Virginia Law

A. Preapplication review panel. At the request of a potential applicant for a surface water withdrawal proposing to the Department of Environmental Quality to withdraw 90 million gallons a month or greater, a preapplication review panel shall be convened prior to submission of a VWP application. The preapplication review panel shall assist potential applicants that are proposing surface water withdrawals with the early identification of issues related to the protection of beneficial instream and offstream uses of state waters and the identification of the affected stream reach. DEQ shall notify the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Health, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate local, state, and federal agencies of the preapplication review panel request. These agencies shall participate to the extent practicable in the preapplication review panel by providing information and guidance on the potential natural resource impacts and regulatory implications of the options being considered by the applicant and shall provide comments within 60 days of the initial meeting of the preapplication panel.

B. Preapplication public notice. For new or expanded surface water withdrawals requiring an individual VWP permit and proposing to withdraw 90 million gallons a month or greater, a potential applicant shall provide information on the project, shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed project, and shall assist in identifying public concerns or issues prior to filing a VWP individual permit application.

1. Except as provided in this subsection, the potential applicant shall provide for publication of notice once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation serving the locality where the surface water withdrawal is proposed to be located.

2. If requested by any person, the potential applicant shall hold at least one public information meeting. Notice of any public information meeting held pursuant to this subsection shall be provided at least 14 days prior to the public information meeting date and shall be published in the same manner as required in subdivision 1 of this subsection. A potential applicant shall submit the notice to DEQ for posting on the DEQ website. At a minimum, any notice required by this subsection shall include:

a. A statement of the potential applicant's intent to apply for a VWP permit for a surface water withdrawal;

b. The proposed location of the surface water withdrawal;

c. Information on how the public may request a public information meeting or, in the alternative, the date, time, and location of the public information meeting;

d. The name, address, and telephone number of the potential applicant, or an authorized representative who can answer questions or receive comments on the proposed surface water withdrawal; and

e. A statement of how oral or written public comments will be used.

3. In accordance with the provisions of 9VAC25-780-50 C 11 and 9VAC25-780-150, a potential applicant shall not be required to publish public notice or provide an opportunity for a public information meeting if a public meeting has been held within two years prior to the submittal of an application for a VWP permit on a local or regional water supply plan, which includes the proposed project.

4. The potential applicant shall maintain a list of persons making comment and their addresses and shall make a good faith effort to notify commenters at the address provided by the commenter when the public notice for the draft VWP individual permit is available.