Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program

Section 402 of the Clean Water Act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System to limit pollutant discharges into streams, rivers, and bays. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, DEQ administers the program as the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES). Though DEQ requires VPDES permits for all point source discharges to surface waters, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains authority to review applications and permits for "major" dischargers, a distinction based on discharge quantity and content.

DEQ and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) coordinate separate State programs that regulate the management of pollutants carried by storm water runoff. DEQ regulates storm water discharges associated with "industrial activities", while DCR regulates storm water discharges from construction sites, and from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). More information can be found on the Storm Water Permitting web page, and on DCR's web site.

Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for surface coal mines are issued by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.

Water permit guidance documents can be found at this link.

Individual Permits

DEQ issues individual permits to both municipal and industrial facilities. Permit requirements, special conditions, effluent limitations and monitoring requirements are determined for each facility on a site specific basis in order to meet applicable water quality standards. Questions about individual permits for specific facilities should be addressed to the DEQ Regional Office that serves the area where the facility is located. Copies of individual permit application forms can be downloaded from the Permits, Fees and Regulations page.  An Excel spreadsheet listing the current VPDES Individual Permits along with location information and contacts can be downloaded at this link.

General Permits

General permits are permits written for a general class of dischargers. In Virginia, general permits must be written as permits and adopted as regulations. Since they are regulations, they must be adopted using the Administrative Process Act (APA) requirements, which specify a standard adoption process and public participation/public input procedures. The State Water Control Board has adopted the following VPDES general permits:

Questions about general permit coverage for specific facilities should be addressed to the DEQ Regional Office that serves the area where the facility is located. Copies of the general permit regulations and the associated Registration Statement forms to apply for permit coverage can be downloaded from the Permits, Fees and Regulations page. An Excel spreadsheet listing the current VPDES General Permits along with location information can be downloaded at this link.

General Permits Under Development/Amendment

The following general permit regulations are currently under development or in the process of amendment (for either re-adoption or modification). (The following links take you to the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website)  

Featured Topics

11/08/12: New web page added for Guidance on Discharges From Swimming Pools

10/09/12: New web page added for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed General Permit Trading Ratio Study 

9/21/12: Biosolids Land Applicator Course and Exam Schedule - Fall 2012:  Classes for continuing education credits and new land appliers in Abingdon on September 24 and 25, and in Glen Allen on October 17 and 18.  Please see the Biosolids Land Applier and Local Monitor webpage for full details.

9/20/12: New Landowner Agreement Form - A new landowner agreement form has been added to the VA Sewage Sludge Permit Application Form.  The Land Application Agreement - Biosolids (Rev 9/14/2012) replaces the previous landowner agreemnt form included with Part C of the Sewage Sludge Permit Application Form.  The new form takes effect immediately.  Any landowner agreement submitted to DEQ that is signed after 10/19/2012 must be on the Rev 9/14/2012 Land Application Agreement - Biosolids form.

5/31/12: Storm Water Best Management Practices Course - This interactive course will take about 25 minutes to complete and will provide participants with an overview of storm water best management practices along with Virginia’s regulatory requirements relative to water quality mitigation.  If you have any comments on the course please contact Bob Ehrhart.  If you have any comments or questions on VPDES storm water permitting or regulations, please contact Burt Tuxford.

5/04/12: 2011 Nutrient Loads - Amended

2/01/12: Virginia Nutrient Credit Exchange Association - Exchange Compliance Plan, 2012 Update

1/09/12: Report of the Secretary of Natural Resources to the Governor and the General Assembly - Proposed Expansion of the Use of Nutrient Credits in Virginia pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 334 (2011)

10/31/11: The VPDES General Permit For Discharges Resulting From the Application of Pesticides to Surface Waters became effective.

4/05/11: Study of the Expansion of the Nutrient Credit Exchange (SJR 334)

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Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality
629 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
(804)698-4000

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