DEQ administers the Virginia Water Protection (VWP) permit program, which follows state regulations and federal guidelines under the Clean Water Act. State law requires that a VWP Permit be obtained before disturbing a wetland or stream by clearing, filling, excavating, draining, or ditching. Applications can be made through the Joint Permit Application (JPA) process.
In April 2025, DEQ received a JPA for MVP's Southgate Amendment Project. Attachment A of the JPA included a VWP Permit Application. DEQ is currently evaluating the VWP application (in accordance with VWP Permit Program Regulation 9VAC25-210-10 et seq).
- Use DEQ's Permitting Enhancement & Evaluation Platform (PEEP) tool to view the status and target timeframe for this permit application.
- Under 'Facility Name' select 'MVP Southgate Amendment Project' from the drop-down menu and click 'Apply.' The Request Number for this project is 25-0752.
- Use the 'Project Documents' tab to view documents related to the Southgate Amendment Project's VWP Permit Application.
- Email DEQ with questions or inquiries about the Southgate Amendment Project's VWP application at: mvpsouthgate.vwp@deq.virginia.gov
- Looking for the entire JPA? Click this link to view all JPA documents and attachments submitted for MVP’s Southgate Amendment project on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s website.
A Public Notice of the Draft VWP Permit was published on October 16, 2025.
- Click here to view the Public Notice on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website.
- To view the Draft VWP Permit, please scroll down to ‘Project Documents’ and click on the files below ‘DEQ’s Draft Virginia Water Protection (VWP) Individual Permit No. 25-0752,’ or click directly on the files below:
1. Draft Cover Page
2. Draft Special Conditions
3. Draft General Conditions
4. Attachments 1 and 2 - Construction Reporting Forms
5. Appendix A (Part 1) - Impact Maps - VA - Alignment
6. Appendix A (Part 2) - Impact Maps - VA - Access Roads
7. Appendix B - Time of Year Restrictions Table
25-0752_2025-10-15_PERM_Draft Permit Combined Sections
The Public Comment Period for the Draft VWP Permit is from October 16, 2025, through December 5, 2025. For more information on how to comment, please review the Public Notice for the draft permit here.
- All written public comments submitted to DEQ either electronically or by mail, within the Public Comment Period, and that are relevant to the tentative DEQ action, will be considered by DEQ and included as part of the record.
A Public Hearing for the Southgate Amendment project’s Draft VWP Permit was held on November 20, 2025 in Chatham, Virginia. DEQ staff presided over the hearing, and a court reporter was present to document comments provided by the public and other meeting attendees on the draft permit.
Summary of Public Comments and Responses Document
After the Public Comment Period ended, but before issuing a final decision on the draft VWP Individual Permit for MVP's Southgate Amendment Project, DEQ published a summary of public comments received during the public comment period and public hearing for the aforementioned draft permit, as well as DEQ’s responses to the summarized comments (9VAC25-210-172). Click on this file to view the summary and responses document: MVP-SG_Summ. of Comments_VWP Indv. Permit
Summary of Comments Public Hearing
DEQ held a Public Hearing on January 6, 2026, at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex Education and Conference Center, located at 19783 US Highway 29, in Chatham, Virginia (24531). The purpose of the hearing was to provide an opportunity for individuals who previously commented on the draft VWP Permit (either at a public hearing or in writing during the public comment period) to respond to the department’s public comment summary and responses. A Public Notice for this Summary of Comments Public Hearing was issued on December 23, 2025, and can be viewed on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website, or by clicking on this link: Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Meeting.
Final VWP Permit
On January 13, 2026, DEQ issued VWP individual Permit No. 25-0752 for MVP's Southgate Amendment Project.
- To view the final VWP Permit, please scroll down to the end of 'Project Documents,' and click on the files below the 'DEQ's Final Virginia Water Protection (VWP) Individual Permit No. 25-0752' subheading, or click on the files below:
MVP-SG_2026-01-13_Final VWP Individual Permit No. 25-0752
MVP-SG_2026-01-13_Final VWP Individual Permit No. 25-0752 - App. A_reduced size
MVP-SG_2026-03-13_MVP - Preconstruction Notification transmittal
