The Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook (VSMH) provides information on stormwater management, including erosion and sediment control, and offers guidance for implementing water quality and quantity criteria outlined in the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation (9VAC25-875). DEQ, after public comment and review, has made Version 1.1 of the VSMH effective as of Aug. 21. Version 1.1 makes technical corrections and updates to Version 1.0.

There are many reasons why Virginia is #1 for business - and that includes DEQ's commitment to providing easy-to-follow information on environmental permitting. With DEQ's newly released "Environmental Permitting Guide for Economic Development in Virginia," you can find information on permit timelines, permit thresholds, and descriptions of which permits are applicable to your project.

DEQ is still accepting applications for 2025 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grants. Applications must be submitted by August 31. Awarded proposals will be for project activities to be performed between January 2025 and December 2025.

The Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership’s Beyond 2025 Steering Committee wants to hear from YOU about the future of the Chesapeake Bay Program! The public is invited to provide feedback on draft recommendations prepared by the Beyond 2025 Steering Committee for the future of the Bay.

Today, Virginia generates about seven percent of its electricity from renewable energy. This growing industry provides clean energy for Virginia residents. Do you have questions about solar panel developments or what happens to the panels once they've exhausted their use? American Clean Power has provided helpful information sheets on the safety of solar panels in communities and best practices for the recycling and disposal of decommissioned solar panels.

DEQ’s Virginia Coastal Zone Management (Virginia CZM) Program is proud to share the success of the Nansemond Indian Nation in the removal of an abandoned and derelict vessel that had been laying along the Nansemond River for several years, creating both an eyesore and negative environmental impacts.

The emerging solar power industry holds in its hands an extraordinary opportunity as decision-makers, engineers, and designers consider the impact of their facilities on the landscape. Expertly crafted mixes of native plants can transform a solar facility into a thriving ecosystem that supports pollinator species, birds, and other wildlife, while enhancing facility economic efficiencies.

DEQ and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation have developed the Virginia Pollinator-Smart Program, an ecologically responsible program to encourage pollinator-friendly solar energy developments throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more about the benefits of native plants on solar sites...