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County staff previews DCSM updates after Virginia consolidates erosion and stormwater rules
Summary
Prince William County staff outlined local changes to the Design and Construction Standards Manual tied to the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management regulation, including wetland permit timing and adoption of DEQ guidance on agricultural exemptions; staff said technical requirements largely remain the same but local process edits are proposed.
Prince William County planning staff and the Department of Public Works discussed proposed local edits to the county's Design and Construction Standards Manual on May 7 as the state consolidated erosion, sediment control and stormwater rules.
Raj Biry, of the Department of Public Works’ Environmental Management Division, said the Virginia State Water Control Board adopted the consolidated Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management (VESM) regulation on 06/22/2023, “with an effective date of 07/01/2024,” and issued a model ordinance for local implementation on 12/27/2023. Biry told the commission the county adopted a Board resolution (24‑255) to begin updating the DCSM and the county’s VSMP ordinance and that staff distributed draft DCSM materials and solicited input from industry and stakeholder groups.
Biry highlighted two implementation changes proposed for Prince William County: moving the timing for showing wetland permits to the permit stage (instead of plan approval) to give applicants more lead time, and incorporating the Department of Environmental Quality’s guidance on agricultural exemptions into local procedures. He said the new VESM regulation “does not alter compliance obligations” for regulated land‑disturbance activities but consolidates and clarifies program requirements.
Commissioners asked staff to provide redlined versions that distinguish organizational moves from substantive changes and to share written comments from stakeholder groups including DORIC and the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association. Staff agreed to email comment responses and meet with supervisors before any final vote, and emphasized that the county’s edits are intended to align local administrative processes with the new state regulation rather than to change technical standards.
The commission was told the draft DCSM and VSMP ordinance will go to the Planning Commission for further review on May 28, as part of the county’s local implementation process.
