Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT – CLEANUP STUDY & PLAN - Hat and Black Creeks in Nelson County
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 3/5/2025 5:30 pm |
| Type | Physical Location Only |
| Location | Nelson Center, 8445 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 22949. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on March 12, 2025 at the same time and location. |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document |
Meeting Agenda
2/4/2025
(91k)
|
| Minutes document | agency has not posted |
| Purpose of the meeting PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on two reports for Hat and Black Creeks in Nelson County: a cleanup study (also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load report, or TMDL), and a cleanup plan (known as an Implementation Plan, or IP). These streams are listed as impaired waters and require a cleanup study because monitoring data indicate that the waters do not meet Virginia’s water quality standards for Aquatic Life (Benthic impairment). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the State Water Control Law require 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 adopting the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation, 9VAC25-720 after completing 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. Once a cleanup study is developed, Section §62.1-44.19:7 of the State Water Control Law outlines the requirements needed in a cleanup plan to address the pollutants addressed in the study. A study has been completed for Hat and Black Creeks to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. The cleanup plan identifies corrective actions needed to improve water quality and discusses the associated costs and environmental benefits of the actions. At the meeting, DEQ will present an overview of both reports and their results. Citizens are invited to provide comment on both reports. CLEANUP STUDY AND PLAN LOCATION: The cleanup study and plan address the following impaired stream segments: The Hat Creek stream segment, located in Nelson County, is 9.5 miles long and begins at the headwaters of Hat Creek and continues to its confluence with the Tye River. The Black Creek stream segment, located in Nelson County, is 2 miles in length and begins at the headwaters of Black Creek and continues to the confluence with the Tye River. PUBLIC MEETING: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study and cleanup plan will be held at the Nelson Center (8445 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 22949) on March 5, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on March 12, 2025 at the same time and location stated above. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: March 5, 2025 to April 4, 2025 HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts comments orally at the public meeting, 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: Nesha McRae; Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia 24401; Phone: 540-217-7173; E-mail: Nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov. The public may review the cleanup study at the following website address: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-under-development. The public may review the cleanup plan at the following website address: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/implementation/implementation-plans-under-development. | |
| Meeting Scope |
Public hearing to receive comment on a proposed stage
X
General business of the board
Discuss particular regulations / chapters
|
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Title: | Nesha McRae / Valley Regional Office |
| Address: |
4411 Early Road Harrisonburg, 24401 |
| Email Address: | Nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (540)217-7173 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. | |