Stormwater program changes in Virginia will reach a milestone date on July 1. As we have discussed in previous Field Notes articles, we are at the culmination of Virginia’s efforts to consolidate regulations, issue a new stormwater management handbook, revise the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method (VRRM) spreadsheet, and issue new Construction and Industrial General Permits.
What’s Happening Now?
The changes are efforts to consolidate requirements and streamline the permitting process.
Changes for Local Governments
Under the new permit, the individual Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) and Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) authorities will be replaced by Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) authorities. DEQ’s December 27, 2023 memo provided guidance for local program administrators, including a model ordinance. Localities are required to update their ordinances to comply with these changes by July 1, 2024.
Changes for Permittees
Changes for permittees revolve around the newly released Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, version 1.0, which replaces the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (1992) and Virginia’s Stormwater Management Handbook (1999), effective July 1, 2024.
The stormwater handbook will be a living document and will be updated as DEQ and permittees navigate the revised regulations. WSSI will update our clients through project communications and through Field Notes as these changes merit.
The new VPDES VAR10 Construction General Permit brings changes to the permit process. We understand that the final version of the permit will be posted on Virginia Regulatory Town Hall on July 1 or sooner. When that is available we will update this article to highlight critical changes.
Timing
Permits
As we mentioned in our December 2023 Field Notes article, Virginia’s VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Sites (also known as the Construction General Permit) begins a new five-year permit cycle on July 1, 2024. WSSI has worked with clients to ensure that existing projects submitted a registration statement ahead of the May 1, 2024 deadline to obtain coverage under the new (2024-2029). VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Industrial Activities also begins a new cycle on July 1, 2024, and WSSI staff supported registration statement submittals ahead of the May 1, 2024 deadline.
Plan Review
While many changes are in effect on July 1 of this year, not everything happens at once. Per Director Rolband’s January 29, 2024 memo, plans submitted for review between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 may follow either the new VSMH or the previous guidance. Beginning July 1, 2025, all plans must conform to the guidelines in the VSMH version 1.0.
Questions? Need Help?
If you have any questions about VPDES changes or need assistance with your permit, please contact your project manager or the staff below.
Resources
- Virginia Regulatory Town Hall: 25-880 – 2024 Amendment and Reissuance of the Existing General Permit Regulation; please note the final language for the permit may be posted on or before July 1.
- Virginia’s Stormwater Regulations: Consolidation Process Overlaps with the 2024 Construction General Permits (Field Notes, February 14, 2024)
- DEQ Director Rolband’s January 29, 2024 Guidance Memo (GM24-2001)
- 2024 VPDES Construction General Permit on the Horizon, as VA DEQ Reminds Permittees (Field Notes, December 7, 2023)