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State Water Control Board adopts TMDLs, permit updates and disaster‑relief loans
Summary
The board voted to adopt TMDL waste‑load allocations for the James River and Tennessee Big Sandy basins, approve multiple VPDES/VPA regulatory updates, and authorize $9.3 million in disaster‑relief clean‑water loan agreements (principal forgiveness) for three Southwest Virginia projects.
The State Water Control Board on June 30 adopted several regulatory actions and funding authorizations affecting water quality and wastewater infrastructure in Virginia.
Among the votes, the board approved waste‑load allocations arising from TMDL (total maximum daily load) studies that add four PCB allocations to the James River Basin and three allocations (two sediment, one phosphorus) to the Tennessee Big Sandy Basin, following a staff presentation by Justin Williams, manager of DEQ’s Office of Watershed Programs. Williams said the allocations reflect historical PCB sources and are intended to be incorporated into permitting or implementation plans supported by Section 319 funding.
The panel also approved final amendments to two general permit regulations: the VPDES general permit for domestic sewage discharges of 1,000 gallons per day or less (staff removed an inapplicable 85% BOD5/TSS 'removal' provision and clarified noncompliance reporting may be oral or online), and the VPDES general permit for seafood processing facilities (9 VAC 25‑115), which covers 42 facilities statewide and included editorial and transfer‑of‑coverage updates following EPA review. Peter Sherman of the office of VPDES permits summarized EPA Region 3 comments and DEQ’s responses.
The board accepted DEQ staff’s recommendation to proceed with notice and public comment and to serve as hearing officer for the proposed reissuance of Virginia Water Protection general permits (a consolidated set of edits that, among other changes, sets a new 10‑year term for the general permits).
On funding, the board authorized execution of loan agreements under a federal disaster supplemental appropriation administered through the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund. Megan Mayfield, director of the Office of Clean Water Finance, said Virginia’s allocation is just over $9.3 million and that DEQ proposes principal‑forgiveness loans (treated as grants) for three high‑need projects: the town of Freeze ($890,900 proposed), the town of Chilhowey ($2,280,000 proposed), and a set of Buchanan County projects (applicants requested $8.9 million; DEQ proposed funding of $6.1 million for immediate repairs).
Each action carried on a voice vote after motions and seconds from board members. Where staff recommended regulatory adoption, the board also affirmed that it will receive and consider petitions under the Administrative Process Act.
