Lesley Starke

The subcommittee discussed the evaluation of livestock manure and its impacts on water quality. Key discussion topics included comparing the impacts of poultry litter and other livestock manures, examining existing WP-4 standards, reviewing the Animal Waste Control Facility Needs Determination Worksheet, and evaluating the use of the NRCS risk assessment tool for animal waste storage. The group deliberated on how to handle different types of manure, including dry stack and liquid slurry, and explored the possibility of adjusting point thresholds in the evaluation criteria to better address specific environmental concerns.

The board meeting covered several critical topics, including reports on the state budget deficit and its impact on agencies, updates on forestry water quality projects, and divisional reports regarding staffing, engineering services, and livestock stream exclusion initiatives. The board reviewed and approved various guidance documents related to dam safety, including dam break inundation zone modeling, hazard classification procedures, insurance levels, and ownership. Additionally, the board acted on district director resignations and appointments, reaffirmed dam safety program delegations of authority, and approved the dam safety enforcement manual. Partner reports were presented by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The meeting focused on the General Virginia Stormwater Management Program Permit for discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems. Key topics included the review of comments regarding minimum control measures, the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load special conditions, the relevance of water quality-based effluent limits for municipal separate storm sewer systems, and procedures for public education, outreach, and involvement. Discussions also covered pollution prevention, good housekeeping requirements, and illicit discharge detection and elimination.

The committee met to discuss the establishment of clear directions for drafting fee regulations for Stormwater Management. Key discussion topics included evaluating reasonable assumptions for time estimates related to general permits and stormwater management programs, strategies for amending construction permit fees, the potential for regional versus statewide fee structures, the necessity of adequately funding local programs, and the separation of fees for plan reviews versus permit issuance.

The public hearing was held to solicit input on proposed regulatory amendments to the Virginia Stormwater Management Program Permit Regulations. Key discussion topics included changes to stormwater definitions, water quality and quantity technical criteria, local program administration requirements, and revisions to the permit fee schedule. Stakeholders, including environmental groups, developers, and local citizens, provided testimony regarding the potential impact of these regulations on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, the economic burden on the building industry, and the necessity of equitable solutions to address phosphorus and nitrogen pollution from both new and existing development.