Virginia Issues State Solid Waste Report for 2013

DEQ:

“The Department of Environmental Quality released its annual report on solid waste management in Virginia. The report includes the amounts of solid waste managed in Virginia in 2013, and the amounts and sources of solid waste generated outside the Commonwealth.

The total amount of solid waste received at Virginia facilities during 2013 decreased by about 80,000 tons (0.4 percent) from 2012. Solid waste includes municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris, vegetative and yard waste, and other types of waste. The total amount of solid waste from outside Virginia decreased by about 162,000 tons (3 percent), to 5.2 million tons. The total amount from within Virginia increased to about 15 million tons (0.6 percent).”

~Writes the TJPDC

Click here for a copy of the full report

Stormwater Projects Funded for Central Shenandoah Localities

Central Shenandoah PDC:

“The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality recently announced the first recipients of the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund. The Fund was established in 2013 to provide matching grants to local governments for the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater best management practices that cost effectively reduce pollutant loads to local waterbodies. The cities of Waynesboro and Lexington were awarded funds to construct stormwater treatment facilities with the goal of improving local water quality and meeting Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals. Waynesboro will receive $850K for a constructed wetland, and Lexington will receive $225K to construct stormwater management practices at a new school.  For additional information on these projects, please contact the locality's stormwater program division.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

Input on James River pollution study sought

James River:

“With 19 sections of the James River and its tributaries observed to be violating legal bacteria levels, the Department of Environmental Quality is asking for public comment in redeveloping a study on sources of pollution. The DEQ in conjunction with Region 2000, held a public meeting Tuesday night at Randolph College to present the study’s preliminary findings, which examined sections of streams and the James River from which they stem.

Violations were found in water bodies in Amherst, Bedford and Campbell counties and Lynchburg as well as the James. The total maximum daily load study, which examines the amount of bacteria a body of water can handle to meet standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency was last completed in 2007. It is being redeveloped by request from Lynchburg so the city can update its own combined sewer overflows strategy.

Jim Kern, who spoke for MapTech Inc., the company performing the study, said streams were examined as representative of general watersheds in the area. One impairment evidences pollution in another, he said. The TMDL study includes estimates of farm, domestic and wild animals, and people because fecal matter is the main source of E. coli. It also lists discharges that have been permitted.”

~Writes Alex Rohr of the News Advance

Click here for more information

Click here for the story from the Richmond Times Dispatch

Click here for more detail on the project

Important announcement from DEQ

Department of Environmental Quality

“Announcement of a meeting to present and discuss preliminary milestones for Chesapeake Bay restoration and the state-wide Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan. PUBLIC MEETING LOCATION: Webcast to each DEQ Regional Office on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Office locations can be found here”

~VAEPO