Comments Received During the Comment Period on the Proposed Regulations from June 22, 2009 to August 21, 2009 Are As Follows
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Comments received during the comment period on the final regulations from October 26, 2009 to November 25, 2009 are as follows: Comment Table and Responses for Stormwater Management Regulations (Parts I, II, and III regulatory action) Contents Contents ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Stormwater Regulation Comments Parts I, II, and III ................................................................................................................................ 3 General Support .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 General Opposed ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Continue suspension of regulations ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Costs and the economic analyses ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Sprawl ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Chesapeake Bay TMDL…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...8 4VAC50-60-10 Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9 4VAC50-60-48 Grandfathering………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10 4VAC50-60-50. General ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4VAC50-60-56 Applicability of other laws and regulations .................................................................................................................... 15 4VAC50-60-63 Water quality requirements ............................................................................................................................................. 15 4VAC50-60-65 Water quality compliance ............................................................................................................................................... 18 4VAC50-60-66 Water quantity................................................................................................................................................................. 19 4VAC50-60-69 Offsite compliance options ............................................................................................................................................. 23 4VAC50-60-72 Design storms and hydrologic methods .......................................................................................................................... 28 4VAC50-60-74 Stormwater harvesting .................................................................................................................................................... 28 4VAC50-60-92 Comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans ............................................................................................ 29 4VAC50-60-99 Regional (watershed-wide) stormwater management plans…………………………………………………………....31 Part III General Issues ............................................................................................................................................................................... 31 4VAC50-60-108 Qualifying local program stormwater management plan review.................................................................................. 32 4VAC50-60-112 Qualifying local program authorization of coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4VAC50-60-114 Inspections .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4VAC50-60-122 Qualifying local program exceptions ............................................................................................................................ 33 1 4VAC50-60-124 Qualifying local program stormwater management facility maintenance .................................................................... 34 4VAC50-60-136 Stormwater management plan review........................................................................................................................... 35 Commenters via Action Alerts .................................................................................................................................................................. 37 2 Stormwater Regulation Comments Parts I, II, and III General Support Commenter Comment Agency response Kim Sandum (Rockingham Improved regulations are important step in the right It is agreed that the revised regulations are an important County's Community Alliance for direction for clean water; regulations are critically important step toward improving the Commonwealth’s water Preservation); Kate Wofford to Virginia's waterways; stormwater runoff only growing quality and quantity and meeting our Chesapeake Bay (Shenandoah Valley Network); source of pollution; proposed regulations represent a goals. Marirose Pratt (Southern compromise outcome. Environmental Law Center); Rick Parrish (Southern Environmental Law Center); Assateague Coastkeeper; Audubon Naturalist Society; Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program; Cabell Brand Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Civil & Environmental Services, LLC; Dan River Basin Association; Friends of Dyke Marsh; Friends of Powhatan Creek Watershed; Leslie Mitchell-Watson (Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River); Friends of the Rappahannock; Friends of the Rivers of Virginia; Friends of the Roanoke River; James River Association; Lynnhaven River NOW; Patrick Felling (Potomac Conservancy); Rainwater Management Solutions; Rivanna Conservation Society; Scandia USA LivinGreen; Shenandoah Riverkeeper; The Nature Conservancy; Virginia Conservation Network; Virginia 3 Council of Trout Unlimited; Virginia League of Conservation Voters; Virginia Wilderness Committee; Wild Virginia; John Eckman (Valley Conservation Council); Thomas Schueler (Chesapeake Stormwater Network); Kim Woodell (Shenandoah Forum); Eric Beck (Hope Community Builders) General Opposed Greg Koontz (Koontz-Bryant); Pollutants from existing untreated land projects and While it is recognized that many sources contribute to Paul Johnson agriculture make up the vast majority of pollutants entering the Commonwealth’s water quality problems, pollutant our streams, rivers and bays. loads from land disturbing activities continue to increase and must be addressed along with loads from other sources. If the Commonwealth is to meet its water quality goals, all sources must be addressed. Pete Burkhimer (Engineering Alternative suggestion: drop regulation initiative, cut The Board and the Department currently provide Services, Inc.) associated staff in half, use remaining staff to visit localities technical assistance to localities regarding the around state to improve existing programs, and remain as a development and implementation of a locality’s technical resource stormwater management program. For localities that adopt a qualifying local program, the Department intends to continue delivering technical assistance while day to day administration of the program will be conducted by the locality. Scott Camp Value of land will be greatly reduced It is not believed that these regulations will reduce land values. The Agency Statement associated with the proposed regulations includes a discussion of costs and example site plans. Additional flexibility has been included in the final regulations, reducing costs even further. Mark Rinaldi Have applied environmental regulations in an ill-conceived The revised regulations were not conceived or designed attempt to manage growth, to the result that neither is the to manage growth. Growth is managed by planning and environment adequately protected nor is growth directed other land use regulation. The purpose of these and influenced to be of a form and pattern and in locations regulations is to protect the water quality and quantity of that will be sustainable long-term. the Commonwealth. Stephen Romeo; Greg Koontz Too many unanswered questions about science, pollutant The regulations have been developed through an 4 (Koontz-Bryant); Edward Goode removal measures and techniques extensive public process that examined the science (Colonial Homecrafters, Inc.) behind the regulations. The Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse has been developed to continue to review pollutant removal measures and techniques over time to ensure their effectiveness and proper utilization. Diana Parker; Carol Buckingham Ask that go back to original proposed regulatory actions The regulations have been finally revised