{"id":146,"date":"2016-05-03T01:22:09","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T01:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/?page_id=146"},"modified":"2024-11-01T12:16:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T16:16:17","slug":"news-of-interest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated\/news-of-interest\/","title":{"rendered":"News of Interest"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\nDevelopment of Rainwater Harvesting Regulations<\/span>

\n

September 7, 2021<\/p>\n

Chapter 817 of the 2018 Virginia Acts of the Assembly (House Bill 192<\/a>) provides authority for VDH to develop regulations for the harvesting of rainwater. House Bill 192 provides authority for VDH to adopt regulations<\/em>\u00a0regarding the use of rainwater which shall\u00a0<\/em>describe the conditions under which rainwater may appropriately be used and for what purposes; and shall also provide standards for the use of rainwater harvesting systems, including systems that collect rainwater for use by commercial enterprises but do not provide water for human consumption, as defined in \u00a7\u00a032.1-167<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition, House Bill 192 directs VDH, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), to promote the use of rainwater as means to reduce fresh water consumption, ease demands on public treatment works and water supply systems, and promote conservation. Further, VDH in conjunction with DEQ shall consider recognizing rainwater as an independent source of fresh water available for use by the residents of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

A video progress report regarding the development of Rainwater Harvesting Regulations is available HERE<\/a>. If you have questions, please feel welcome to contact Anthony Creech, Environmental Technical Programs Manager, Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services, at (804) 864-7470 or by email at anthony.creech@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\nFast Track Regulatory Process - Moving GMP 147 into the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations<\/span>
\n

January 10, 2022<\/p>\n

The FAST track regulation was taken before the Board of Health on December 10, 2021.\u00a0 The Board approved the Regulation to move forward to Executive Branch Review.\u00a0 Upon approval by the Governor, the amendments will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations. Following publication of the amendments, a public comment period will open for 30 days on Virginia\u2019s online Town Hall. The Regulations will go into effect 15 days after the close of the public comment period unless an objection is received from: a member of the applicable standing committee of the House of Delegates or Senate of Virginia, a member of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, or from 10 or more members of the public.<\/p>\n

Once approved for publication, the public can track the Regulation and make comments through the Virginia Town Hall\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The final version as presented to the Board of Health can be found here:\u00a0 Fast Track as Submitted to BOH – Report Project 6961 11 03 2021<\/a><\/p>\n

September 13, 2021<\/p>\n

Comments received on the July draft can be found here.\u00a0 Comments on July 2021 draft<\/a>\u00a0 A new draft was developedin response to comments received from the August 18, 2021, Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulation Advisory Committee meeting.\u00a0 \u00a0Note that only minor changes were made to 12VAC5-610-960 and 966 from the July draft.\u00a0 The new draft can be here.\u00a0 Draft 09 2021 Fast Track Regs GMP 147<\/a>\u00a0 This is the version that will begin moving through the Fast Track regulatory process.<\/p>\n

August 17, 2021<\/p>\n

Comments received on June draft can be found here\u00a0 Comments on June 2020 Draft<\/a>.\u00a0 A new draft was developed that will be discussed at the August 18, 2021, Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulation Advisory Committee meeting.\u00a0 The new draft can be found here July 2021 Draft Fast Track SHDR Amendments (GMP 147)<\/a>\u00a0 After this meeting with SHADAC, the draft will be formalized and the regulatory fast track process will begin.<\/p>\n

June 16, 2021<\/p>\n

Comments received through June 4 on the May draft can be found here Comments on May 2021 Draft<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 A new draft was developed that will be discussed at the June 17, 2021 Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulation Advisory Committee meeting.\u00a0 That new draft can be found here.FAST Track Draft 06 14 2021\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

May 20, 2021<\/p>\n

Comments received through on the March draft through May 15, 2021 can be found here Comments Fast Track through May 15, 2021 \u00a0 <\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0The current draft can be found here and will be discussed with the\u00a0 Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulation Committee on May 20, 2021.\u00a0 Draft Fast Track 05 20 2021<\/a><\/p>\n

April 5, 2021<\/p>\n

A second draft of the regulation was produced and presented at the Sewage Handling and Disposal Advisory Committee on March 24, 2021.\u00a0 A copy of this draft can be found here.\u00a0 Fast Track Revised 03 24 2021<\/a>\u00a0 Please send comments on this draft by APRIL 15, 2021<\/strong>, to Marcia.Degen@vdh.virginia.gov.<\/p>\n

January 11, 2021<\/p>\n

VDH is proposing an update to the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610<\/a>) to incorporate design elements from rescinded GMP 147<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A copy of the first draft of the proposed regulation can be found on the VDH website under \u2018News of Interest\u2019 at this link.<\/a> VDH is soliciting comments on this first draft through January 15, 2021<\/strong>. (Draft first posted December 18, 2020). Comments may be sent to Marcia.degen@vdh.virginia.gov. Please note that the proposal has not entered into the regulatory process and this first draft is part of a consensus building process. Additional drafts will be developed as needed.<\/p>\n

In an effort to gain input on specific questions, VDH has developed a survey<\/strong>. The survey is open to public and private individuals and the results will be used to help guide the next draft. Survey responses will be accepted through January 22, 2021<\/strong>. You can find the survey <\/strong>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

12\/18\/2020<\/p>\n

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is proposing changes to the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610) that incorporate onsite sewage design elements from rescinded GMP 147.\u00a0 The process has just started and VDH is soliciting comments on a First Draft.<\/p>\n