Bay TMDL Phase I Archive

Virginia submits final WIP

On Nov. 29, 2010, the governor's office sent to EPA Virginia's initial submission of a final Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan.

• Click here to download the November document.
• Click here for Secretary Domenech's November submittal letter.

The plan is a revision of one submitted in September. Changes are based on continuing discussions with the EPA and more than 7,000 comments received from stakeholders and the general public.

• Click here to download the September document.
• Click here to download a document with technical corrections to the September draft.
• Click here to see Secretary Domenech's September submittal letter.

Virginia Watershed Implementation Plan materials from October public meetings

As part of the TMDL public meetings listed below, Anthony Moore, assistant secretary of natural resources for Chesapeake Bay restoration, made a presentation on Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan. Click here to download the presentation. Click here for a brief summary and Q&A paper on the draft plan. Comments regarding the plan can be sent to vabaytmdl@dcr.virginia.gov.

EPA holding Bay TMDL and Watershed Implementation Plan public meetings in Virginia Oct. 4 - 7

EPA and representatives from DCR and DEQ will be on-hand for a series of public comment meetings to discuss EPA’s draft TMDL, or “pollution diet,” and Virginia’s draft Watershed Implementation Plan submitted to EPA in early September. Here is a meeting schedule:

• Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, Grafton Theatre, James Madison University, 281 Warren Service Drive, Harrisonburg, Va. – meeting from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus, Ernst Community Cultural Center, 8333 Little River Tpke, Annandale Va. – meeting from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, Robins Pavilion Jepson Alumni Center, University of Richmond, 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Va. – meeting from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 – webinar, 1 to 3 p.m. Click here to register.
• Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel, 700 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, Va. – meeting from 6 to 8 p.m.

The schedule for the EPA public comment meetings in all jurisdictions can be found on the EPA Bay TMDL page.

Virginia submits draft Watershed Implementation Plan to EPA

The governor's office recently submitted to EPA Virginia's draft Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan. Click here to download the document. Click here to see Secretary Domenech's submittal letter. Comments regarding the document should be sent to vabaytmdl@dcr.virginia.gov.

EPA letter announcing the latest nitrogen and phosphorus draft allocations

On July 1, EPA Region III Administration Shawn Garvin sent a letter to Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech outlining the latest draft allocations for nitrogen and phosphorus. The charts accompanying the letter contained allocations for the entire Virginia Chesapeake Bay watershed and broke the allocations down by major river basin.

• Click here to review the letter and charts.
• Click here for more details on Virginia's draft allocations.
• Click here for EPA website content covering allocations for all Chesapeake Bay states and basins.

Gov. McDonnell's letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

On June 15, Gov. Bob McDonnell sent EPA a four-page letter confirming Virginia's commitment to restoring the Chesapeake Bay as well as relaying some concerns about the current TMDL process as outlined by EPA. Click here to review the letter.

Letter from Secretary Domenech outlines latest EPA schedule for TMDL development

On April 22-23, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal Staff Committee (PSC) met in Pennsylvania. Among items discussed were concerns about the bay models used in developing the TMDL and watershed implementation plans, and the effects those concerns have on the development timeline. A May 14 letter from Domenech outlines Virginia’s concerns and a timeline for action moving forward. Click here to review the letter.

States receive EPA "consequences" letter

On Dec. 29 EPA sent the Bay states and the District of Columbia a letter outlining potential consequences should the jurisdictions fail to provide adequate progress or plans toward cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Click here to review the letter.

Summary of December EPA “diet” meetings

In Nov. and Dec. EPA staff held 16 different public meetings in the Bay states to discuss the "pollution diet" for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The week of Dec. 14-17 more than 600 people attended Virginia meetings held in Fairfax, Hampton Roads, Williamsburg, Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg. Click here to view the EPA and here to view the state presentations given at these meetings.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Target Loads Announced by EPA

On Oct. 23, 2009, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal’s Staff Committee (PSC) reached tentative agreement on nitrogen and phosphorus “initial working target loads” for each of the seven Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia). EPA has since announced these overall loads divided among the major river basins by jurisdiction. Sediment targets are still under development. Click here for more on these target loads.

Revised schedule for Bay TMDL development

The PSC and EPA also agreed to a revised schedule for developing the TMDL report and watershed implementation plans. Part of this schedule is phasing the development of the implementation plans. Phase I will divide basin nutrient and sediment loads between nonpoint sources and individual permitted point sources in the drainage basins. They will include control measures to be implemented. The Phase II plans will further divide the loads and actions to smaller geographic areas within the drainage area. These will also present more localized strategies. The new schedule is:

• June 1, 2010: States and D.C. submit preliminary Phase I Watershed Implementation Plans to EPA. (This had been Nov. 1, 2009.)
• Aug 1, 2010: States and D.C. submit revised draft Phase I Watershed Implementation Plans to EPA.
• Aug. 15-Oct. 15, 2010: Bay TMDL public review and second round of public meetings. (This had been June 1, 2010.)
• Nov. 1, 2010: Final Phase 1 Watershed Implementation Plans to EPA.
• Dec. 21, 2010: EPA publication of final Bay TMDL.
• Nov. 1, 2011: States and D.C. incorporate local target loads into their plans and submit to EPA.

For more details on what EPA expects in the Watershed Implementation Plans, click here to read its Nov. 4, 2009, letter to the Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions.

Oct. 2 Virginia Chesapeake Bay TMDL orientation meeting

More than 400 people participated, either in person at six DEQ offices or on online, in the Oct. 2 meeting. They heard EPA and state officials discuss efforts to develop a Chesapeake Bay TMDL report and implementation plan. You can click here to view the presentation used.