Nutrient Trading Within The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Significant Portions

nutrient trading within the chesapeake bay watershed significant portions of the chesapeake bay and its tributaries are listed as impaired

Nutrient Trading Within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Significant portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are
listed as impaired on Virginia’s 303(d) list of impaired waters for
not meeting the aquatic life use support goal, and the 2004 Virginia
Water Quality Assessment 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report indicates
that 83% of the mainstem Bay does not fully support this use support
goal under Virginia’s water quality assessment guidelines. Nutrient
enrichment is cited as one of the primary causes for impairment.
In addition to the voluntary nutrient reduction efforts that have been
ongoing for over 20 years, several regulatory initiatives are underway
to achieve the river basin nutrient load allocations agreed to by the
Chesapeake Bay Program partners in April of 2003. On March 24, 2005
Governor Mark Warner signed legislation authorizing a Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program and directing DEQ to issue
a watershed general permit for point source discharges of nutrients to
the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The permit and regulation are
currently under development and should be presented to the Board in
December 2005.
The Department of Environmental Quality is striving to improve
Virginians’ ability to participate in significant environmental
actions that affect individuals, businesses, governing bodies and
organizations across the state. DEQ is dedicated to involving the
public early in significant environmental activities, such as permits;
developing strong relationships with community and environmental
organizations; developing active participation and consensus building
by concerned parties; and communicating clearly with the public.
Informational meetings for the general public regarding the nutrient
trading permit regulation are scheduled at the following locations
(please click on the location for directions):
October 25th, 7:00 PM Dolly Hardee Turman Room in VMI's Preston
Library, Lexington
November 16th, 10:00 AM DEQ-South Central Regional Office, Lynchburg
November 16th, 3:00 PM DEQ-Valley Regional Office, Harrisonburg
November 16th, 7:00 PM DEQ-Valley Regional Office, Harrisonburg
November 28th , 7:00 PM RADCO*
November 29th, 7:00 PM Prince William Fire and Rescue, Aylett
January 3rd, 2006, 3:00 PM DEQ-Northern Virginia Regional Office,
Woodbridge
January 3rd, 2006, 7:00 PM DEQ-Northern Virginia Regional Office,
Woodbridge
January 4th , 2006, 1:00 PM Onancock Town Hall*
January 4th, 2006, 7:00 PM DEQ-Tidewater Regional Office, Virginia
Beach
January 5th, 2006, 3:00 PM DEQ-Piedmont Regional Office, Glen Allen
January 5th, 2006, 7:00 PM DEQ-Piedmont Regional Office, Glen Allen
* Pending at the time of this announcement; check DEQ's web page or
the Town Hall web page for updated information on these meetings and
for additional background information regarding the nutrient exchange
program.