1. Freshwater Nutrient Criteria. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring states to consider nutrient criteria for all waters.  VA DEQ submitted a draft Nutrient Criteria Development Plan to Region III on October 31, 2002 and published the plan for public comment on November 4, 2002.  DEQ made minor revisions and resubmittals at the request of EPA. In a June 15, 2004 letter EPA provided written concurrence of the version of the VA Plan resubmitted on March 30, 2004. The current 2010 Nutrient Criteria Development Plan posted on this web page reflects an EPA-requested update.  The plan is due for additional updates in the near future to reflect current and expected progress.

Nutrient criteria for reservoirs and natural lakes were approved by EPA Region 3 in a letter dated July 17, 2007; these amendments became effective in Virginia on August 14, 2007. Freshwater nutrient criteria are under development for streams and rivers.  Detailed information regarding nutrients and nutrient criteria development is located on the Nutrient Criteria Development web page.

 2.  James River Chlorophyll Study. DEQ is undertaking a comprehensive review of the existing James River Site-Specific Numeric Chlorophyll-a Criteria and associated modeling framework for the tidal James River to determine the best scientific basis for the standard.  This effort is being initiated as a result of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Phase I Watershed implementation Plan (WIP).  Detailed information regarding technical development progress and meetings is located on the Nutrient Criteria Development web page.