As a healthy environment and a healthy economy are integrally related, it is DEQ’s goal to ensure that balanced economic development and the protection of our environment go hand in hand to contribute to Virginia’s quality of life. The Office of Permitting Assistance (OPA) serves as a resource for information on environmental permitting to help economic development and industrial project planners and stakeholders navigate DEQ’s permitting processes.

OPA can assist with:

• Understanding environmental permitting requirements
• Facilitating permit pre-application discussions
• Serving as liaison between DEQ technical staff, permit applicants, and project proponents
• Project tracking and status reporting
• Ensuring timely information sharing for efficient permit processing

OPA’s Permitting Ombudsmen are headquartered in DEQ’s Central Office, but serve the entirety of the Commonwealth. Permitting Ombudsmen work closely with each Regional Office, other state and federal agencies, and local governments and entities to facilitate the coordination required for environmental permitting. Our Permitting Ombudsmen will be happy to assist with your next economic development project.

Please see the map below to determine your DEQ region.