State Water Control Board Overview
The following information gives an overview of the State Water Control Board's responsibilities, member qualifications and compensation, and board meetings.
Responsibilities
The State Water Control Board is responsible for administrating the Virginia Water Control Law. The board adopts regulations and considers special orders resolving violations of its regulations and permits that have had a related public hearing. Day-to-day administration of the board's programs is delegated to the Department of Environmental Quality.
The board is responsible for the following:
- Setting standards of quality for state waters (Water Quality Monitoring, Information and Restoration Act) and water quality controls
- Determining requirements for treating sewage and industrial waste and for the recovery and reuse of wastewater
- Making regulations to control pollution from boats
- Considering certificates for the discharge of treated waste into state waters and for wetland excavation
- Developing coordinated state policy, plans and programs for the conservation and economic development of the state's water resources
- Upholding regulations related to aboveground and underground storage tanks, oil discharge contingency plans and the financial responsibility of facilities and tank vessels that transport oil
- Developing regulations governing the issuance of surface water withdrawal permits
- Designating surface water management areas and issuing ground water withdrawal permits (Ground Water Management Act of 1992)
- Administering programs of state and federal financial assistance for purposes of water quality control and conservation
- Issuing procedures governing financial assistance for construction of publicly owned wastewater treatment works
Member qualifications
The governor appoints seven Virginia citizens to serve as board members. The selection is based on merit without regard to political affiliation. Members cannot have had a significant portion of their income within the previous two years come from persons subject to certain water permits or enforcement orders. The term "significant portion" is 10 percent of income or 50 percent if the person is retired.
Meetings and public hearings
Virginia law requires the board to meet at least four times per year. The average length of the meetings is five to six hours. The quarterly meetings usually take place in Richmond. The board usually holds one or two special meetings and also is asked to attend a joint meeting with the air and waste boards. DEQ provides members with agenda materials to help them prepare for the meetings.
Public hearings related to water permits and regulations occur in addition to the board meetings. At least one water board member must attend each public hearing. The hearings can be anywhere in the state and are normally during the evening.
Compensation
Board members receive 50 dollars per day for attending meetings, plus reasonable and necessary travel expenses as determined by state regulations.
Additional resources
Information on the State Water Control Law (Code of Virginia, Title 62.1, Chapter 3.1) and the Ground Water Management Act of 1992 (Code of Virginia, Title 62.1, Chapter 25) is available through the Code of Virginia database.