PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking persons interested to serve on a stakeholder group that will provide input to the Department on issues related to groundwater recharge with reclaimed water, and will assist the Department in determining the scope of one or more regulatory actions that may be needed to address these issues.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS: October 7, 2011
BACKGROUND: Concurrent with the process to develop amendments to the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation, the Department studied groundwater recharge with reclaimed water and presented its findings in a report to the regulatory advisory panel (RAP) assisting the Department with the regulation amendments. Based on discussions of the RAP and comments received from individual RAP members, there appeared to be general support for groundwater recharge with reclaimed water for subsequent reuse. While the input of the RAP was valuable, the Department determined that any amendments to the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation to address groundwater recharge with reclaimed water may need to be associated with or follow the establishment of a new or revised State Water Control Board policy on groundwater recharge, and a regulatory action to amend the Groundwater Standards (9VAC25-280).
PURPOSE OF PANEL: The Department is establishing this stakeholder group to: (i) review previous reports and findings of the Department, discussions of the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation RAP, and existing regulations and policies; (ii) discuss relevant issues, and (iii) make recommendations to the Department on the scope of regulatory actions to be considered for groundwater recharge with reclaimed water. The Department is specifically seeking additional input from stakeholders related to protection of groundwater quality. The Department will publish a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) to begin a rulemaking process following completion of and based substantially upon recommendations of the stakeholder group. Individuals interested in participating in this stakeholder group are asked to send their name, contact information, and qualifications related to groundwater recharge to the contact person listed below.
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