DEQ will hold kickoff meetings through April 7 to start the new regional water supply planning process. New regulations require this regional water supply planning approach. By October 2029, all 26 Regional Planning Units will develop and submit Regional Water Supply Plans. Learn more about this process at an upcoming meeting near you.

DEQ’s Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) has some exciting new features! The tool, which provides geographical information about wetland types, water quality, and trends, now includes the following:

• Automated form generation for mitigation and site selection
• Incorporation of the Virginia Floristic Quality Assessment calculator
• Calibrated wetland stressors with surrounding landcover and wetland condition
• Information on the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed, including in North Carolina
• Newly adopted coastal barrier maps based on changes to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA)

DEQ has experienced, and continues to experience, a large number of air permit applications for emergency generators (gen-sets), especially for data centers.  As a result, DEQ frequently receives questions concerning the regulatory requirements associated with obtaining an air permit for an emergency generator or a data center.  To assist in understanding the air permitting process, DEQ has prepared two documents Clarification 2025-01 Emergency Generator Air Permit Guidelines, and Clarification 2025-02 Data Center Air Permit Guidelines.  Additionally, DEQ is often asked about what construction activities can occur prior to receiving an air permit. DEQ has prepared a third clarification document "Clarification 2025-03 Construct Prior to a Permit" to assist in answering this question.

In December 2024, a new DEQ-funded extensometer near West Point was completed and is taking real-time measurements of land subsidence. The land subsidence data from the West Point Extensometer (56J 49) is published online and available to the public. In cooperation with DEQ, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates four extensometers near Franklin, Suffolk, Nansemond, and now West Point. The West Point extensometer represents an important expansion of Virginia's ability to monitor vertical land motion, including land subsidence that may contribute to relative sea-level rise in coastal areas.

DEQ is currently developing Virginia's 2025 Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) and wants to hear from you! Throughout February 2025, the DEQ CCAP team will be hosting in-person community listening sessions at each of DEQ’s regional offices in Virginia Beach, Woodbridge, Harrisonburg, Salem, and Abingdon. Join us from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to share your ideas and help identify climate pollution reduction strategies to be included in the plan. Although attending in-person provides the opportunity for direct engagement, DEQ is also providing a virtual option to listen in and ask questions. Your feedback matters – DEQ will compile and analyze all public input to better shape a plan that reflects the priorities of Virginia’s communities.

Find all meeting details on the CPRG Calendar, or visit the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) webpage for more information. Questions? Reach out to our team at CPRG@DEQ.Virginia.Gov.

It is that time of year for annual Tier II reporting for facilities that house hazardous substances over the reporting threshold. For a full informational guide and step-by-step walk-throughs of Tier II reporting please visit the DEQ Community Right-To-Know page. Here you will find a "Resources" menu filled with quick links to a walk-through webinar, Tier2 Submit how-to slides, and software links to guide you in your reporting process.  Further down on the Community Right-To-Know page, there is information on the deadlines and how to submit your report as well as contact information for more detailed questions you may have from our SARA Title III staff.  

DEQ’s 2025 water monitoring plan goes live!  See where we’re monitoring, what we’re monitoring, and let us know what you’d like us to do in 2026.

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program at DEQ and Wetlands Watch are thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new resource, Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia. This comprehensive guide compiles adaptive strategies and case studies for the first time and is tailored for shoreline professionals seeking sustainable solutions to combat the challenges posed by rising sea levels and coastal hazards, such flooding and saltwater intrusion.

Join us for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit from March 18-20 at Norfolk Botanical Garden! The summit, co-hosted by Virginia CZM and Clean Virginia Waterways, will focus on solutions to measurably reduce plastic pollution from entering Virginia’s freshwater and tidal rivers, estuaries, wetlands, beaches, and ocean. The summit will include in-depth discussions of the strategies and actions in the 2021-2025 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan that address four major marine debris types.