Section 10. Definitions

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program Regulation (9VAC25-210) unless a different meaning is required by the context or is indicated below.

"Bank protection" means measures employed to stabilize channel banks and combat existing erosion problems. Such measures may include the construction of riprap revetments, sills, rock vanes, beach nourishment, breakwaters, bulkheads, groins, spurs, levees, marsh toe stabilization, anti-scouring devices, and submerged sills.

"Bioengineering method" means a biological measure incorporated into a facility design to benefit water quality and minimize adverse effects to aquatic resources, to the maximum extent practicable, for long-term aquatic resource protection and improvement.

"Coverage" means authorization to conduct a project in accordance with a VWP general permit.

"DEQ" means the Department of Environmental Quality.

"Independent utility" means a test to determine what constitutes a single and complete project. A project is considered to have independent utility if it would be constructed absent the construction of other projects in the project area. Portions of a multi-phase project that depend upon other phases of the project do not have independent utility. Phases of a project that would be constructed even if the other phases are not built can be considered as separate single and complete projects with independent public and economic utility.

"Linear transportation project" means a project for the construction, expansion, modification or improvement of features such as, but not limited to, roadways, railways, trails, bicycle and pedestrians paths, and airport runways and taxiways, including all attendant features both temporary and permanent. Nonlinear features commonly associated with transportation projects, such as, but not limited to, vehicle maintenance or storage buildings, parking lots, train stations, or aircraft hangars are not included in this definition.

"Notice of project completion" means a statement submitted by the permittee or authorized agent that the authorized activities and any required compensatory mitigation have been completed.

"Single and complete project" means the total project proposed or accomplished by a person, which also has independent utility, as defined in this section. For linear projects, the "single and complete project" (e.g., a single and complete crossing) will apply to each crossing of a separate surface water (e.g., a single water body) and to multiple crossings of the same water body at separate and distinct locations. Phases of a project that have independent public and economic utility may each be considered single and complete.

"State program general permit (SPGP)" means a general permit issued by the Department of the Army in accordance with 33 USC § 1344 and 33 CFR 325.5(c)(3) and that is founded on a state program. The SPGP is designed to avoid duplication between the federal and state programs.

"Up to 300 linear feet" means 300.00 linear feet or less, as measured along the center of the main channel of the stream segment.

"Up to 1,500 linear feet" means 1,500.00 linear feet or less, as measured along the center of the main channel of the stream segment.

"Up to one-tenth acre" means 0.10 acre (4,356 square feet) or less.

"Up to two acres" means 2.00 acres (87,120 square feet) or less.

"Utility line" means a pipe or pipeline for the transportation of any gaseous, liquid, liquefiable or slurry substance, for any purpose, and a cable, line, or wire for the transmission for any purpose of electrical energy, telephone, and telegraph messages and radio and television communication. The term utility line does not include activities which drain a surface water to convert it to an upland, such as drainage tiles or french drains; however, it does apply to pipes conveying drainage from another area.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 08, eff. January 26, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2006; Volume 24, Issue 09, eff. February 6, 2008; Volume 32, Issue 21, eff. August 2, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.).