the LDA(not completion)

CommentID: 227374