Section 30. Authorization to impact surface waters

A. Any person granted coverage under the VWP general permit effective August 2, 2016, may permanently or temporarily impact less than one-half acre of nontidal wetlands or open water and up to 300 linear feet of nontidal stream bed, provided that:

1. The applicant submits notification as required in 9VAC25-660-50 and 9VAC25-660-60.

2. The applicant remits any required permit application fee.

3. The applicant receives general permit coverage from the Department of Environmental Quality and complies with the limitations and other requirements of the VWP general permit; the general permit coverage letter; the Clean Water Act, as amended; and the State Water Control Law and attendant regulations.

4. The applicant has not been required to obtain a VWP individual permit under 9VAC25-210 for the proposed project impacts. The applicant, at his discretion, may seek a VWP individual permit or coverage under another applicable VWP general permit in lieu of coverage under this VWP general permit.

5. Impacts, both temporary and permanent, result from a single and complete project, including all attendant features.

a. Where a road segment (e.g., the shortest segment of a road with independent utility that is part of a larger project) has multiple crossings of surface waters (several single and complete projects), the board may, at its discretion, require a VWP individual permit.

b. For the purposes of this chapter, when an interchange has multiple crossings of surface waters, the entire interchange shall be considered the single and complete project.

6. The stream impact criterion applies to all components of the project, including structures and stream channel manipulations.

7. When required, compensation for unavoidable impacts is provided in accordance with 9VAC25-660-70 and the associated provisions of 9VAC25-210-116.

B. The board waives the requirement for coverage under a VWP general permit for activities that occur in an isolated wetland of minimal ecological value, as defined in 9VAC25-210-10. Upon request by the board, any person claiming this waiver shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that he qualifies for the waiver.

C. Coverage under this VWP general permit does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

D. Coverage under a nationwide or regional permit promulgated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and for which the board has issued § 401 certification in accordance with 9VAC25-210-130 H as of August 2, 2016, shall constitute coverage under this VWP general permit, unless a state program general permit (SPGP) is required and granted for the activity or impact.

E. When the board determines on a case-by-case basis that concerns for water quality and the aquatic environment so indicate, the board may require a VWP individual permit in accordance with 9VAC25-210-130 B rather than granting coverage under this VWP general permit.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 22, eff. October 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 08, eff. January 26, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2006; 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.).