Air-Water – Virginia Water Central News Grouper

March 29, 2018

Virginia Toxics Release Inventory Report for 2016 Data Released March 29, 2018, by Va. DEQ

On March 29, 2018, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced publication of the latest annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), covering data reported for 2016. The report for 2016 data, along with reports for data years back to 2007, is available online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Air/AirQualityPlanningEmissions/SARATitleIII/SARA313ToxicsReleaseInventory.aspx. According to the 2016 data report’s Executive Summary, this year’s… Continue reading

Air-Water, Emerging Contaminants, Land Use, Water Quality and Habitat in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries and Coastal Waters, Water Quality and Habitat in Virginia’s Southern Rivers

February 27, 2018

Water in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly – Carbon Market Bills

This is one of a series of posts on particular water-related bills in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly. For an inventory of about water-related bills in the 2018 General Assembly, please visit the Virginia Water Resources Research Center’s “Virginia Water Legislation” page, online at http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/virginia-water-legislation/. Each post includes a summary of the bill(s), their legislative… Continue reading

2018 Virginia General Assembly, Air-Water, Climate Change, Energy

February 21, 2018

Reducing Carbon Emissions from Power Plants in Virginia – Public Hearings in March 2018 on Proposed Carbon-trading Regulation; Proposal Follows Gov. Executive Directive Issued May 16, 2017

Following is information on Virginia’s process in 2017-18 to develop regulations to reduce carbon emissions from electric power plants. The latest update to this post is March 20, 2018. In March 2018, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held a series of public hearings on proposed carbon dioxide (CO2)-trading… Continue reading

Air-Water, Climate Change, Coal and Water, Energy, Events, Laws&Regs

October 25, 2017

Ozone in Northern Virginia is Subject of Va. DEQ Proposals Undergoing Public Comment in October-November 2017

In October and November 2017, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments on a proposed plan for the Northern Virginia Ozone Nonattainment Area, including a request to re-designate that area as attaining ozone standards, and implementing reasonably available control technology (RACT) in support of the 2008 ozone standard in the Northern Virginia… Continue reading

Air-Water, Events

July 28, 2017

Detailed Investigative Report on Munitions Disposal at Radford Army Ammunition Plant on New River in Montgomery County, Va., Published by ProPublica in July 2017

“Open burns, ill winds,” published by ProPublica on July 20, 2017, is a long, detailed, investigative article examines the U.S. military’s practices for disposing of munitions waste. It focuses specifically on the use of open-air burning at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP) along the New River in Montgomery County, Virginia, and concerns over potential… Continue reading

Air-Water, Military, Water Quality and Habitat in Virginia’s Southern Rivers

June 29, 2016

Va. Governor’s June 28, 2016, Executive Order 57 on Reducing Carbon Emissions from Power Plants; Work Group Report of Recommendations on May 12, 2017

On June 28, 2016, Va. Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an Executive Order 57, creating a work group to recommend actions available under existing state authority to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. The work group was under Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward. The work group’s first meeting was August 31, 2016; more information on… Continue reading

Air-Water, Climate Change, Energy, Laws&Regs

March 30, 2016

Virginia Toxics Release Inventory Report for 2014 Data Released March 29, 2016, by Va. DEQ

On March 29, 2016, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced publication of the latest annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), covering data reported for 2014. According to the report’s Executive Summary, this year’s report lists types and amounts of chemicals released and reported by 436 industrial operations in the Commonwealth having 10 or more… Continue reading

Air-Water, Laws&Regs, Waste Management, Wastewater

January 25, 2016

Mercury Emissions from Human Sources Declined 30 Percent from 1990-2010, according to Research Released in January 2016

Worldwide human-caused mercury emissions decreased 30 percent from 1990 to 2010, according to research published in January 2016 by Harvard University, Peking University (Beijing, China), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Mainz, Germany), and the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada). Mercury is transported globally when released into the atmosphere through… Continue reading

Air-Water, Coal and Water, Energy

August 13, 2015

Informal Comment Period on Clean Power Plan Held by Va. DEQ Aug. 13–Oct. 13, 2015; Six Listening Sessions held Sep. 16 to Oct. 6; Stakeholder Group Established and Began Meeting in November 2015

On August 13, 2015, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced an informal comment period on how the Commonwealth should respond to the final version of the Clean Power Plan, announced by the U.S. EPA on August 3, 2015. The comment period ran from August 13 through October 13, 2015. DEQ notes that because… Continue reading

Air-Water, Climate Change, Energy, Laws&Regs

August 3, 2015

Final Version of “Clean Power Plan” Announced by President Obama and the U.S. EPA on August 3, 2015; Carbon Emissions from Existing Power Plants to be Reduced by 32% Nationwide; States Have Individually Set Reduction Targets

On August 3, 2015, President Obama announced the final version of U.S. EPA’s Clean Power plan, the agency’s regulation to require existing power plants to reduce their emission of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds (often referred to as “greenhouse gases”) that contribute to global warming and climate change. The regulation was first announced by… Continue reading

Air-Water, Climate Change, Coal and Water, Energy, Laws&Regs