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We, the undersigned, call on the Virginia State Water Control Board to take the actions below.
Experience has proven that these measures are necessary to protect state waters from
serious and widespread degradation. The Board has a duty to act on these issues, in
accordance with its statutory responsibilities. Virginians have a right to expect that the protections promised by law be provided.
I. Enforce Virginia’s Narrative Water Quality Criteria - Require the Department of
Environmental Quality to fully enforce narrative water quality criteria defined in the
Water Quality Standards regulations, including particularly the prohibitions against
substances that produce turbidity and color, and which nourish undesirable or
nuisance aquatic plant life. Require that DEQ report to the Board annually, how the narrative criteria are being implemented in ongoing regulatory processes and in preparation of the final Integrated Report.
II. Adopt Numeric Turbidity or Solids Criteria - Require the Department of
Environmental Quality to complete the formal process to adopt numeric criteria for
turbidity and/or suspended solids for all state waters as soon as possible in accordance with state administrative law.
III. Adopt Numeric Nutrient Criteria - Require the Department of Environmental
Quality to begin the formal process to adopt numeric criteria for nitrogen and
phosphorus for all state waters, during the triennial review of water quality standards.
IV. Ensure Permits and Certifications Enforce Water Quality Criteria - Require the
Department of Environmental Quality to perform water quality impact analyses for
every VPDES permit and every CWA section 401 water quality certification,
including every general permit or certification, to determine whether water quality-based controls are necessary to protect waters, in addition to technology-based
controls. Require the DEQ to report to the Board annually, on the status of its compliance with this order.
*You are able to sign this petition anonymously to the general public online. However, by signing this petition, you are agreeing to your information becoming a part of the public record with the agency in question.