Technical Advisory Committee Meeting - Mountain Run PCBs TMDL (Culpeper County)
Jul 26, 2022 2:00 PM
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and its contractor, Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering, are in the process of developing a water quality study to address Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the Mountain Run watershed in Culpeper. This water quality study is known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), or simply a watershed clean-up study. DEQ will host the second meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Mountain Run PCB TMDL on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Culpeper County Library at 271 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper, Virginia 22701. Although this meeting is intended for TAC members, it is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. A TAC typically consists of representatives from local governments, Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittees, watershed residents, anglers, recreational and conservation groups, and other stakeholders interested in providing input on the technical aspects of the TMDL development process. In the event of inclement weather that results in closure of the Culpeper County Library on July 26, the meeting will be held at the same time and location on Monday, August 1, 2022. Description of Study: DEQ monitoring data indicates levels of PCBs in fish tissue and the water column are elevated in the Mountain Run watershed in Culpeper (for more information on PCBs watch this DEQ video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He4eloh1NBw&t=6s ). Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issued a PCB fish consumption advisory for Mountain Run from the Route 15/29 bridge crossing downstream to the confluence with the Rappahannock River, noting that consumption of American Eel should be limited to no more than two meals per month. As a result, Mountain Run and two of its tributaries are listed as impaired for PCBs on the 303(d) TMDL priority list. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the Code of Virginia require DEQ to develop TMDLs for pollutants responsible for each impaired water contained in Virginia’s 303(d) TMDL priority list and report. TMDLs are developed to identify the total amount of a pollutant (i.e., PCBs) that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, pollutant levels must be reduced to the TMDL. TMDLs will be developed for the Mountain Run watershed in Culpeper County.
Sponsored by State Water Control Board
http://www.deq.virginia.gov
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, such as sign language interpreters and/or real-time captioning services, are available upon request. Please send accommodation requests to the meeting contact as early as possible but no later than seven business days before the date of the meeting.