Water Quality Permits and Natural Resource Coordination
Some Access projects may require state and/or federal water quality permits because they impact streams, waterbodies, or wetlands. The appropriate state or federal agency will make a determination if permits are required for the Access road project in consultation with the Locality.
Once the appropriate regulatory agencies have been contacted, the results of the coordination must be documented in the Water Quality Permits & Natural Resources Due Diligence form. This form documents that the Locality has coordinated with all necessary agencies and has received any necessary permits. The completed form is necessary for VDOT to authorize the Access road project’s advertisement and construction. The VDOT District Environmental Manager can provide you with guidance regarding completion of this form.
If permits are necessary, the Locality must comply with any permit conditions. These are environmental commitments and the Locality is required to implement them. Once the Locality has implemented the environmental commitment(s), documentation to that effect must be forwarded to the VDOT Project Coordinator, with a copy to the VDOT District Environmental Manager.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Marine Resource Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (only applicable in portions of Southwest VA) are some of the agencies you may need to coordinate your project with.
If the Locality is responsible for construction, they are also responsible for providing approved erosion & sedimentation controls during construction, as well as having an on-site inspector with Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation E&S control inspector certification.
Construction Monitoring
Regardless of who is responsible for construction of an Access road project, VDOT may monitor projects as per policy, to ensure any environmental commitments identified have been implemented (such as VA air pollution regulations, permit requirements, etc.).
Forms:
- Water Quality Permits & Natural Resources Due Diligence form (EQ-555) – must be completed by Locality and submitted to VDOT
Guidance:
- VDOT Instructional & Informational Memorandum 216.5 – VDOT policy on projects designed/administered/advertised by Localities
- VDOT Instructional & Informational Memorandum 228 – VDOT guidelines for discharge of stormwater at sinkholes
- Virginia Erosion & Sedimentation Control – DCR’s E&S direction
- Virginia Stormwater Management – DCR’s stormwater direction
- Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
- Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – VPDES permits
- Natural Heritage Resource Database – VA Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Natural Heritage Division. Threatened & Endangered plants & animals
- >Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries – consult VDGIF office in your project area for Threatened & Endangered species information
- Virginia Marine Resource Commission – environmental permits administered by VMRC
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – Water Division
- Army Corps of Engineers - find your Army COE District
- Environmental Certification – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to project authorization for advertisement and construction. Agency coordination allows this to be completed.
- VDOT District Environmental Manager Contacts
Related links
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