The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) is responsible for administering laws and regulations related to air quality, water quality, water supply, renewable energy, and land protection for the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the past few years, VADEQ held stakeholder advisory group (SAG) meetings with notable professionals from Virginia’s engineering, municipality, academic, and construction community. Our firm had multiple employees participate in these groups. The purpose for the SAG meetings was to gather, input, modernize, and streamline the state’s construction stormwater management, erosion, and sediment control regulations, guidance documents, manuals, and handbooks. As of July 1, 2024, the changes to the program have gone into effect. All contractors, developers, and design practitioners should take note of these changes to plan accordingly for existing and future projects.

Overview of Significant Changes to the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP)

Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation (9VAC25-875) combines the existing Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (9VAC25-840), Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Certification Regulations (9VAC25-850), and Virginia Stormwater Management Program Regulations (9VAC25-870) into a single regulatory chapter. In consolidating these three chapters, VADEQ strives to better define program requirements, omit redundancies, and correct inconsistencies between erosion and sediment control regulations and stormwater management program regulations.

There will also be a new automated stormwater construction general permit (CGP) process. VADEQ shared on its website that the automated payment and permitting process allows the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) authorities to use the system to input information regarding new developments and to obtain automated CGP coverage daily. The new CGP process is effective as of July 1, 2024, as the permit cycle renews every five years.

The New Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook

Along with consolidating the regulations, VADEQ updated and combined multiple stormwater management and erosion and sediment control references and manuals into one new handbook. This new handbook, the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, Version 1.0, combines the 1999 Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, the draft 2013 Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, various guidance memos, and the 1992 Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (VESCH).

The new handbook is now the one-stop shop for all design and construction needs regarding stormwater management, erosion, and sediment control for AEC professionals. Its online format allows it to be used in the field when performing site visits and allows for users to make comments directly on the platform. These comments are reviewed by a technical committee twice a year and updates are implemented into  the handbook, making this a dynamic and living document with the most up-to-date information.

As the members of the AEC industry, we prioritize the wellbeing and safety of the communities we serve. These changes equip us with the most up-to-date information, resources, and procedures to regulate stormwater runoff from construction projects." Hannah Gill

Updates to the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method (VRRM)

VADEQ also revised the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method, an analysis used to determine compliance with Virginia water quality design requirements for a given site. According to VADEQ, the new VRRM Version 4.1 enhancements include:

• Expanding land covers from three to four by adding “mixed open,” a category between “forest/open” and “managed turf”
• Aligning the four VRRM land covers with applicable Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) land uses
• Addressing changes to the Chesapeake Bay watershed model, reported through CAST, regarding urban phosphorus fertilizer applications
• Adding two new post-development Best Management Practices (BMPs), Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) and Tree Planting, which are new in the handbook
• Utilizing a more accurate total phosphorus (TP) load for new development, 0.26 pounds per acre per year

With all these changes, VADEQ provides a grace period from July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025. During this period, plans submitted and approved can use either existing references or the new handbook and regulations for meeting stormwater management requirements when designing projects. This period gives AEC professionals the opportunity to learn the new analysis methods and implement the new standards within the handbook.

All changes to the construction stormwater management and erosion and sediment control guidance, manuals, handbooks, and stormwater CGP can be found here.

What Does This Mean to the AEC Industry and Communities

As members of the AEC industry, we prioritize the wellbeing and safety of the communities we serve. These changes equip us with the most up-to-date information, resources, and procedures to regulate stormwater runoff from construction projects.

With over 30 years of experience in Virginia stormwater management, we have developed a strong team of water resource professionals who are current with various stormwater management requirements and best practices, are active members of the Virginia Municipal Stormwater Association (VAMSA), and participate in VADEQ’s various SAGs. We look forward to assisting our clients as the industry navigates through these most recent changes as well as all future updates.