9VAC15. Department of Environmental Quality
VAC AGENCY NO. 15
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AGENCY SUMMARY
The Department of Environmental Quality consolidated the functions and programs that existed in three regulatory agencies: the Department of Air Pollution Control, the State Water Control Board, and the Department of Waste Management and an advisory agency: the Council on the Environment. The three citizen regulatory boards responsible for adopting Virginia's environmental regulations were retained and work closely with the department. Their functions and programs are discussed in detail in this title under State Air Pollution Control Board, Virginia Waste Management Board and State Water Control Board. The department is authorized to implement all regulations adopted by the three boards. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 11.1, Article 1.
The department may issue permits for the construction, modification, or operation of facilities and collect fees for the administrative and enforcement costs of such permits. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 13, Article 1. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 14, Article 1. Code of Virginia, Title 62.1, Chapter 3.1, Article 1.
In addition to the functions and programs administered by the department for the three citizen regulatory boards, the department coordinates the state's environmental impact review program. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 11.1. State environmental impact reports are submitted to the department for official review and comment. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 11.1, Article 2. In addition, the department coordinates the Commonwealth's review of federal environmental impact statements and provides the initiating agencies with the fully consolidated comments of the Commonwealth. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 11.1, Article 1. The department coordinates the evaluation of environmental impact assessments that are required before the Department of Energy may issue to an applicant a permit to drill for oil or gas in authorized areas of Tidewater Virginia. Code of Virginia, Title 45.2, Subtitle IV, Chapter 16.
The department must promulgate regulations establishing criteria for recycling equipment, facilities or devices for local taxation purposes. Code of Virginia, Title 58.1, Chapter 36, Article 5.
The department must promulgate regulations establishing a permit by rule or permits by rule for the construction and operation of small renewable energy projects, including such conditions and standards necessary to protect the Commonwealth's natural resources. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 11.1, Article 5.
The department may promulgate regulations to implement the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act by establishing how activity and use limitations prescribed by an agency pursuant to an environmental response project are to be drafted, recorded and enforced. Code of Virginia, Title 10.1, Chapter 12.2.
The department operates under the supervision of the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. Regulations are available for inspection at the Department of Environmental Quality's office at 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Richmond, VA 23219 (mailing address: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218) and at its regional offices at Southwest Regional Office, 355-A Deadmore Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, P.O. Box 3000, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; Piedmont Regional Office, 4949-A Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060; Blue Ridge Regional Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, VA 24153; Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23462; and Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193. Internet address: http://www.deq.virginia.gov.
Rev. 7/2023