Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Environmental Quality
Meeting:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT – CLEANUP STUDY- Back Creek, Eidson Creek and Jennings Branch
| Meeting Details | |
|---|---|
| Date / Time | 10/26/2026 5:30 pm |
| Type | Physical Location Only |
| Location | Middlebrook Community Center, 54 Cherry Grove Rd, Middlebrook, VA 24459.**In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on October 28, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the DEQ Valley Regional Office (4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg VA, 22801). |
| Board Website | http://www.deq.virginia.gov |
| Agenda document | agency has not posted |
| Purpose of the meeting NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT – CLEANUP STUDY PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup study, also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load report (TMDL), for Back Creek, Eidson Creek and Jennings Branch in Augusta County. These streams are listed as impaired since monitoring data does 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 requires 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 adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation, 9VAC25-720 after completion of 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. A study has been completed for Back Creek, Edison Creek and Jennings Branch to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. At the meeting, DEQ will present the results of the study and provide an overview of the draft report. Citizens are invited to provide comment on the study. CLEANUP STUDY LOCATION: The Back Creek, Eidson Creek and Jennings Branch cleanup study addresses the impairments described below, all of which are located in Augusta County, Virginia: • Back Creek, located in Augusta County, is impaired from its headwaters, located south of Middlebrook, to its confluence with Middle River 10.7 miles downstream. • Eidson Creek, also located in Augusta County, is impaired from its headwaters north of Middlebrook to its confluence with Middle River 8.9 miles downstream. • The benthic impairment on Jennings Branch extends from its confluence with McKittricks Branch 4.1 miles downstream to its confluence with Middle River. TMDL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS: TMDL Community Engagement meetings to assist in development of this cleanup study were convened on June 15, 2026 and September 2, 2026. PUBLIC MEETING: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Middlebrook Community Center, 54 Cherry Grove Rd, Middlebrook, VA 24459, on October 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on October 28, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the DEQ Valley Regional Office (4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg VA, 22801). PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: October 26, 2026 to November 30, 2026. HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts written comments 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 22801; 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/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-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, 22801 |
| 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. | |