Virginia State Waters Delineator – Direct Benefits for Projects

Richmond, Virginia

With the recent United States Supreme Court decision for the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (Sackett) case and subsequent update to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule, federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA) has been reduced and more regulatory responsibility has been shifted to individual states. 

In response to the changes on a federal level, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has developed the Virginia State Waters Delineator (VSWD) Certification, a program that recognizes individuals qualified to conduct wetland and stream delineations within the state. This certification program allows DEQ to rely upon the accuracy of delineations and to approve State Surface Waters Determinations (SSWDs) and issue Virginia Water Protection (VWP) permits more quickly and efficiently.

This provides a direct benefit to the private sector as DEQ will prioritize SSWD requests submitted by VSWDs, with a targeted review period of 30 days. As wetland delineations must be confirmed in order to obtain permits, a streamlined review allows the VWP permit process to be completed more quickly and efficiently.

InterAgency has obtained this VSWD certification and is prepared to assist you with your project. Let us put our experience to work for you!

For more information, contact Lauren Conner at lauren.conner@interagency.biz, or Doug Chapin at doug.chapin@interagency.biz.