1. Consolidating Permitting.

Joint Permit Application for multiple agencies. Applicants submit one application, which is distributed to three agencies simultaneously. These agencies include VA DEQ, the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the Virginia Marine Resource Commission. VA DEQ is then required by law to provide a permit decision in 45 days for general permits. VA DEQ has a120 day turn-around goal for individual permits. • Unconditional or conditional certification of USACE Nationwide Permits. VA DEQ has conditionally certified numerous Corps’ Nationwide and Regional Permits. If the Corps can issue a Nationwide or Regional permit and the project meets certain requirements, which it typically does, no permit is required from VA DEQ. State Program General Permit allows one-stop shopping for impacts resulting in a loss of not more than 2,000 linear feet of streams or the loss of not more than one acre of nontidal wetland or waters. VA DEQ issues the SPGP on behalf of the Corps.

 A. Under this category, which activities has your state found most useful?

 The joint permit application for three agencies.

 B. Which activities, if any, have been done in the past?

 The certification of certain USACE nationwide and regional permits has been ongoing.

 C. What’s underway now, if anything?

We are revising the State Program General Permit to better encompass permit reissuances, compliance and enforcement.

D. What is planned, if anything?

Federal Public Notice (6/1/2007)

E. These activities improved:

Timeliness
Understanding

2. Communication before Permitting

• Accept delineations confirmed by the USACE. VA DEQ has a Memorandum of Understanding with the NRCS and Corps’ whereby the DEQ accepts delineations performed by these agencies. The DEQ does not typically conduct delineations.
• VA DEQ has issued guidance documents on avoidance and minimization of surface water impacts. As a result, the regulated community has become savvy about avoiding impacts prior to application.
• In some regions of Virginia, DEQ attends a pre-application meeting for nearly all proposed permits.
• VDEQ is currently doing outreach with Realtors Associations.

A. Under this category, which activities has your state found most useful?

Pre-application meetings.

B. Which activities, if any, have been done in the past?

C. What’s underway now, if anything?

F. These activities improved:

Environmental Protection
Understanding

3. On-line applications.

• Accept electronic applications. VA DEQ does not have an online application, but we encourage applicants to submit an electronic copy of the application.
• Web-based/e-mail based interagency review. Much of our permit review such as: review for threatened and endangered species occurrences, and solicitation for other agency comments are done through web-based searches, email and a FTP site.

D. What is planned, if anything?

An electronic version of the Virginia Joint Permit Application was previously available and is under revision, so we should have one available again in the future.

4. Utilizing Science and & Technology.

We have developed and ORegon Wetland Rapid Assessment Protocol (ORWAP). Our rules also require a watershed based approach for mitigation siting.

A. Under this category, which activities has your state found most useful?

ORWAP has so far been helpful.

F. These activities improved:

Timeliness
Environmental Protection
Understanding

Summary prepared by Liz McKercher – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it